He that is faithful in that which is Least....the Wayfarer 3/26/15

He that is faithful in that which is Least
3/26/15

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”

(Luke 16:10)

For today’s message we go to the book of Luke and the 16^th chapter where we find Jesus continuing to teach his disciples after having used the parable of the prodigal son to show them the way to forgiveness through true and contrite repentance of past sins.

In attendance is also the usual throng of people who hunger for His teachings, and of course the scribes, Pharisees and those who scoff at the teachings, and search for a way to entrap him with their continual misrepresentation and embellishments on God’s laws.

Christ continues to warn those closest to him of the traps that are so easy to fall into by being self-centered and avaricious, the consequences of such behavior, and the rewards of overcoming this particular abomination.

 As is usual, I will backtrack to the content of the lesson before coming to the meat given in the introductory verse:

“And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods,

And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? For my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

(Luke 16:1-4)

Jesus introduces us to a steward who has failed in his responsibility to serve the household for which he has been employed. We are also, much more briefly, introduced to the master of the household to whom this steward is beholden. Before continuing it is necessary that the reader understand exactly what a steward is, and the responsibility with which he has been entrusted.

Webster’s defines this word as: one employed in a large household or estate to manage domestic concerns (as in the supervision of servants, collection of rents, and keeping of accounts.)

Zondervan’s adds to this, ministers, and Christians, and gives references to 1 Corinthians 4:1 and 1 Peter 4:10

A “Steward” is therefore one entrusted with all the precious things which belong to his Master.

This particular Steward had been accused of mismanaging his responsibilities, paying attention only to those things that brought him credit and profit instead of performing the function of watching out for the interests of his master.

Once called to give an account to his boss, he realized that he was about to be fired for his inefficiency and gave careful consideration to his own future welfare.

He realized that his skills were limited, and that the possibilities that were open to him would be further diminished by the reputation that he had established with this employer. He knows that no one else will hire him in the same capacity once they realize the reasons for his having been released.  He states: “I cannot dig….He has no ability for physical labor…to beg I am ashamed… He still has a modicum of pride that will not allow him to simply give up.

In order to reestablish his reputation he realizes that he must, in some way, make up for the mistakes he has made:

“So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou my lord?

And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? An he said An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill and write fourscore.

And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”

(Luke 16:5-10)

The steward, realizing the need to make at least partial amends to his boss, goes out and does what should have been done to begin with, collecting on the debts that are owed, in part, as the individual was able to repay.

This in turn is greeted by the boss with appreciation and the steward is commended for his efforts.

Jesus says that the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light, referring to the fact that even those among us who have no respect for God, recognize the need to deal with others in such a way as not to damage their business.

He then goes on to tell his disciples to learn from this example of how to treat the things with which they are entrusted in this world, because, though it is of little importance (things) in the next world, the care shown is of great importance.

If we are to be faithful in the important things entrusted to us, we must first be faithful in our stewardship of the little things. If we pay no attention to the “small” commandments, how can we be trusted with the larger focus on eternal life and the true righteousness required to achieve it???

Jesus continues:

“If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

(Luke 16:11-13)

Again I refer to the definition of stewardship and call to the reader’s attention that WE are stewards of all given us by God. I include every human being that draws a breath on this planet who has a stewardship given us from the time Adam was placed in the garden and was told to dress and keep it.

I include our leaders that have been given the stewardship of our households for the benefit of our children and the people who elected them that are supposed to be their Masters, and to whom they are obligated to perform the function for which they were hired.

I include all “Christians” in particular, given the stewardship of preserving and caring for the souls that they have been entrusted to give witness to. (This witness is one of the lives they lead, the way the live them, their treatment of others and the legacy they either leave, of love, or of the failure of legacy through the dedication shown, through the constant search for more earthly riches at the expense of those very souls entrusted to them.)

I include parents in this stewardship… The morality and love they teach, or the example they set by the lack of self-sacrifice and greed for their own particular wants and addictions.

I particularly include those who count themselves to be ministers, supposed to be dedicated to the great commission and the gospel of Christ’s teachings.

Christ’s statement to his disciples applies to all of the above! Ye cannot serve God and mammon!!!

As always, those who had the most to lose by adhering to these teachings scoffed at Jesus’ words:

“And the Pharisees also who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

Whosoever, putteth away his wife, and marieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.

(Luke 16:14-18)

Of course the Pharisees derided Jesus! Like the steward that was given as an example in this particular teaching, they realized that their living came from their master (the people) and that if these teachings were taken to heart their theft and ineptitude would be recognized.

 They too couldn’t dig, and had no intention of begging… after all they had their interpretation of the law which provided for their living through the tithes required from the people. (Reminiscent of most of our current crop of political “leadership” and, unfortunately many of our ministers who are by definition of the word to be servants today)

Jesus tells them plainly that God knows their hearts, and knows their lack of penitence and tells them that what is esteemed by their fellow man is abominable to God!

He goes on to tell them that from the time that John first began to preach repentance and the kingdom of God that all mankind has begun to face a new rule of law that must be obeyed in order to reach that kingdom.

He continues that the law is the law and cannot be ignored in things great and small.

Without repentance, and the intercession of Christ Jesus no omission or infraction of that law may be forgiven.

I give thanks daily for that intercession and forgiveness, knowing full well that I have, over the years, violated every one of the commandments given by God, and would have to face eternity eternally damned were it not for the constant repentance that provided salvation found through faith and the forgiveness of that lone intercessor.

Once again, not to deviate from the given scripture, but rather to emphasize the importance of this message, I am reminded of the words of an old country song that talks about washing ones hands in muddy water, trying to do what my daddy told me, but hands that won’t come clean in a muddy stream.

Any attempt to cleanse ourselves of any and all sin may not be done by any means taught by mankind, but must be done through the blood of Jesus, which the word of God says will wash us white as snow!

I could easily choose to end this dissertation here, and be comfortable in having rightly divided the scripture, but Jesus continued to emphasize the necessity of being faithful in all things large and small with the following:

“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died and was buried;

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedest thy good things, and likewise Lazarlus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou tormented.

 And beside all this between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”

(Luke 16:20-26)

The rich man mentioned had no compassion on the beggar at his gate, yet asked compassion when he found himself in hell. Take note that even in hell his arrogance and pride were shown by his requesting that this “lowly” beggar be used as a servant to satisfy HIS needs despite the fact that he had had no concern for the needs of others while alive.

Abraham's answer gives us some insight into what awaits us all in the next world.

We all must face the same judgment, and will be separated across that great gulf by the actions and decisions made while in this life!

The rich man wasn’t through with his harangue of requests yet, again he expressed only concern for himself and his family:

“Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:

For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.”

(Luke 16:27-31)

This rich man, in his arrogance and pride, assumes that he is still due some special consideration, if not for himself, for his family!

He asks that Lazarus (still only a lowly beggar in his eyes) be sent to warn his brothers stating that if they see one from the dead, they would repent.

Abraham's answer was important to the Pharisees, and to the disciples, and continues in its importance to us today.

We have been given Moses and the prophets; we have been given the law; we have been provided with a means of redemption through Jesus sacrifice; repentance must come in this life, for once we have crossed to where that gulf exists, it is too late for that repentance.

We establish our future each moment in the present. We choose daily to either be good stewards, aware of what is required of us and the repentance for any failures on our behalf, or we choose the ways of this world and the inevitable judgment of damnation for our having scoffed at spiritual needs, substituting physical wants in their place.

Every decision we make throughout life bears consequences both in our future in this life, and in the determination of where we will spend eternity.

It is incumbent on each of us to be constantly aware of our stewardship that has been granted us no matter what position of power or wealth we may attain.

It is up to us to bear witness to those around us of the need for that same repentance while we can do so, with the knowledge that our actions and interactions affect not only our own lives, but all those with whom we come into contact.

I close for now with the same salutations of love as always, given by a simple sinner who knows who he is, and who has the solace of knowing that I am a sinner saved by grace through the required repentance and faith in my Savior, through nothing I have done nor can do, said, nor can say, but through the willing sacrifice of that Savior, Jesus.

Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer