THERE WAS A CERTAIN RICH MAN, WHICH HAD A STEWARD

Having spoken of a prodigal son wasting his father’s money, the Saviour now describes a prodigal steward wasting his master’s goods. Turning to His disciples, He instructs them regarding the use of money. This parable can be easily misunderstood. The Lord does not commend the steward for misappropriating his lord’s funds, but shows his skill in sacrificing present loss for future reward. In this, worldly people are often wiser than the children of God in planning for their own success in this life. All believers are stewards, not only of spiritual gifts and blessings but of material things, and money in particular. The parable tells how that when accused of wasting his lord’s goods; the unjust steward meets with his master’s debtors and arranges huge dis­counts for immediate payment. He then presents his lord with falsified accounts showing good cash flow and no outstanding debts. His crafty accounting earns him his master’s commenda­tion. But the point is that his dishonest dealing would guarantee his future welfare when dismissed from his stewardship. The grateful debtors would welcome him into their homes as a friend. The lesson is clear. As stewards of our Lord’s money and possessions we should use them for others’ welfare. We brought nothing into this world and we shall take nothing out of it. There will be no rewards in heaven for accumulated wealth on earth. We cannot serve two masters. We cannot give ourselves to amassing wealth while professing to serve God. Listen to the Master, ‘Ye cannot serve God and mammon’. May we resolve to serve God, not mammon, and use whatever material posses­sions He has entrusted to us for the blessing of those around. We all have something we can share with others for their material and spiritual wellbeing: hospitality in our home, help to those in financial need, money given to further gospel outreach. Faith­fulness in these small things will ensure that we meet friends in eternity that benefited from our exercise in time. And faithful­ness in the small things will result in responsibility in the kingdom. In light of this parable, may we ask ourselves today, ‘How much do I owe my Lord?’