Ep. 179 - Wounds that Heal #6 - Use Temporary Blessings for Eternal Benefits - Luke 16:1-13

Sermon Series: Wounds That HealNot all wounds are bad. A skilled surgeon takes a deadly sharp scalpel and cuts through flesh and muscle. The result of that wound: not harm, but healing. In the same way, we often say that words cut us to the heart. Words can wound. Sometimes, however, those painful words provide the very healing we need.This Sermon's Focus:The parable of the shrewd manager is a difficult one, but one that gives us nuance and tactics when dealing with our earthly time and relationships. Jesus tells us to be shrewd like people can be when trying to get ahead. They do that for temporary gain, but Jesus wants us to use that tenacity for the kingdom and eternal blessings. Be aggressive in reaching the lost. Be willing to fully invest yourself into the ministry even if it costs more. Use temporary things to maximize eternal conversations. This sermon gives us a lot of practical ideas to think about and to wrestle with as we steward our time, talents and gifts to God's glory and for the expansion of His kingdom. Our Sermon Text: Luke 16:1-13Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’6 “‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied.“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’“‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied.“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”