The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-05-09

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 its
main purpose to US is how to use
money, while we have it, SO that 1t
may bring US a recompense In the
eternal world when it is gone ". 81.
Immoral Acts Not Approved.
.. The Unrishteous 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
son Of the world" ". s r. W 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 ts use the money
entrusted to his stewardship, that
when 1t 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 u.s.
ing the example of an uprighteous
steward as a contrast to show how
much more is to be expected from God
or cody men, Luke 1876, Z; 1853;
Matt. 1911, II. Recognizing these
facts, the story is perfectly simple and
The dishonest son
OF his age" has a 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 Is deals with the
heartless contempt of the Pharisees
for those who are lost, while the
parallels OF this chapter deal with
q Cor. SGD,
and as such should come home to the
hearts of us all. All we call ours be-
longs to him, Hag. 2:S; Ps. 80: 1912.
The accusation against this steward
can be brought against many of Gods
stewards. Some stewards waste in
sin, in luxury. or by non-use, v. /, CT.
Luke 1913, 30; 1919; 1920. There
was a two-fold result % he was called
to an accounting v. 2, and (2) his
stewardship was taken from him ".
81. Such also is the prospect of all
Of Gods stewards, for we must "all
give an account of himself" Rom. IA:
IL; ii Cor. $40.
On Higher Level.
10. The Use Of Money, va. 9-13. The
value Of this parable is in the actual
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 higher level and in a clear.
er atmosphere. Unrighteous man.
non means money, and to make
friends by means Of the mammon of
(R. w. is so to
Use our money for the godly poor as
% win their love and that they may
receive US into the eternal tabernacles
o which they shall 60, see Matt. 10:
Il; s5:33-40; 6:19; Tim. 6:17-19;
Prov. 1917. AS has been said, Jesus
loes not commend this steward for his |
wrong use of his masters money, but |
he steward of God has the right, to
)estow his Masters goods upon the |
needy, as that is the very reason they
lave been bestowed upon him-en- |
rusted to his care. Matt. 24:45; / |
Pet. 4:10. Our entrance into the king |
lom will be more abundant because of |
,ur liberality with Gods money, Matt. |
9:21. This does not preclude faith |
Tut rather, real faith worketh by love,
ial. Sc. James 2:18 (R. W. II
We are faithful with that entrusted to
'ur stewardship, God will entrust US
With the true riches" Our earthly
iches belong to another ". IL R. W,
nd we cannot serve two masters"
his story moves within the realm of
Material wealth, e. g., Of mammon. 1t
illustrates the higher wisdom of how
nammon is to be used by the stew
rds of the kingdom Of God. Verses
5 and 16 Of this chapter reveal to US
UT Lords reason for such an illustra-
ion. 1t was directed against the COW
tous and false stewards, the Phari-
ees, who "scoffed at him because they
,ere lovers Of money" We are to
Sc money SO as to make friends, not
riends for this present life, but for
hat life which lies beyond the grave.
Stewardship principles are always
be same, no matter what the amount,
he that is unrighteous in very little
, unrighteous also in much" This
rgument is followed by two Ques.
ons. The answer to the first Is that
o one ever commits the stewardship
I spiritual things to those who are
in material things. A man
hows by his faithfulness In material
lings whether he is to be entrusted
18th spiritual stewardship. The sec
nd question Is answered In that men