- Wednesday, September 25th we will begin a new Bible study on the Gospel of John, 5:30 PM in Grace Place.
- Coming Soon! Sunday, September 29th following worship we will have a Mexican themed covered dish lunch to celebrate the upcoming marriage of William Whitworth to Katie Wesneski. Please bring a dish to share.
Scripture
Luke 16:1-15 (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.”
14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. 15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Questions for Reflection
1. How is a shrewd businessperson viewed in our society today?
2. In what ways does our culture pressure us to love money?
3. How can the love of money hurt a person?
4. What plan did the manager devise to secure his future? (16:4-7)
5. How did the rich master react to the dishonest dealings of the manager? (16:8)
6. Who are the "people of light" to whom Jesus referred? (16:8)
7. How does Jesus want us to use money? (16:9)
8. What main principle should govern the way we use our resources? (16:10-12)
9. Why is it impossible to serve two masters? (16:13)
10. What did Jesus mean when He said, "Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves"?
11. Why is it so difficult to keep a proper perspective on money?
12. What can you do to demonstrate your devotion to the Lord?
