Faithfulness

“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.”
Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God. The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail." Luke 16:10-18


Jesus began this lecture to His disciples with a parable of an unjust steward who was about to be fired for his slovenly, careless attitude toward his master's business interests (v.1-9). It was his job to keep the accounts in order, and he was too lazy to give proper attention to that duty. Knowing he was about to be unemployed and "on the street," he called in the master's debtors and made immediate, drastic cuts in the amounts owed, asking for immediate payment. This was an easy way out of debt for them financially and created an obligation to the steward who slashed their debt. He had thereby secured his future by means of manipulating worldly goods.

The master commended his ingenuity in using his present opportunities to prepare for the future. Our Lord said we citizens of heaven could take some cues from the worldlings in the way they handle their business dealings to further their own future advantage. Many of us seem to be along for the ride, putting forth no effort to learn and grow and store up treasures in heaven. Even earthly financial dealings teach us that he who is faithful in a little will be faithful also in much. If we won't carefully handle our master's assets, who would be willing to give us assets of our own to squander? If you can't be trusted with your friend's belongings, you likely won't protect your own.

He was directing this lecture to His disciples, but He was keenly aware that the Pharisees were listening and scoffing. They considered themselves pretty adept at serving God and wealth. Money was a favorite topic of theirs. They feigned piousness, but were really ruled by materialism. They weren't conning God. They, the stewards of Israel, were neglecting their duty to teach and lead God's people in His Truth, while squandering the divine operating assets they'd been entrusted with (the Law and the Prophets--Old Testament scripture). The materialism and political clout that the world admires is an abomination (KJV) to God. The Law, which had been proclaimed throughout Israel's history, was about to be fulfilled. A new dispensation was about to begin, and everyone wanted on the bandwagon. They'd have to leave their baggage behind. Only spiritual assets are accountable in heaven. Everything else will be burned.