This message is based on one of the most confusing parables of Jesus. Yet it teaches us about our use of the Master’s resources and how God intends our wealth to be used for both building the Kingdom and our own good. Part of our spiritual growth includes how we use our treasure for eternal influence. Let’s learn how our finances can affect our legacy.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
1. Have you ever had a prized possession that others just thought was worthless?
2. Generosity starts now. Read Luke 16:9-12. Is Jesus promoting dishonesty or unrighteousness? What would be “unrighteous wealth”? What “friends” might be able to receive you into eternal dwellings? When do you start being generous?
3. Generosity isn’t an amount; it’s an attitude. Read Luke 21:1-4 and Malachi 3:10. Would it harder to tithe if you made $10,000 per year or $100,000? What about having a salary of $1 million? What can you learn from the widow? What is the promise of Malachi?
4. God owns it all. Read Luke 16:12 (again) and Psalm 24:1. How does verse 12 relate to you as a follower of Jesus? Do you know, through and through, what Psalm 24:1 is teaching about ownership? Do you most often feel grateful or entitled? Is it clearly “yours” or “God’s”? Do your kids and friends know you honor God with your finances? Would you say you were ready for more financial responsibility because you understand these principles and know God trusts you and blesses you for your generosity?
5. Greed will consume you. Read Luke 16:13, Matthew 6:19-21, and 1 Timothy 6:9-10. What do these verses tell us about our attitudes towards money? What will the love of money cause us to do? Have you ever experienced the principle that with more stuff comes more maintenance, payments, and responsibilities?
6. Final Thoughts: There were three practical ways discussed this week to conquer the power of earthy treasure in our lives: build a budget; be grateful; begin to tithe. Which of these is easy for you? Which are harder? How can you make a practical change or commitment this week that will show where your heart is centered?
Deeper
This weekend’s message was based of Jesus’ teachings in Luke 16:1-13. Some versions call this the “The Parable of the Dishonest Manager” while others call him the “unjust steward” or the “shrewd manager.” At first read, it seems Jesus is condoning the manager’s dishonest behavior. Let’s look deeper at this parable and what God is teaching us.
7. Read Luke 16:1-2. What did the master hear? What did he ask for? What do you assume he will do next? Are we certain that the steward will lose his job? Does the master give him any hope?
8. Read Luke 16:3-7. In these verses, the dishonest manager is talking to himself. What is he deciding to do? What is his motivation? How did he deal with the debtors?
9. Read Luke 16:8. Why does the master commend the dishonest manager?