Reflecting God ~ Embrace Holy Living ~ Thursday, 31 October 2013 ~ ”Trustworthy Stewards” ~ Luke 16:1 He also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 He called him, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’
3 “The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg. 4 I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from management, they may receive me into their houses.’ 5 Calling each one of his lord’s debtors to him, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe to my lord?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred batos* of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors† of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’
8 “His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light. 9 I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents. 10 He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 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 else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You aren’t able to serve God and Mammon.”‡
14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they scoffed at him. 15 He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.(Messianic WEB)
“Trustworthy Stewards” by Kenneth E. Crow
You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time, or so the saying attributed to Abraham Lincoln goes. Unfortunately, over the last several decades research shows there has been a significant decline in the United States in trust in Christian leaders. Too many who claim the name of Christ misused funds entrusted to them for the work of the church. We expected them to demonstrate integrity, but they proved themselves unworthy of trust.
The people who have most influenced and helped me in my Christian journey were not without flaws in judgment and action. I don’t know any perfect people. However, the ones who are really convincing to me have been, and are, people that I believe tell me the truth.
You probably can’t fool all of the people as often as in earlier days, and the proportion who can be fooled all of the time has probably decreased significantly. This makes it even more important than those of us who tell the good news of the gospel be known as trustworthy.
Hymn for Today:
”I Am Resolved” by Palmer Hartsough
1. I am resolved no longer to linger,
Charmed by the world's delight;
Things that are higher, things that are nobler,
These have allured my sight.
Chorus:
I will hasten to Him,
Hasten so glad and free.
Jesus, greatest, highest,
I will come to Thee.
2. I am resolved to go to the Savior,
Leaving my sin and strife.
He is the true one, He is the just one,
He hath the words of life.
Chorus:
I will hasten to Him,
Hasten so glad and free.
Jesus, greatest, highest,
I will come to Thee.
Chorus:
I will hasten to Him,
Hasten so glad and free.
Jesus, greatest, highest,
I will come to Thee.
3. I am resolved to follow the Savior,
Faithful and true each day.
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
He is the Living Way.
Chorus:
I will hasten to Him,
Hasten so glad and free.
Jesus, greatest, highest,
I will come to Thee.
4. I am resolved to enter the Kingdom,
Leaving the paths of sin.
Friends may oppose me foes may beset me,
Still will I enter in.
Chorus:
I will hasten to Him,
Hasten so glad and free.
Jesus, greatest, highest,
I will come to Thee.
5. I am resolved, and who will go with me?
Come, friends, without delay;
Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,
We'll walk the heav'nly way.
Chorus:
I will hasten to Him,
Hasten so glad and free.
Jesus, greatest, highest,
I will come to Thee.
Thought for Today:
“In God’s economy the question is less about money and more about being faithful”(Rob Prince).
Prayer Needs:
Developing Christian leaders in Saint Vincent.
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2923 Troost Avenue
Kansas City , MO 64109-1593
Nazarene Publishing House
PO Box 843336
Kansas City , MO 64184-3336
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