Beyond Blessed: It’s Spiritual, Not Financial

Text: Luke 16:1–13

16 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.
10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 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.”

When it comes to money… It’s not a Financial Issue, It’s a Spiritual Issue!

Three Big Questions Jesus Asks in This Parable:

Who Is Your Master? God or Money?

Luke 16:13 states, “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.”
Jesus clarifies: It is impossible!

Older Translations… “You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Mammon is a Aramaic word … transliterated in the greek… used 4 times in scripture, only in the NT, only by Jesus… 3 of those in this passage… translated to wealth or money

The Promise of Mammon:

Identity
Security
Prosperity
Influence

Here is the problem: These things only find their proper source in God

God identifies us
God is our security
True prosperity is in Him
Influence (all authority) comes from Him

David responded, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” – Psalm 20:7

Are You Passing the Money Test?

Luke 16:10-12 discusses the importance of faithfulness: “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?”
Test with Unrighteous Wealth => Trust with True Riches
Money is not evil; it’s neutral.

1 Timothy 6:10: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

How do I pass the test?

Recognize that it is not mine.
Honor God with the First.
Steward Faithfully the rest.

Final Question: Can I Trust You to Use What is Temporary to Acquire True Timeless Treasure?

Verse 9 advises, “And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.”