Faithful Stewardship: Trusting God in Every Aspect

This morning, we gathered in gratitude for the simple blessings—a gentle rain on a thirsty earth, the joy of community, and the opportunity to lift one another up in prayer. As we shared updates and concerns for those in our church family—those recovering from surgery, facing health challenges, or traveling—we were reminded of the power of intercession and the comfort of belonging to a body that cares deeply for each member. We also celebrated the small victories and answered prayers, recognizing God’s faithfulness in both the ordinary and extraordinary moments of our lives.

Turning to Scripture, we reflected on the parable of the shrewd manager from Luke 16, a story that has puzzled scholars and believers alike. In this parable, Jesus presents a manager who, facing dismissal for mismanaging his master’s resources, acts with cunning to secure his future. The master’s surprising commendation of the manager’s shrewdness challenges us to consider what it means to be wise stewards—not just of money, but of all that God entrusts to us.

The heart of the teaching is not an endorsement of dishonesty, but a call to spiritual wisdom. Jesus contrasts the “people of this world,” who are often more adept at navigating worldly systems, with the “people of the light,” who sometimes struggle to live out the values of God’s kingdom. The parable presses us to examine where we place our trust. Is it in wealth, status, or our own abilities—or is it in God alone? Jesus’ words remind us that whatever we trust in place of God—our own “mammon”—will ultimately fail us.

We are called to radical trust, to live as those whose true security is found in God’s provision and grace. Just as the manager’s actions had consequences for his master’s reputation, our stewardship reflects on the One we serve. God invites us to be faithful with what we have, to use our resources for eternal purposes, and to remember that our greatest debt has already been paid by Christ. As we go into the week, may we lean into God’s faithfulness, becoming light to the world and living lives marked by trust, gratitude, and wise stewardship.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True stewardship is about more than managing money; it’s about faithfully handling everything God entrusts to us—our time, relationships, and influence. The parable challenges us to consider how our daily choices reflect the character of the One we represent, and whether we are using what we have for purposes that endure beyond this life. [49:26]
• 2. The shrewd manager’s story reveals that worldly wisdom often outpaces spiritual wisdom, not because the world’s ways are better, but because the “people of the light” sometimes forget that the kingdom of God is already at work. We are called to live with intentionality, recognizing that our actions in the present have eternal significance. [54:35]
• 3. Jesus’ teaching on “mammon” goes deeper than money; it exposes whatever we trust in when we are not trusting God. This could be our own abilities, relationships, or even religious activity. The invitation is to examine our hearts and ask: what do I truly rely on when life gets uncertain? [55:58]
• 4. Radical trust in God often feels counterintuitive, especially in a world that prizes self-sufficiency and control. Yet, Jesus calls us to a life that looks different—a life where we surrender our need to manage outcomes and instead rest in the assurance that our deepest debts have already been paid by Christ. [58:37]
• 5. Our faithfulness in small things is a reflection of our readiness for greater responsibility in God’s kingdom. Just as the manager’s stewardship affected his master’s reputation, our lives are a testimony to God’s trustworthiness. Each day is an opportunity to choose whom we will serve, and to let our trust in God shape every aspect of our lives. [59:49]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [33:10] - Standing on the Promises (Opening Hymn)
• [35:45] - Rain and Simple Blessings
• [36:22] - Community Updates and Prayer Requests
• [38:14] - Youth Program and Church Family News
• [41:31] - Prayer for Our Church and World
• [45:45] - Reflections on Fellowship and Wisdom
• [46:55] - Introduction to the Parable of the Shrewd Manager
• [48:45] - Setting the Scene: Jesus’ Audience
• [49:26] - The Manager’s Role and Responsibility
• [51:17] - Interpretations of the Parable
• [53:19] - The Master’s Surprising Commendation
• [54:35] - Jesus’ Explanation: People of the World vs. People of the Light
• [55:58] - The Deeper Meaning of Mammon
• [57:22] - Living as Faithful Stewards
• [58:37] - Radical Trust and the Call to Discipleship
• [59:49] - God’s Exclusive Claim and Our Response
• [61:45] - Closing Hymn: I Stand Amazed

Bible Reading

Luke 16:1-13 (ESV) — 1 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.”

Observation Questions

1. What was the manager accused of, and what was the consequence he faced from his master? ([49:26])
2. How did the manager respond to the news that he was going to lose his job? What plan did he come up with? ([50:42])
3. What was surprising about the master’s reaction to the manager’s actions? ([53:19])
4. According to Jesus, how do the “people of this world” and the “people of the light” differ in the way they handle resources? ([54:35])

Interpretation Questions

1. The parable says the master commended the manager for his shrewdness, not his honesty. What does this suggest about the kind of wisdom Jesus wants his followers to have? ([53:19])
2. The sermon mentioned that “mammon” is not just money, but anything we trust instead of God. What are some examples of “mammon” in our lives today? ([55:58])
3. Jesus says, “You cannot serve both God and money.” What does it look like in real life to try to serve both, and why does Jesus say it’s impossible? ([59:49])
4. The sermon talked about how our stewardship reflects on the One we serve. In what ways do our daily choices show others what we truly value? ([49:26])

Application Questions

1. The sermon began with gratitude for simple blessings and the power of praying for one another. How can you be more intentional this week in noticing and giving thanks for “ordinary” blessings? Is there someone in our church family you could encourage or pray for specifically? ([35:45])
2. The parable challenges us to be wise stewards of everything God has given us—not just money, but time, relationships, and influence. What is one area of your life where you feel you could be a more faithful steward? What’s a small step you could take this week? ([49:26])
3. The manager acted quickly and decisively when faced with a crisis. Are there areas in your life where you tend to procrastinate or avoid making wise decisions? What would it look like to act with “spiritual shrewdness” in those situations? ([50:42])
4. The sermon said that “mammon” is whatever we trust when we aren’t trusting God—this could be our abilities, relationships, or even religious activity. When life gets uncertain, what do you tend to rely on most? How can you shift your trust more fully to God this week? ([55:58])
5. Jesus calls us to radical trust, which can feel counterintuitive in a world that values self-sufficiency. What is one area where you struggle to let go of control? What would it look like to surrender that area to God? ([58:37])
6. The sermon reminded us that our faithfulness in small things prepares us for greater responsibility in God’s kingdom. Can you think of a “small thing” in your life right now where you want to be more faithful? How might that impact your witness to others? ([59:49])
7. The parable ends with a reminder that our greatest debt has already been paid by Christ. How does remembering this truth change the way you approach your resources, your relationships, or your worries? ([59:14])