Middletown transcript., 1914-05-09

only) we have before US two of the
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 gluttony. 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 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 possibilities. 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 it
may bring US a recompense in the
eternal world when it is gone ". 81.
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/. 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" ". 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 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 u.s.
| 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 1876, Z; 1853;
Matt. 1911, IL. Recognizing these
facts, the story is perfectly simple and
straightforward. The dishonest "son
of his age" has a wrong method,
though his motive from this point of
view is a 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
stewardship -faIthfuIness q Cor 5:2),
and as such should come home to the
hearts of US all. All We call ours be-
longs to him, Rag. 2:s; Ps. 50:1012.
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. l, CT.
Luke 1913, 80; 1919; 1920. There
was two-fold result ID 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.
II. The Use Of Money, vs. e-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 higher level and in clear
er atmosphere. Unrighteous NAM
mon means money, and to make
friends "by means of the mammon of
unrighteousness" (R. W is so to
use our money for the godly poor as
to win their love and that they may
receive US into the eternal tabernacles
to which they shall go, see Matt. 19:
21; 25:33-4O; 6:19; l Tim. 6:17-19;
Prov. 1917. 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
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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 hberality with Gods money, Matt.
1921. This does not preclude faith,
but rather, real faith worketh by love,
Gal. Sc. James 2:18 (R. W. If
we are faithful with that entrusted to
our stewardship, God will entrust us
with the true riches" Our earthly
riches belong to another ". IL R. W,
and we cannot serve two masters"
This story moves within the realm Of
material wealth, e. g., of mammon. 1t
illustrates the higher wisdom Of how
mammon Is to be used by the stew
ards of the kingdom Of God. Verses
Is and 16 Of this chapter reveal to us
our Lords reason for such an illustra,
ton. 1t was directed against the Gov
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 very little
is unrighteous also in much" This
argument is followed by two ques.
tions The answer to the first is that
no one ever commits the Stewardship
Of spiritual things to those who are
unfaithful in material things A man
shows by his faithfulness in material
things whether he is to be entrusted
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