I am going to break this down because I think this is a hard one to chew on.
The Parable of the Unjust or Just Steward.
The text can be broken down into two parts: the parable (verses 1–8) and the application (verses 9–13). Luke identifies that Jesus is speaking to His disciples again, but others are listening in. It is important to know who Jesus is addressing this parable: the Pharisees.
The parable begins with a rich man calling his steward before him to inform him that he will be relieving him of his duties for mismanaging his master’s resources. A steward is a person who manages the resources of another. The steward had authority over all of the master’s resources and could transact business in his name. The steward is being released for mismanagement.
The steward, realizing that he will soon be without a job, makes some shrewd deals behind his master’s back by reducing the debt owed by several of the master’s debtors in exchange for shelter when he is eventually put out. When the master becomes aware of what the wicked servant had done, he commends him for his “shrewdness.”
Jesus is encouraging His followers to be generous with their wealth in this life. Jesus wants His followers to be just, righteous stewards. If we understand the principle that everything we own is a gift from God, then we realize that God is the owner of everything and that we are His stewards.
If one is faithful in “little” then one will be faithful in much. Similarly, if one is dishonest in little, he will also be dishonest in much. If we can’t be faithful with earthly wealth, which isn’t even ours, to begin with, then how can we be entrusted with “true riches”?
“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”. God is our Master, then our wealth will be at His disposal. In other words, the faithful and just steward whose Master is God will employ that wealth in building up the kingdom of God.
The rich man and Lazarus. We are uncertain if this is a real story or a parable but what we do know is Jesus is giving a strong message that Heaven and Hell are real This story also states that once we die there are no second chances. When believers die, they are immediately in fellowship with the Lord. When unbelievers die, they are immediately in pain, suffering, and torment of hell. Some (my mom) believe there is a middle ground called Purgartiry so that we all get a second chance. This certainly is not true.
‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
The part of the story that hit me the hardest is that the Lord is clear that we have the Truth of reality at our fingertips. We have the Bible. It is very clear on all matters.
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
We have promises and warnings. We have no excuse.
Chapter 17 Hmmm. A good reminder that we are never worthy. This is why our salvation is called Grace-an underserved gift from God’s lo
10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
Reading the Bible - 2021 