Chatsworth Baptist Church

Text: St. Luke 16: 1-13 (Read)

WASTE: Do we believe this to be common practice in our day and age? Yes! We do not take of all that is entrusted into our care. For example, the time that has been allocated to us, the money that we received in favour of hours of  work, the body that God has blessed us with, and the list can go on. 1 Corinthians 4: 2 says, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful”. 2 Timothy 1; 14 “That good thing (that sound Word) which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.” 1 Peter 4: 10 “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

Which of the things entrusted to us by God do we waste the most?

WANT: I believe that at some time in our lives that responsibility comes to us. The steward made no attempt of justifying himself, but chose to defraud his performance. The Gospel according to St. Luke 12: 41-48 teaches that if the unfaithful servant says in his heart, “My lord delayeth his coming and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink, and to be drunken. The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not.” How would we feel if God had to stop his blessing toward us because of our wasting and unguarded wanting? Our wants must be in alignment with God’s Spirit.

WISDOM: The master of that steward merely acknowledged that the steward had made quite a plan to provide for himself. There was nothing he could do about it, for the debtors would stand by the steward because it was to their benefit. The master could not prove that the new contracts were not the old ones. Doesn’t it sound like the today’s world. We always try to gain the favour of men. Man will let us down, but not Jesus.

CONCLUSION: The point of the parable is that worldly men in their sphere to scheme and provide for themselves are wiser than christians in their sphere. It is the far seeing wisdom of the steward that is commended, not the right or wrong of the act.

Introduction

"Must have been painful"

Pain is real! If not dealt with, it can become baggage that weighs us down and makes us lose hope.

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Pain comes from people hurting us or taking advantage of us, and from hopes and dreams being shattered. It is the result of mistakes made, relationships broken, and life situations that have been tough. Many have stopped following Christ because the pain was too great. Others crawl along without relief or hope. But Christ wants us to find Him in our pain. With His help, we’re not prisoners of our past… we’re pioneers of our future.

“A succesful man is one who can lay a foundation with the bricks others throw at him.”

HOW TO DEAL WITH PAIN!

Read Philippians 3: 10-16; 4: 1-5.

1) Realise that all pain is an opportunity for closeness to God (3:10). “For Paul, drawing closer to God bacame more important to him than anything else.”

2) Trust in God’s ressurection power to help you overcome (3:10). “The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, is able to bring you through victoriously.”

3) Forget what is behind (3:13). “Accept and face your pain with courage, forgive anyone who hurt you.” Christ did it! You can.

4) Press on towards what lies ahead (3:14). “God has so much He wants to do in and through you. Don’t give up. Keep your eyes on Jesus, and be drawn by those dreams of the future that He gives you.”

5) Don’t deal with life on your own (3:17).  I quote the words of Paul. “Pattern your lives after mine!”

CONCLUSION

“YOU CANNOT DIRECT THE WIND, BUT WE CAN ADJUST THE SAILS.”