Using Ungodly Mammon to Make Eternal Friends? (Luke 16:1-13)

Reformed & Expository Preaching

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A rich man confronts his manager for squandering wealth. This manager is like the youngest son in the previous parable. He squanders the wealth. It appears that there is no plan. The rich man fires him from his position, but not immediately. The manager, realizing his limited options, knows that he is not able to do manual labor, and he is too proud to beg. He is not like the youngest son in the previous parable. So, he devises a shrewd plan to secure future employment by reducing the tenant’s debts owed to the rich man. This will place the tenants in an obligation to take in the shrewd, but dishonest manager into their homes. He is not looking for a lasting situation, but this will buy him some time until he figures out what to do next. This tells us that the manager is not incompetent, but very self-serving.

The rich man does confront the manager, but he does not rebuke the man or put him immediately outside where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. We would expect that reaction, but rather Jesus commends the dishonest, but shrewd manager. The reason: he knew how the world worked. He figured out how to exploit the social norms to secure his survival. He understood life under the sun.

Jesus is not saying that our call is to exploit people. Jesus is saying that sons of light need to be wise and prioritize the kingdom of God. As the sons of his age know how to survive this sin cursed world so the sons of light should see how to survive in this age as citizens of heaven.

Christ is simply teaching us that prioritizing the kingdom of God, discerning what is pleasing to the Lord, and making friends with those who align with the kingdom is our priority. This is the consistent message of the parable of the banquet in chapter 14 where one does not participate in banquets to advance self but to celebrate life in the Lord.

Christ is driving home a twofold slavery. One can either be a slave to the prestige of this age or one can be a slave of the Lord. One has to consciously pursue one master for their enslavement. This is where we see that when the Lord owns everything we use our resources wisely seeking to advance his cause rather than our own. This is a challenge, isn't it? On the one hand, Ecclesiastes encourages us to enjoy the fruits of our labor (2:24,25; 3:12-13; 5:18, 19). Then we are called to make friends with the poor and the fatherless. Clearly, living out the gospel takes deliberate thought that is only given to us through Spiritual wisdom.

This is why our living out the gospel has to start in faith. It is by faith that we live in the kingdom because the Spirit has given us this faith. We live seeking to please our God and ultimately know that it is Christ who is our master, but also our redeemer. Let us seek to please our savior not because we are terrified, but because of the reverent love and honor. He is the God who not only made friends with the sinful and the unclean, but he redeemed the unworthy making them worthy. Let us seek to live in His wisdom wisely discerning the kingdom.

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