Steward Leadership - Parable of the Unjust Steward Part 3

 

        This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters and leaders. 

Today we continue our series on steward leadership, and we complete our study of the parable of the Unjust Steward. 

A steward is defined as “someone who manages resources belonging to another person in order to achieve the owner’s objectives.” In our context, we are managing resources provided by the Lord for our Village Church Planting work. 

In my previous podcasts, I introduced three themes in this parable

• Stewards must give an account.  

• The shrewdness of the steward and the commendation from his master

• The criticality of faithfulness in both small things and in our stewardship of resources

An important principle that Jesus is trying to is convey that it is much better to be a just, or trustworthy, steward rather than an unjust one. Don’t be confused by his commendation of the unjust steward.  We addressed that issue in our previous podcast. The unjust steward saw his master’s resources as a means for his own personal enjoyment and advancement. Instead, Jesus wants His followers to be trustworthy and righteous stewards. 

Jesus explains today’s principle in verses 10 and 11. 

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?

This reminds me of our study of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.  If we are faithful in small things, we will be entrusted with more.  And, if we can’t be faithful with earthly wealth, which isn’t even ours to begin with, then how can we be entrusted with the “true riches” of God’s Kingdom? 

The key point of Jesus’ application is verse 13.  “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (see also Matthew 6:24). If God is our Master, then our resources – our time, talents, and treasure - will be at His disposal. The faithful and just steward whose Master is God will employ all that he or she is, and does, to build up the kingdom of God.

On the other hand, those who love money more than God and who are merely seeking to get paid or get rich and are not prioritizing God’s eternal kingdom. 

In our next episode, we will continue our study of steward leadership. This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters and leaders.