The Brinkley argus., 1914-05-08
LESSON FOR MAY 10
THE UNJUST STEWARD.


 LESSON TExT-Luke. .1ss1-l3
 GOLDEN TExT@f1e that is faithful in very mule is fn3t1nA also in nuch and he that Is unrighteous in a very little is unrfghteous also in much" Luke 16:10.
 Again in one chapter (and hero only) we have before us two of the Masters more famous parables, the unjust steward and the rich man and Lazarus. Both are parables of warn- ing against the common sins of hypoc- risy and gluttony. Luke links this teaching with the events in connec- tion with our Lords teaching about the lost things. There is clearly a close connection. The parable of the lost things was spoken directly to the Pharisees and scribes, that now be- fore us to the disciples. The fail ure of the Pharisees as stewards of the things of God, the divine law, calls from Jesus, for those gathered as his disciples, teaching that will prepare them to fulfill perfectly the stewardship responsibilities. The story is both positive and negative, is direct against covetousness, and it's main purpose to us is how to use money, while we have it, so that it may bring us recompense in the eternal world when it is gone (v 9.
 Immoral Acts Not Approved.
 !. The Unrighteous Steward, w. 1-3. Our Lord does not, of course, intend that this steward is to be our pattern in every respect. He is taking a ''son of the world (v. 8 R. V.) and showing us that. in the use of money entrusted to his care, he is making provision for the future. He is pre- pairing himself against the time when his stewardship is taken from him. How much more shall "son of the light" be shrewd. so to use the money entrusted to his stewardship, that when it is taken from him, he has provided for the future. The record does not imply that Jesus approved of the mans immoral actions. He is us- ing the example of an uprighteous steward as a contrast to show how much more is to be expected from God or godly men, Luke 1S:6. [; 11:5-S; Matt 12.11, 12. Recognizing these facts, the story Is perfectly simple and straightforward The dishonest "son of his age" has wrong method. though his motive from this point of view is wise and prudent one, clever in our modern use of that word. This does not condone his fraud, nor does our Lord commend him. The contrast is established in the parable between men wholly of their age, and men. professedly, at least sons of light. In their dealings with eternal things they had not shown the same astuteness as the former. Luke 15 deals with the heartless contempt of the Pharisees for those who are lost, while the parables of this chapter deal with stewardship-faithfuIness q Cor. 5:2).
 On Higher Level.
 II. The Use of Money, vs. 9-13. The value of this parable is in the actual teaching of Jesus which follows the parable. That is introductory, empha- sizing the need for wisdom on the part of all stewards. After that we are on a higher level and in clear CT atmosphere. Unrighteous man. mon means money, and to make friends "by means of the mammon of unrighteousness' (R. V) is so to use our money for the godly poor as to win their love and that they may receive us into the eternal tahernacles to which they shall go, see Matt. 19: 21; 25:33-40i 6:19; Tim. 6:17-19; Prov. 19:17. AS 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, as that Is the very reason they have been bestowed upon him-en- trusted to his care. Matt. 24:45; I Pet. 4:10. Our entrance into the king dom will be more abundant because of our liberalfty with Gods money, Matt. 1921. This does not preclude faith but rather, real faith worketh by love, Gal 5:6. James 2:1S (R. V). If we are faithful with that entrusted to our stewardship, God will entrust us with the true riches" Our earthly riches belong to another (v. 12 K. V.), and we cannot serve two masters This story moves within the realm of material wealth. e. g., of mammon. It illustrates the higher wisdom of how mammon is to be used by the stew ards of the Kingdom of God. Verses 15 and 16 of this chapter reveal to us our Lords reason for such an illustra- ton. It was directed against the GOV etous and false stewards. the Phari- sees, who 'scoffed at him because they were lovers of moneys' 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 a very little