The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-05-07

In very little IL taltnIul also III HlucH'
and he that is unrighteous in very little
js unrighteous also In much" Luke 1910 |
Again in one chapter land hero
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 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 Cod 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 it
may bring us a recompense in the
eternal world when it is gone ". 81.
Immoral Acts Not Approved.
I. 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
''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 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 1876, Z; 11:5-S;
Matt. 1911, 12. 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 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. Ii
their dealings with eternal things they
,l kl.n mt q N o. q
as the former. Luke Is deals with the
heartless contempt of the Pharisee!
for those who are lost, while thu
parallels Of this chapter deal will
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. q Cor. 5:2)
On Higher Level.
II. The Use of Money, VS.. s-13. Th
value of this parable is in the actua
teaching of Jesus which follows tn
parable. That is Introductory, empha
sizing the need for wisdom on tn
part of all stewards. After that W
are on a higher level and in clear
er atmosphere. Unrighteous man
mon means money, and to max
friends "by means of the mammon @
unrighteousness" (R. W is 80 t.
use our money for the godly poor a
to win their love and that they ma
receive us into the eternal tabernacle
to which they shall go, see Matt. 19
81; 25:3S-40; 6:19; l Tim. 6:17-1s
Prov. 1871 AS has been said, Jesu
does not commend this steward for hi
wrong use of his masters money, br
the steward of God has the right
bestow his Masters goods upon th
needy, as that is the very reason the
have been bestowed upon him-el
trusted to his care. Matt. 24:45;
Pet. 4:10. Our entrance into the kin
dom will be more abundant because I
our liberality with Gods money, Mat
1921. This does not preclude fait
but rather, real faith worketh by lov
Gal. 5:6. James 2:18 (R. W.
we are faithful with that entrusted
our stewardship, God will entrust l
with "the true riches" Our earth
riches belong to another ". IL R. V.
and we cannot serve two masters
This story moves within the realm
material wealth, e. g., OF mammon.
illustrates the higher wisdom OF no
mammon is to be used by the ste
ards of the kingdom Of God. Vers
15 and 16 of this chapter reveal to
our Lords reason for such an illustr
ton. 1t was directed against the CO
etous and false stewards, the Pha
sees, who "scoffed at him because tn
were lovers of money! We are
use money 30 as to make friends, n
friends for this present life. but +
that life which lies beyond the graz
Stewardship principles are alwa
the same. no matter what the amour
.'he that is unrighteous in very lit
Ia unrighteous also in much" Tt
argument is followed by two qu'
tons The answer to the first Is tn
no one ever commits the stewardst
of spiritual things to those who q
unfaithful in material things A m
shows by his faithfuiness In mater
l. Il. l. -. a