Well Soul Podcast

Ep. 18 | LUKE 16 | Stewardship is a Deeply Spiritual Issue

December 26, 2022 Seana Scott Season 2 Episode 16
Well Soul Podcast
Ep. 18 | LUKE 16 | Stewardship is a Deeply Spiritual Issue
Show Notes Transcript

The Pharisees are back at it: sneering at Jesus. This time it is Jesus' teachings on the importance of wisely managing our resources—and not letting our love of money or possessions to distract us from the Kingdom of God.

Pondering the use of money as it relates to spirituality is a sticky subject. Yuck. But at the Well Soul Podcast we drink in all of Scripture, and Luke 16 gives us some clear and helpful thoughts to ponder as we seek to live with a well soul—to know God's Word, walk with God, and live with purpose.

The main question is: LORDSHIP. Do we let our desires for worldly riches and pleasures rule us, or are we ruled by the Spirit of God?

Listen to this week's podcast for some deep consideration—and possibly some deep spiritual growth.

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Welcome to Luke 16 in our certainty of faith series through the Gospel of Luke. 

In Luke 16, Jesus is once again contrasting the ways of the kingdom to those way s of the religious Pharisees. 

This time, it is in the way they perceive their resources—their physical and monetary possessions and earnings.

When it comes to talking about money and spirituality, most of us cringe. But here on the Well Soul podcast, we drink in Scripture. . . and how we handle our resources greatly affects the wellness of our souls.

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Luke 16 starts with the Parable of the dishonest manager. A  person was in charge of managing his master’s resources, but he was dishonest, so his master told him he was basically fired. . . but before all that was finalized, the dishonest steward went to some of those who owed his master money and reduced their bills—one scholar suggests that he reduced their bills by taking away the stewards commission, but the steward kept what those people owed his master.

The master then commends the dishonest steward for his shrewdness—not for mismanaging the resources to begin with. And then Jesus switches out of story-mode to give principles to apply—which is where we will slow down to drink in Scripture today.

Before I read, pause to invite the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart through today’s passage. Be willing to hear what God’s word says about money. 

Luke 16:10–15

10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

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No one can serve two masters.

Earthly wealth and resources are not evil. The kingdom benefits from honest and faithful believers who know how to make and steward large amount of resources to fund Kingdom work—but the kingdom also benefits from those of us with more humble means when we also steward well. 

The whole point in this chapter is LORDSHIP. It is so easy for money to become our pursuit, rather than pursuing the Lord and HONESTLY doing what HE would have us do with HIS resources we are stewarding.

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The rest of the chapter is another story about a rich man (who is not named) and a poor man, Lazarus.

The rich man would pass by Lazarus, but never helped him, enjoying lavishly feasts of food, while Lazarus longed to even be filled with the crumbs from his table. Both died. Lazarus was taken to be with God. . . pictured as Abraham’s bosom. . . the rich man was not. 

And we are warned: be careful what you live for—and how you care for those in need with the resources you have to manage.

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I am going to re-read our short passage for today once again. Lord, please penetrate our hearts with the truth of Your word in this uncomfortable subject of money.

Luke 16:10–15

10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

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How do you manage your resources? 

Remember: we cannot live for money AND for God. But we can live for God with our money.

Take a moment to pause to examine your own heart. What is one way God might be leading you to manage your resources more faithfully?

 

Let’s pray.