The Holt County sentinel., 1914-05-08
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDGYSQ1OOL
LESSON
(By r. o. SELLERS. Director Of Evening
Department. The Mcody Bible Institute.
Chicago.b
LESSON FOR MAY 10
THE UNJUST STEWARD.

Again In one chapter land here
oniy) we have before Us two Of tho
Masters more famous parallels. the
unjust steward and the rich man and
Lazarus. Both are parallels OF warn.
Ing against the common sins OF hypoc-
risy and sluttony. Luke links this
teaching with the events In connec-
ton with our Lords teaching about
the lost things There is clearly .
close connection. The parable OF the
lost things was spoken directly TO tho
Pharisees and scribes. that now be-
fore US TO the disciples Tho TALL.
ure OF the Pharisees a. stewards Of
the things OF God. the divine Law.
calls from Jesus, for those gathered
as his disciples. teaching that will
prepare them to fulail perfectly the
stewardship responsibilities. The story
10 both positive and negative. 10
direct against covetousness. and its
main purpose TO US IL how to use
money. while We have II. so that II
may bring US a recompense In the
eternal world when II Is gone ". %.
Immoral Acts Not Approved.
!. The Unrishteous Steward, w. -.
Our Lord does not. OF course. intend
that this steward Is to be our pattern
In every respect. He 10 taking .
son OF the world" ". 8 Il. W and
showing us that, In the use OF money
entrusted to his cars he Is making
provision for tho future. He Ia pro.
pairing himself against the time when
his stewardship 10 taken from him.
How much more shall q son OF tho
light" be shrewd. so to use tho money
entrusted to his stewardship. that
when Il Ia taken from him. he has
provided for tho future. The record
does not imply that Jesus approved Of
tho mans immoral actions. He 10 US
Ing the example Of an upnShteous
steward ~ Q contrast to show how
much more 10 70 b expected nom Cod
or cody mon. Luke 1855. Z; HISS:
Matt. 1871. IL. Recognising these
facts. the story 10 perfectly simpieAad
| straightforward. The dishonest "soa
OF bis age" has q wrong method,
though his motive from this poiat q
view is . wise and prudent ono. clever
In our modern use OF that word. This
does not condone his fraud. nor doss
our Lord commend him. The contrast
10 established In the parable between
men wholly OF their age. and men.
professedly. at least sons OF light. 10
their dealings with eternal things they
had not shown the same astutsness
~ the former. Luke Is deals with tho
hAn r lAaa If thu DIN rlaaaa
for those who are lost. while tho
parallels OF this chapter deal with
neutrality-suspicious. Il Cor. b:2).
On Higher Level.
u. The Use OF Money. W. s.t3. The
value OF this parable 10 In the actual
teaching OF Jesus which follows tho
parable. That 10 Introductory, empha-
Sizing the need for wisdom on the
part OF all stewards. After that We
are on higher level and In q clear
er atmosphere. Unrighteous man.
mon means money. and to make
friends by means OF the mammon Of
unrighteousness" (R W 10 80 to
use our money for the godly poor ~
to win their love and that they may
receive Us into the eternal tabernacles
to which they shall 90, see Matt. 10:
IL; 26:33.40: 6:i9; Tim. 6:17.l9:
Prov. 1917. A. has been said. Jesus
does not commend this steward for his
wrong use Of his masters money. but
the steward OF God has the right to
bestow his Masters goods upon the
needy. a. that 10 the very reason they
have been bestowed upon him-en.
trusted to his care. Matt. 24:46; I
Pet. 4:l0. Our entrance into the king
dom will DO more abundant because OF
our liberality with Gods money, Matt.
1921. This does not preclude faith,
but rather. real faith worketh by love.
Gal. $50. James AIS (R. W. II
We are faithful with that entrusted to
our stewardship. God will entrust US
with "the true riches" Our earthly
riches belong to another ". 12 r. W.
and We cannot serve two masters"
This story moves within the realm Of
material wealth, Q. g., of mammon. II
illustrates the higher wisdom of how
mammon Is to be used by the stew
ards Of the kingdom OF God. Verses
Is and 10 Of this chapter reveal to US
our Lords reason for such an illustra.
ton. 1t was directed against the COW
etous and false stewards. the Phari.
sees. who "scoffed at him because they
were lovers of money! We are to
use money SO as to make friends, not
friends for this present life. but for
that life which lies beyond the grave.
Stewardship principles are always
the same. no matter what the amount.
"he that is unrighteous In q very little
10 unrighteous also In much."/ This
argument Is followed by two ques.
lions The answer to the first 10 that
no one ever commits the stewardship
OF spiritual things to those who are
unfaithful In material things A man
shows BY hts faithfulness In material
things whether he u to be entrusted
With aniritua1 atavfa pAahtn rh~ -.