"He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much, and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will 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 be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
Good Morning my beloved,
We welcome you to worship today in the name of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for joining us today, whether it's your first time or you are a faithful member of our family in Christ, your presence is acknowledged and truly appreciated. If you're not certain about whether or not you want to embrace Jesus Christ, I pray there will be something in our message today that will point you toward Christ.
Materialism stands in direct opposition to biblical Christianity, as the core principles are fundamentally incompatible with one another, because materialism essentially denies the existence of anything beyond the here and now, whereas Christianity calls us to be faithful to our Creator, God, Who brought all things into being, creating and sustaining both the heavens and the earth. We’re all very much aware of rising costs due to the situation in the Middle East, however, whatever happens politically or economically in the United States has absolutely no direct impact on the church, neither inhibiting or accelerating the development of the church. The kingdom of God exists independently, as a distinct, self-contained organism, entirely separate, with no direct connection to the kingdoms of this world. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in a capitalist society or a communist one.
The kingdom of God operates according to the divine purposes of God and the divine hand of God and is not subject to the whimsical shifts that exist in human cultures or any form of government that exists. It does, however, have an indirect impact on the Church insofar as the way we as Christians respond to it. And, that is my concern because of the socialist anti-America agenda that is being played out before us, taking money from people who have it to give it to the people who has done nothing to earn it, and in most cases, don't deserve it. And, since the government is the controlling agency in all of this, the takeover will continue to be great. In other words, though the government doesn’t directly impact the church, it does indirectly impacts the church as it puts more and more pressure on the people of God to be good stewards of what they possess. People who have been generous in the past may find themselves with fewer opportunities, now, as the use of their discretionary funds have become significantly more restricted. Though some critics argue that labeling progressive policies as "socialist Marxism" or "anti-American" are exaggerated claims and are merely a tactic to delegitimize reforms that confront entrenched capitalist economic interests, rather than a genuine threat to American democracy, especially during periods of heightened political tension.
Key political progressive figures such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, both identify as democrats, and advocate for policies such as class-conscious systemic reform through wealth redistribution and universal healthcare through initiatives like the Affordable Care Act and proposals for Medicare for All, central to Democratic policy, along with the cancellation of student debt, a strategic move toward "government-backed" public options. The challenges however remain in limited provider participation, narrow networks, and insurer pushback due to mandated pricing. My point is all government-backed programs must be funded, and you and I are ultimately going bear the financial burden of government spending— not the politicians, with whom the power to control the federal budget lie, which is violation of the biblical principal stated in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, "For even when we were with you, we used to command this to you: if anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat." It's one thing to invest for the few years of retirement here, it's quite another to make secure invest that are safe and yields returns far beyond this life, for all of eternity, and that's exactly what Jesus is teaching here. What a magnificent reflection on our eternal investments—the thought that the investments we make today for the future will be known to God, Who will ensure those who lives were touched by our generosity—those we've helped, encouraged, or supported through our giving— are one day going to be there to welcome us into Heaven when we arrive. What an extraordinary gift from our loving Father. The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:6–7, that our generous giving is not just charity—it's seed planted into eternity, cultivated by God’s grace, yielding an eternal harvest that will be multiplied beyond what we can see now. Scripture affirms that small beginnings, when planted in faith, are capable of growing into something far greater. (Matthew 13:31–32)
My beloved friends, it is crucial to understand that your sin has offended a Righteous and Holy God. According to a Barna Group, which conducted an extensive research and analysis on religious beliefs in America, twenty-five percent of born-again Christians hold universalist, believing that all people are eventually saved or accepted by God. Forty percent of born-again Christians believed Christians and Muslims worship the same God, and 26% believed all faiths teach the same lessons.
Furthermore, in 2023, only 13% of born-again Christians held a biblical worldview, down from 19% in 2020, indicating a growing drift from orthodox beliefs.
In 2021, a Barna study found that while 51% of adults claimed to have a biblical worldview, only 6% actually met the criteria, such as rejecting eternal punishment or affirming multiple paths to salvation, revealing widespread self-deception about doctrinal alignment. While other reports found that millions of people who "identify as Christian" believe both that they are saved by grace and that good works can earn salvation—which is a theological contradiction.
Ephesians 2:8–9, clearly contradicts the idea that salvation is earned or universally granted regardless of faith. John 14:6 affirms that Heaven is not a universal destiny for all humanity. Similarly, John 3:36 asserts that whoever does not "obey the Son" shall not see life but remains under the wrath of God, implying a final, unresolvable state for the unbeliever rather than a future redemption. Additionally, 2 Peter 3:9 is not a guarantee of universal salvation, but an illustration of God's patience, emphasizing that after the opportunity for repentance expires, there is a fixed day of Judgment that awaits the unredeemed. Frankly, by suggesting that those who reject His Son are saved anyway, effectively negates the holiness and justice of God, thereby contradicting the numerous biblical warnings about the severity of rejecting Christ's sacrifice. Jesus also taught in the Parable of the Sower, that the seed symbolizes the Word of God, while four different types of soil, indicating the condition of the human heart determines the outcome of the Gospel message. While Scripture affirms that God's desire is that all people to be saved, it explicitly states that only those who personally believe in Jesus Christ and confess Him as Lord will receive eternal life, rejecting the idea that the Bible teaches a fixed and final judgment for anyone whose name is not found in the "book of life" is cast into eternal punishment, is, I believe based on what God has said, a misrepresentation of Scripture. While everyone will acknowledge Jesus as Lord at some point, mere confession without a fundamental transformation of the heart or "turning from sin and turning toward God" does not guarantee eternal life, Jesus clearly taught in Luke 13 that it is the repentance of sins which marks eternal life. We must pray for those who are those immersed in evil, such as the victims of sin and sexual abuse, asking God to redeem them, granting them the ability to forgive their offender without compromising their personal safety. Transformation turns prayer into praise.
Some years ago, Dr. Aaron Beck, an American psychiatrist and globally recognized founder of Cognitive Behavior Therapy with his daughter, Judith S. Beck, which continues to train thousands of therapists worldwide today, did a ten-year study of patients who are hospitalized with suicidal tendencies. While one might generally assume that greater wealth or assets would reduce suicide risk, the relationship is more complex than that. What Dr. Beck found was, "That greater resources, often increases risk." Wealth inequality and social comparison are significant drivers among the affluent, or we used to call it in my day, "keeping up with the Joneses." It's the fear of losing status. The more anxiety you have and the more likely you are to commit suicide. As much as five times more likely. More than 70% of people with at least one suicide attempt meet the diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder. When anxiety is combined with depression, the risk for suicide increases significantly. This is a fallen world, inhabited by fallen human beings — ever since sin, suffering, and death were introduced into creation, fracturing the sacred relationship between a Holy God and humanity. Anxiety and depression are the natural consequences of making disobedient choices over seeking God's kingdom. As Christians, we rely upon God for everything, in all of life's situations, therefore, there's nothing to be anxious about. Even if we are persecuted and tortured for our faith.
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus taught that worry is forbidden, saying "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single cubit to his life span? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." To worry then is the direct result of living contrary to Scripture, the natural consequence of not seeking God's kingdom first and failing to rely on His providential care. Those who worry demonstrate a lack of understanding of the Scripture. In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul wrote from prison, "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and self-discipline."
Sensitivity to Sin, obedience to God's Word and rejection of the things of this world, in favor of abiding in the Father's love, demonstrating fervent, sincere love for the brethren are the fruit that results from saving faith, distinguishing true believers from those who claim faith without the accompanying power to love and obey. This is the litmus test, the necessary evidence of a transformed heart, the hallmark of true conversion, deeply rooted in Scripture. Jesus repeatedly links obedience directly to abiding in His love (John 14:15; 15:10)
In 1 John 2:3, the Apostle John makes the clear connection between genuine relationship with Christ and obedience, and the growing desire to please God, ultimately transforming their lives to align with His will. My point is, if this doesn't describe your relationship with Christ, I strongly encourage you to examine your heart, your life, to be sure you are in the faith, because you don’t know when you’re going to die. If you die without being prepared, you will surely perish. Apart from Christ there is absolutely no forgiveness of sins, none.
Let's pray
Heavenly Father,
Father, as always, we are so thankful for Your Word, so grateful for all the many reasons to believe. Father, my prayer is that as we go through Luke's Gospel together that it might not just end with us, that You will surprise us, by brining many more to believe who will come to saving faith in Christ. Lord, I pray that You would help us to always do what is right, what is wise and pleasing to You, not to simply do what our sinful desires long for. May we demonstrate Your love to those outside Your Church, remembering they are not our enemies, but our mission field. May You confirm to our heart that which will make a difference in our lives to Your glory and for Christ's sake. It is in His most precious name we ask and pray these things.
Amen.
Today's Message: A Litmus Test in Spiritual Faithfulness
The transition from verse 9 to verse 10 is critical, it reveals the spiritual condition of a person’s heart through their handling of seemingly insignificant matters. While often quoted in sermons, I believe these verses on stewardship and integrity, carry far deeper theological and practical implications than are frequently explored. It seems to me that far too many evangelical preachers today have come to view biblical preaching as somehow unfriendly, out-of-step with what's happening in contemporary society, leaving them fearful that those who preach biblical truths will appear out-of-sync, failing to connect with whatever is happening in contemporary society, and are therefore, softening their views on sexuality and social justice, downplaying key passages of Scripture to align with modern culture and avoid convicting their hearers of sinful behaviors and lifestyles.
Open your Bibles with me if you would to the 16th chapter of Gospel of Luke, as we conclude the parable of the unrighteous steward, it's the one immediately following the rich Parable of the Prodigal Son. I'd like to encourage you to follow along with me as I read these thirteen verse with an open heart to set the text in minds. Luke 16:10-13.
"He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much, and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will 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 be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
Jesus is a Master storyteller, His stories were often drawn from everyday life experiences, like farming and family life. Some of the lessons He taught were pretty shocking, challenging the social and religious norms of the day, especially for the time. Much like today, the impact of His stories on listeners depended entirely on the condition of their hearts: those with hardened hearts remained unable to grasp their meaning, while those with open hearts and receptive minds found profound clarity and spiritual insight. This is another one of those stories, which is just that, a story He invented to illustrate a point, a dishonest steward cleverly reduces debts to secure future favor. We would've understood if his master would have punished him, reprimanded him publicly. But he didn't, he praised him for his shrewdness. The story is very simple, there are no hidden details, just a profound lesson on discipleship using worldly resources to secure eternal outcomes. The context here is crucial, Jesus is teaching about the contrast between materialism and eternal values, directly challenging the Pharisees, who were religious elite—who were described as "lovers of money"— that equated divine blessing with material wealth. The surprise ending was really not that unusual for Jesus, He often told stories that were intended to penetrate the heart, where figures like the Good Samaritan were the heroes and religious elites were often the ones failing to grasp the deeper spiritual truths. Using a flawed individual to illuminate a profound truth — this is what I like to refer to as the "work of the Word." The power to pierces the soul, transforming hearts and minds in order to equip an individual to accomplish God's purposes. That's why we must always be faithful to the text, God's Word never returns void. Some people have worked really hard to try to read something into this parable that's just not there, that's really not unusual, people seem to want to do that all the time with Jesus' words. The general rule of thumb in expository preaching, is you take a portion of the Scripture, and you develop that portion of Scripture into a message, putting a beginning, and an ending, and a middle, and it’s all self-contained. I'll be the first to admit that I’m prone to violate those principles. I often start out with a message that is direct, that has a beginning and an end, and somewhere in the middle it ends up taking the scenic route as I get into the text, because I can’t seem to allow myself to leave something out that I believe is so very important to the message. And so, we end of up with a message being part of series of messages rather than just the one of two I had initially intended, which is why we're completing the parable of the unrighteous steward today, hopefully. Oh, by the way, before we begin, there is the assumption today that Jesus spoke in parables to make things clear to unbelievers. In fact, I've often heard people say, "Pastor's need abandon doctrine and propositional truth and become storytellers like Jesus." And I want to make something very clear: Jesus did not speak in parables in order to make things clearer to unbelievers. He spoke in parables as a judgment so they would not understand. He spoke in parables that He might communicate truth clearly to His own people, and as a judgment tempered with mercy to those who rejected the truth. By giving them more revelation, it would have made them more guilty for their rejection, ultimately making their eternal punishment even worse. In fact, Matthew 13:34 states that "All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He was not speaking to them without a parable. If you will recall, this dramatic change occurred after the disciples asked why He spoke to the people in parables, leading Jesus to explain that parables served as a means of judgment for those with hardened hearts who had already rejected His message, while simultaneously revealing hidden truths to His disciples, those who had "ears to hear."
I can speak plainly to people, just as Jesus spoke plainly to the multitudes during His Sermon on the Mount, but only those with hears will hear. The phrase "he who has ears to hear" serves as a call to action for listeners to move beyond mere auditory reception to achieve greater spiritual understanding and obedience, distinguishing those who truly comprehend the message from those who simply only hear it. As pastors, we are merely God's fellow workers, each will receive our reward based on the faithfulness of labor we've performed, not on the results they achieved, because human effort alone is insufficient without divine intervention. God alone is the only one who can change hearts and lives that causes spiritual growth and determines ministry success. The goal to is not invest in ministries that attract crows, but invest in those are faithfully committed to carrying on Christ's work. Psalm 24:1 declares, "The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it." We're just managers of what's been entrusted to us, not the owner. How we use what God gives determines our spiritual character, not the amount. What faithful servant of Christ doesn't want to be told: "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things."
Verse 11, "Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?" This is the pivotal moment in Jesus' parable, a tool for testing our spiritual character and faithfulness. Notice how He's establishing a direct correlation between faithfulness in small, temporary matters such as earthly wealth and the granting of greater, eternal responsibilities in heaven? This is the litmus test, If God cannot trust us with something as morally ambiguous as money— which will ultimately perish— why would He entrust us with something infinitely far more valuable, our ultimate inheritance and reward in God's kingdom that lasts forever? Friends, today is a good time to examine your motives, test your heart and the use of God's resources placed under your temporary management. Ask yourself, "Is this the best use of God's resources to spread the Gospel and advance His kingdom?" Our spiritual character is the foundation of our Christian giving, it is an expression of God's own character, a reflection of His generosity, Who gave His Son out of love for us while we were yet sinners. How much more should we who have received much be willing to give cheerfully and generously? If heaven is really where your heart is, that's where you're going to generously put your money, paving the way HOME. I'll tell you one thing, you're not going to take any of this stuff with you when your time comes. Remember the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21, to whom God said "‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you prepared?’" Practice radical generosity: Give generously while you live to those church ministries and organizations you know and trust, keeping in mind the sobering truth that you will one day give an account for how you stewarded what was entrusted to you. Luke 6:38 says, "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." How much clearer can you get, but don't expect God to reward you if you've squandered your opportunity, if you've your God-given resources for personal gain rather than His Kingdom. We expect selfish self-indulgence without restraint from unbelievers, but never from those who claim to belong to our Lord Jesus Christ, Who explicitly commanded His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him. I've learned that the moment you say anything offensive, as soon as you start speaking the Truth confronting false Christianity, people are going to open fire on you, they're going to mock and they're going to speak lies about you, because that's the mentality we're dealing with today in a culture that will not accept a message that contradicts their false teachings. Jesus and the early church faced similar ridicule. In fact, in John 13:16 Jesus said "Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him." The key is imitating Christ's Response as He was mocked and spat upon during the night of of His crucifixion without responding with contempt. As followers of Christ, we should prioritize our efforts, focusing on sanctification and becoming more like Him, rather than wasting energy on unproductive debates aimed at “winning” arguments.
Verse 12, "And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?" This is a rhetorical question, implying the obvious negative: No one will give you what is your own if you’ve been unfaithful with what belongs to another. In fact, the reality is, you don't even own what you think you own, it all belongs to God! Our handling of these temporary, worldly resources is a litmus test of our faithfulness, our character. If we are dishonest, wasteful, or self-serving with what belongs to God or others, we prove ourselves unworthy of the eternal riches God offers us. You'll forfeit your inheritance. In order to recognize and address spiritual integrity, evaluate whether your life demonstrate whether you are walking according to the flesh or according to the Spirit.
That brings us to verse 13, "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." This is just common sense, it's axiomatic, the whole sentence is predicated on the Greek verb "douleúō," a bond-slave, signifying total allegiance to Christ and total ownership by God; derived from the root word "doúlos" meaning a person who belongs to another, under their authority, having all personal ownership-rights assigned to the owner. Obedience to Christ is not a part-time job, we're talking about being the property of a Master who has absolute control. A slave has no time or possessions that are his own, his main objective is to live a life of full-time service, requiring complete availability, total devoted to doing what pleases his Master. Christ is the One who bought us at a price — His own blood — making us His own possession; therefore, let us belong to Him wholly, completely, with no will other than to do His will. I guarantee this doesn't sit well with some of you. You don't want that kind of relationship with Christ. But if you're going to profess to be a Christian, if you're going to claim to belong to Christ, this is the way it's going to be. This is the path to true freedom, the escape from sin, death and Hell. This is not just symbolic language but a binding covenant and spiritual reality, sealed by the shedding of blood. This is the heart of true discipleship.
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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