The Commendation of A Rogue (Lu. 16:1-9) (Part 5)

CONCLUSION:

Though I called today's story “The Commendation of A Rogue", it is commonly known as “Parable of The Shrewd Manager” or "The Parable of The Unjust Steward."

“Shrewd” – That's a loaded word! Sometimes it has a negative connotation.  Let's consider the positive meaning.  It means “to act with foresight.”  It means “to act decisively in the present so you're better positioned for the future.”

For some, the decision you need to make right now is to surrender your life to Jesus Christ.  One day your life will end.  Your body will die.  Your stewardship will end.  Death is God's way of saying, “You can no longer be a steward. Give account.”  One day you will give account of your life, including what you did with the opportunities to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Knowing that life is temporary and time passes quickly, you must act shrewdly concerning eternity.

The Commendation of A Rogue (Lu. 16:1-9) (Part 4)

OBSERVATIONS:

It is in the nature of people to protect their interests and propagate their future.  To be human is to be interested obsessively in self-preservation.  You labor to preserve your career, your money, your possessions, your reputation and your legacy.  What have you done to preserve your soul?

There is nothing like a sense of urgency to motivate you.  The gig is almost over, your life is getting shorter, and your opportunities are getting fewer.  Jesus, the Owner of it all (Psa. 24:1), could come at any time to demand an account from you.  Consider it your spiritual audit.  Every second you postpone the decision to surrender to Jesus, you are playing time roulette with your soul.  Knowing you could die at any time, why do you wait?  You don't honestly believe you have all the time in the world, do you?  Come on, you've attended too many funerals to believe you're exempt from death.

To successfully manage your greatest assignment – your spiritual life – you must have a “do whatever it takes” mindset, so long as “whatever it takes” isn't illegal, immoral or un-biblical. Serving Jesus requires attention, diligence and consistency.  Serving Jesus is a surrender and not an experiment, a consumption and not a flirtation, a passion and not a diversion, a lifestyle and not a decision only.

The Commendation of A Rogue (Lu. 16:1-9) (Part 3)

THIRD, CONSIDER THE MESSAGE OF THE STORY.  Consider what the story does not teach.  The story does not teach that Jesus condones dishonest practice and situational ethics, or that people can earn spiritual favor (Eph. 2:8-9).

Consider what the story does teach.  The time to prepare for tomorrow is today.  The manager wondered, “What will I do when my stewardship is over?”  You are a steward of the time you have, the opportunity you have and the body you have.  The day approaches when your time will come, your opportunity will cease and your body will die.  Death is God's way of saying to your body, “You're fired!”  What will you do when that moment catches up to you?

The time to prepare for “after” is now (2 Cor. 6:2).  Have you adequately prepared for what happens after you die?  Don't believe the lie that says, “When you die, that's it.”  No! When you die, that's not it, unless by “it” you mean judgment (Heb. 9:27).

The Commendation of A Rogue (Lu. 16:1-9) (Part 2)

SECOND, CONSIDER THE METHOD OF THE MANAGER.  The manager's method was unauthorized by the owner.  The owner would not have authorized any procedure that brought intentional loss.  The manager's method was unexpected by the debtors.  The debtors would not have imagined an offer that lowered financial responsibility.  The manager's method was underscored at the conclusion.  The hearers would not have expected an ending that complimented the manager.  This was a commendation, not a recommendation.

The Commendation of A Rogue (Lu. 16:1-9) (Part 1)

FIRST, CONSIDER THE MERCY OF THE OWNER.  Let's look at the definition of mercy.  Mercy is not getting what you do deserve.

Let's look at the demonstration of mercy.  What did the manager deserve?  The manager deserved immediate firing from his position, immediate accounting of his mismanagement and immediate publicizing of his incompetency.  What did the manager receive?  The manager received from the owner adequate time for transitional considerations.  The owner wasn't obligated to provide this courtesy.

Ephesians 2:4 teaches that God is "rich in mercy."  Aren't you glad God shares His abundance?  Can you recall a time when God didn't give you what you did deserve?  If you aren't moved with gratitude right now, something is wrong!