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September 19, 2010

Consecrated Stewards are Faithful Stewards

Preacher: Rev. Jack Meehan Series: Stewardship 2010: Consecrated Stewards Category: Biblical Scripture: Luke 16:1–16:13

The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 18-19, 2010
Luke 16:1-13

“Consecrated Stewards are Faithful Stewards”

There was a well-respected building contractor who specialized in constructing beautiful and quality homes. His business prospered as customers came from near and far to hire him. In fact, he was so busy that his health began to deteriorate, and he was urged by his doctor to slow down. The man took his doctor’s advice and decided to take a year and travel around the world. He put his business in the hands of his vice-president, saying, “You’re in charge while I’m gone. And while I’m gone, have the employees build me a new house. Give it all you’ve got. Spare no expense. The house can be a model for what this company can do.” Then the boss left on his round-the-world trip. Months went by, and postcards were received from exotic, far-off locations. But over time, the VP started to become bitter and envious. “It’s not fair,” he thought angrily, and silently took revenge at his perceived injustice. He cut corners, used inferior materials, neglected the special touches, and pocketed the money he saved. When it was all done, the house looked great, but it would not hold up well over time. When the boss returned after his year away, he was given a great welcome by the employees. They had a big party, exchanged stories, food and friendship were enjoyed. As a finale, the boss toured his new home. “The house looks terrific,” he told the VP. “But when I think of all the work you put into it, giving so much of your time, effort, and skill, I can’t possibly live here.” He handed the keys to the VP and said, “Here – the house is yours. Enjoy.”

“Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?” (Luke 16:10-11). Jesus’ parable about the dishonest manager in today’s Gospel lesson leads us into a preaching series on what it means to be stewards, or managers, of what belongs to God. Week by week, we’ll look at different aspects of what this means under the theme of “Consecrated Stewards.” The message for today is entitled, “Consecrated Stewards are Faithful Stewards.” May the Lord’s rich blessing rest upon the preaching, the hearing, and the living of his Word, for Jesus’ sake.

First off, let’s establish a definition for what stewardship actually is, and contrary to popular belief, it’s not all about the money. God’s vision for stewardship is much bigger than that! So, here’s the definition:“Christian stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God and God’s family, the church, in managing all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes” (“Biblical Stewardship Principles,” LCMS Dept. of Stewardship Ministry, 1997). Did you hear that? It said “managing all of life and life’s resources…” Although our understanding of stewardship does include managing finances, it includes things that are just as valuable and more so than money: time, relationships, health, faith, and much more. How are we doing in managing these God-given gifts? Are we trying to “cheat the boss,” that is, God? Remember what the definition also said: “… managing all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes.” Bottom line: our calling to be God’s consecrated stewards is not all about me and what I want. God has set us apart for his special purposes in the world, beginning in Holy Baptism. We have been given a sacred trust here!

Could it be that, like the Grinch’s heart in that Christmas classic, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” our hearts are “two sizes too small?” Could it be that in spite of all that God has done for us – graciously providing for our every need, even giving the life of his only Son for our sins – that our hearts are puny, stunted, and underdeveloped? Could it be that we are actually “cheating the boss” by what we’re doing, or not doing, in managing the Boss’ gifts entrusted to our care? Our calling in Christ is faithfulness in all things – great and small, in little and in much.

Note that the rich man in the parable doesn’t praise his dishonest business manager for being dishonest. He “cooked the books” in order to gain the favor of his boss’ customers, which would come in very handy later on when he needed a job. The boss doesn’t praise the manager for his dishonesty, but he does commend him for his ingenuity and resourcefulness, even when this was at the boss’ expense! Can that ingenuity and resourcefulness be put to good use for the kingdom of God? The danger for us is that we can easily adopt the mindset of that dishonest manager, who used his boss’ resources for his own selfish purposes. And so we end up serving ourselves, rather than God. “You can’t have it both ways,” Jesus tells us: “No slave can serve two masters; for he will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Luke 16:13). As Jesus tells us in his Sermon of the Mount: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21). So, where is our treasure?

The rich man’s investments were certainly a whole lot less at the end of the day because of the dishonest manager. But what about God’s investments? God has invested something much more valuable than money in us. God’s investment was not with perishable things like gold or silver, but with the holy and precious blood of his only Son, who paid the price for our dishonesty, our sin. The Epistle lesson from Paul says this: “… there is [also] one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all…” (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Because of what Jesus has done for us, we have been set free and given a new lease on life; to see all of life through the eyes of the Savior who loves us and gave himself for us. No longer are we dishonest managers, sneaking around under the radar looking for opportunities to steal from the Boss. We are now consecrated stewards called to freely manage what belongs to the Master, and we do that with joy. My friends, Consecrated Stewards are Faithful Stewards. May God help us to do this, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

other sermons in this series