Jesus parables-about-money

JESUS’ PARABLES
ABOUT MONEY

F
inancial planning is a
growing profession. As life-
spans lengthen because of
advances in healthcare, many
will seek counsel to plan for future
needs and to manage against the
CONTENTS likelihood of shrinking resources.
The best financial plan,
however, can fail for lack of the
The Art Of kind of wisdom found in Jesus’
Accumulation . . . . . . . . . 2
parables about money. Apart from
The Parable Of an understanding of the values
The Rich Fool . . . . . . . . 3 our hearts were made for, all
The Parable Of of our efforts to provide for the
The Shrewd Manager . . 12 future will ultimately fail.
In this excerpt of The Parables:
The Parable Of Understanding What Jesus Meant,
The Complaining
Workers . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Discovery House author Gary Inrig
looks at the teaching of Jesus in
three stories about money. We
may need other financial planners
to help us anticipate tax breaks
and retirement benefits, but we
will never find anyone with more
wisdom and concern for our own
well-being than Jesus, our Divine
Planner.
Martin R. De Haan II
Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Photo: Getty Images
Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, © 1973, 1978, 1984, by the
International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishers.
This booklet is based on a portion of The Parables: Understanding What Jesus Meant by Gary Inrig
published by Discovery House Publishers, a non-profit affiliate of RBC Ministries.
© 1998,2003 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA

© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

THE ART OF Journal, Fall 1988, p.216). A
ACCUMULATION breed of preachers baptized
this impulse into a “health,

T
he 1980s will wealth, and prosperity”
probably go down theology, epitomized by one
in American history preacher’s question, “If the
as “the decade of the Mafia can ride around in
yuppies.” Much as an Lincoln Continental town
earlier era chanted, “You cars, why can’t the King’s
can have it all,” the yuppie kids?”
slogan became, “You Babyboomers did
should have it all.” The not invent the pursuit
early part of the decade was of possessions, although
marked by acquisition and they certainly have refined
consumption. Economic the art. And the decade
downturns later shifted the of the nineties was not
emphasis from the pursuit characterized by any radical
of “more” to the pursuit of turning from materialism.
security. But materialism We have been nurtured in
reigned supreme—and it a society that seduces with
was not confined to the promise of affluence
yuppies. and measures worth on the
A study of contemporary basis of possessions and
American youth by the positions. There is nothing
Cooperative Research inherently wrong with
Program in 1988 professional success,
concluded that “they financial security, or
are overwhelmingly personal prosperity. But
materialistic; interested at some point, a follower
more than ever primarily of Jesus Christ crosses the
in making money” (Trinity line into enemy territory.
2

THE PARABLE that they were trampling on
OF THE RICH one another” (Lk. 12:1). At
the same time, His enemies
FOOL had begun “to oppose Him

T
he Lord once told a fiercely and to besiege Him
group of Pharisees, with questions, waiting to
described as people catch Him in something He
“who loved money,” that might say” (11:53-54). In
“what is highly valued that context of popular
among men is detestable acclaim and deep hostility,
in God’s sight” (Lk. 16:15). the Lord called His disciples
Undoubtedly, we value the to bold and fearless witness
fruits of being well-to-do on His behalf (12:1-3).
and successful. Could it be One of the men in the
that Jesus detests what we crowd had little interest
aspire to? He has a very in such matters. He had
painful way of probing the come with a family problem
central nervous system of that was related to an
our lives. In the parable of inheritance. Apparently
the rich fool (Lk. 12:13-21), he was the younger of two
Jesus forces all of us to face brothers. According to Jewish
some searching questions law, his older brother would
about ourselves. have been both the executor
of the estate and the largest
JESUS PROBES recipient of the inheritance
THE HEART and would usually have tried
As Jesus moved toward to maintain the estate intact.
Jerusalem, huge crowds were But that wasn’t the younger
drawn to Him. Luke tells us brother’s plan. He wanted
that “a crowd of many money of his own to use
thousands had gathered, so as he pleased.
3

Since it was common to to embrace when some teach
bring disputed points of the us that believers can and
law to an accredited rabbi, should expect the Lord to
he blurted out his concern provide physical well-being
to Jesus: “Teacher, tell my and prosperity. Even if this
brother to divide the man was being wronged by
inheritance with me” (v.13). his brother, getting his rights
His words are revealing. He may not have been best for
doesn’t ask the Lord to make him. There is a deeper issue
a judgment, but to side with involved, and a greater
him to provide ammunition danger than being cheated
against his brother. Like out of one’s inheritance.
many since his time, he It is that danger the
wanted to use Jesus to meet Lord had in mind when
his monetary desires. He turned from the man to
The Lord refused to the multitudes (“to them”):
be drawn into such a role: “Watch out! Be on your
“Man, who appointed Me a guard against all kinds of
judge or an arbiter between greed; a man’s life does not
you?” (v.14). Jesus had consist in the abundance of
no legal standing as an his possessions” (v.15).
accredited rabbi to be The initial words,
involved in such cases. But “Watch out! Be on your
more important, such a task guard!” put the Lord’s
was not part of His divine message in neon lights. This
mission. As Leon Morris is not an abstract possibility
observes, “He came to bring or a theoretical concern.
men to God, not property to What Jesus had in view was
man” (The Gospel According not just a sin, but a serious,
To St. Luke, p.212). yet subtle, sin. Some sins
That is an important truth are clear and recognizable,
4

and evangelicals are quick the danger of possessions is
to label them as evil and that they often arouse the
condemn participation in desire for more.
them. Rarely do we see Ivan Boesky, who went to
greed as a horrific sin. But prison and paid a fine of
remarkably, Jesus never $100 million for insider
warned about adultery and trading was, a few years
drunkenness in the kind of earlier, the darling of Wall
dramatic terms He used Street. During that time he
here against covetousness. declared at a graduation
The term greed means ceremony at a major
simply “a consuming desire university, “Greed is all
to have more.” It has the right. I want you to know I
nuance of a grasping for think greed is healthy. You
more, a lust to acquire. can be greedy and still feel
It is the very opposite good about yourself.” As
of the contentment that Newsweek later commented,
accompanies true godliness “The strangest thing when
(1 Tim. 6:6). Someone once we look back will not be just
asked John D. Rockefeller that Ivan Boesky could say
how much money was that at a business school
enough. “One dollar more,” graduation, but that it was
he replied. The beast of greeted with laughter and
greed is never full. It is applause” (Dec. 1, 1986).
insatiable. But greed is no laughing
We miss the point, matter. It is, in fact, idolatry
however, if we see (Col. 3:5). The Lord left no
covetousness as an issue of doubt when He said, “A
amount not attitude. The man’s life does not consist
poorest can be greedy; the in the abundance of his
richest can avoid greed. But possessions” (Lk. 12:15).
5

God alone is the source of you. Then who will get
life; God alone controls life; what you have prepared
God alone gives life. for yourself?’ This is how
it will be with anyone
JESUS PORTRAYS who stores up things for
THE PROBLEM himself but is not rich
The Lord was not content to toward God.”
give us an abstract warning. Wealth often begets
In the parable of the rich wealth, and his wealth
fool, He introduced us to enabled him to possess land
a first-century yuppie. that produced a bumper
He told them this parable: crop. There seems to be no
“The ground of a certain criticism intended by the fact
rich man produced a good of his wealth, his manner of
crop. He thought to acquiring it, or its increase.
himself, ‘What shall I do? What is decisive is what he
I have no place to store chose to do with it. Even
my crops.’ Then he said, then, it was not his actions
‘This is what I’ll do. I will so much as his assumptions
tear down my barns and that were crucial. Given
build bigger ones, and his values, building bigger
there I will store all my barns was a wise, pragmatic
grain and my goods. And decision. Yet that is precisely
I’ll say to myself, “You the question: What were his
have plenty of good things values?
laid up for many years. We can summarize his
Take life easy; eat, drink, view of life with several
and be merry.”’ But God phrases that echo through
said to him, ‘You fool! the years:
This very night your life • “If I’m not good to
will be demanded from myself, who will be?”
6

• “Success with is not a description of
possessions shows mental ability but of
I’m a success as a spiritual discernment. In the
person.” Old Testament language of
• “The bigger the barn Psalms and Proverbs, a fool
(or car or house), the is an individual who makes
better the life.” choices as if God doesn’t
• “If money can’t buy exist and who lives as if God
happiness, it can at hasn’t spoken. Eleven times
least buy pleasure over, we hear “I” and “my”
and security.” in this man’s words. For all
But in a moment, his intents and purposes, God
bubble burst. God passed does not exist.
sentence not only on the rich 2. He was a servant,
fool but on every life that is not a master. The rich
based on covetousness: “You man was convinced that he
fool! This very night your life was in control of his life and
will be demanded from you. that wealth gave him control.
Then who will get what you But God’s words to him
have prepared for yourself?” made it clear that he had
The Lord’s diagnosis was no power over the present:
unrelenting in its honesty “This very night your life will
and revealing in its insights. be demanded from you.”
Three things stand out. The word demanded was
1. He was a fool, a commercial term, used of
not a success. Almost a loan. At this crisis point
certainly, in the community’s he discovered a truth that
eyes, he was a man to be everyone learns sooner or
envied. In God’s eyes, he later: God owns life, and He
was a fool to be pitied. The merely loans our earthly
term fool in biblical language existence to us. At any time
7

He can call in His loan. but is not rich toward
The fool also had no God” (v.21).
power over the future: That last statement
“Who will get what you should force each of us to
have prepared for yourself?” ask ourselves, “Am I a fool
As the writer of Ecclesiastes in God’s eyes? What label
lamented, “I must leave would He attach to my
[my wealth] to the one who life?” The following words
comes after me. And who spoken by Jim Elliot merit
knows whether he will be careful consideration: “He
a wise man or a fool?” is no fool who gives what
(Eccl. 2:18-19). he cannot keep to gain
3. He was a pauper, what he cannot lose.”
not a rich man. In the There is another type of
moment of truth, the foolishness the Lord wants
wealthy farmer realized that us to recognize. He has
he had worked so hard for described in the parable
so little. He had invested the folly that says, “God
in the passing, not in the doesn’t matter” and “I can’t
permanent. What makes get enough.” The power of
death hard is the evaluation possessions is that they give
of what we lose by it. This us a feeling of control. But
was a man who was leaving disciples face another folly,
everything behind—the the folly that says “God
barns he had built, the doesn’t care.” We are
people he had controlled, tempted to believe that
the prestige he had if we follow the Lord,
acquired. Death stripped renouncing all our
him bare and revealed him possessions, we may
for who he was, a man who not have enough.
“stores up things for himself
8

JESUS PRESENTS removes spiritual assurance.
THE ALTERNATIVE Telling us not to worry
Luke made it clear that isn’t very helpful. People
verses 22-34 were addressed who tell us that usually
not to the crowd but to seem either unrealistic,
the disciples. There is an uninformed, or patronizing.
implication here that worry is The Lord forces us to think
one of the besetting sins of about why we are not to
Christ-followers. The reason worry. First, He said that
is not hard to discover. The worry is foolish (Lk. 12:22-
terms of discipleship are 24). It is falling into the folly
demanding. To obey the call of the rich fool who believed
is to trust Christ completely, that his life consisted of his
but what are the implications possessions. But life is more
of that obedience? Financial than food and clothes, and
questions loom large. If God has promised us that He
I say goodbye to all my will care for us, much more
possessions, will the Lord so than He does for His
really meet my needs? My creatures, the birds. To worry
head assures me that He will, is foolishly to forget that we
but my heart is not quite are God’s valued children
so certain. The writer of and He is our loving Father.
Proverbs put it this way: Second, worry is futile
“An anxious heart weighs a (12:25-28). Worry can
man down” (Prov. 12:25). shorten life, but it can’t
Physically, this is so. As lengthen it—and God who
someone has observed, gives beauty to the fields will
people get ulcers not so much not strip us bare. Anxiety
from what they eat as from denies the care of God—
what eats them. Anxiety also and all to no effect. So the
steals emotional peace and alternative is not to be “care-
9

less” but “trust-full.” A little determine what we worry
bit of reflection helps us to about.
recognize that most worry is Our great need is to
about things that can’t be worry about the right thing.
changed (the past), things What is that? “Seek His
that can’t be controlled (the kingdom.” We do not refrain
present), or things that might from worrying. We replace
not happen (the future). concern about secondary
How much better to entrust things with concern about
ourselves to our God! the primary thing. Only His
Third, worry is faithless kingdom is worthy of our
(12:29-31). To be absorbed ultimate concern.
with physical and personal The Siamese twin of
needs is ultimately to be anxiety is fear, and the Lord
captured by unbelief. If the addressed fear in verses 32-
gospel is really true, our 34. He told us to take drastic
lives should be different action with our financial
qualitatively from the lives resources and personal
of pagans. possessions. We are not to
In his book Run Today’s grasp them or trust them. We
Race, Oswald Chambers are rather to dispose of them
observes that “all of our fret by investing them eternally.
and worry is caused by In fact, the only way we can
calculating without God.” truly protect our treasures is
Worry is the product of an to invest them in heaven.
inadequate understanding of Our hearts follow our
our Father. He is the One treasure, and if our treasure
who knows, cares, and acts. is in heaven, so will our
The way we look at God hearts be. As David Gooding
determines the way we will writes, “Heaven is scarcely a
look at life, and this will reality to a man who is not
10

prepared to invest hard in heaven. We can
cash in it and in its interests; cultivate compassion,
but by that same token it not greed. Most of all, we
becomes more of a reality to can pursue confidence in
the man who is” (According God, not money.
To Luke, p.241). The slogan “In God
The crucial issue in life We Trust” is printed on our
is not the amount of our American currency. Fine
treasure but the location of words—but do we trust God
it. The rich man’s treasures on our money or with our
were on earth. He was a fool money? Writing of his slim
because he built his life
around what couldn’t last
and what really didn’t Does the slogan
matter. Our call as a disciple “In God We Trust”
is to be rich toward God and
to have a treasure in heaven
mean that we trust
that will not be exhausted. God on our money
D. L. Moody once said, “It or with our money?
does not take long to tell
where a man’s treasure is. In
a 15-minute conversation financial resources in a time
with most men, you can tell of escalating needs, a friend
whether their treasures are said, “If we find ourselves
on earth or in heaven.” sinking, we will not cry
No one wants to be ‘uncle.’ Instead, we will cry
called a fool by God. How out ‘Father’ to the One who
do we make sure that knows all our needs and
doesn’t happen? We can possesses all resources.”
choose limits, not luxury, so Such a person has learned
our treasure can be invested the wisdom of God.
11

THE PARABLE JESUS PRESENTS
OF THE SHREWD THE PARABLE OF
THE SHREWD
MANAGER MANAGER
Jesus told His disciples:

O
ne of the most “There was a rich man
common features whose manager was
of our Lord’s accused of wasting his
parables is their shock possessions. So he called
value. They surprise and him in and asked him,
startle. The “heroes” are the ‘What is this I hear about
most unexpected people. you? Give an account of
That is particularly true your management,
of the parable of the because you cannot be
unrighteous steward (Lk. manager any longer.’ The
16:1-13). It is a story that manager said to himself,
has stirred controversy and ‘What shall I do now? My
debate among interpreters. master is taking away my
But despite the questions it job. I’m not strong enough
has raised, it confronts us to dig, and I’m ashamed to
with an essential truth beg—I know what I’ll do
about life as a disciple. so that, when I lose my job
The parable is given first in here, people will welcome
verses 1-8 and is followed me into their houses.’ So
by the Lord’s elaboration of he called in each one of
the principles the story is his master’s debtors. He
intended to teach. asked the first, ‘How much
do you owe my master?’
‘Eight hundred gallons of
olive oil,’ he replied. The
manager told him, ‘Take
12

your bill, sit down quickly, possessions. News of his
and make it four hundred.’ misconduct reached his
Then he asked the second, employer. And when he was
‘And how much do you confronted with the charge
owe?’ ‘A thousand bushels of dereliction of duty, the
of wheat,’ he replied. man had no answer to give.
He told him, ‘Take There is a great similarity
your bill and make it in this story to the parable of
eight hundred.’ The master the unforgiving servant in
commended the dishonest Matthew 18. The repetition
manager because he of these circumstances
had acted shrewdly” shows that violation of trust
(Lk. 16:1-8). was just as common in the
This parable takes us into ancient world as it is today.
the world of finance and Certainly the man deserved
responsibility. The manager to be fired from his job. But
was a steward. That is, he it is important to notice the
was an employee, perhaps manager’s precise position
of an absentee landlord, after his master said,
who had been given control “Give an account of your
over his master’s business management, because you
and assets. Clearly, his cannot be manager any
responsibility was to use this longer” (v.2)
trust to further his master’s Modern companies
interests, not his own. But generally tell fired
the temptation to divert employees to clean out their
funds for his own purposes desks immediately, or they
and pleasures proved too have it done for them. But
strong. He wasted the this manager was given a
money, violating his trust window of opportunity. His
and mishandling his master’s dismissal was inevitable, but
13

it was not yet final or public. Rewrite it, put down
Until the account was four hundred gallons,
rendered, he had some room and I’ll sign it.”
for movement. Still, time • “How much do you
was short, and immediate owe?” “A thousand
action was imperative. He bushels of wheat.”
had no time to waste. “Here, make it eight
It is here that the man’s hundred and I’ll sign
shrewdness is revealed. it.”
He knew his options were We don’t know enough
limited. He was too weak for about first-century business
manual labor, and he was practices to be certain of
too proud to beg. Unless he what was going on here.
acted quickly, one of those Some commentators are
might be his fate. But he convinced that the whole
knew the adage, “Scratch my business was fraudulent and
back, and I’ll scratch yours.” that he was implicating
Perhaps he could do favors these people in cheating his
for a few people so that they boss. That is possible, but
would be beholden to him. since these people would
His plan was very simple. presumably continue to do
He began to call in his business with the rich man,
master’s customers and alter it seems rather unlikely.
their bills. After all, he had It is more likely that the
managed the accounts and transaction was subtle
still had legal authority to and semi-legal.
act on his master’s behalf. According to Mosaic law,
• “How much do you Jewish businessmen were
owe?” “Eight hundred not allowed to charge
gallons of olive oil.” interest to fellow Jews.
“Here’s your old I.O.U. But that made commercial
14

transactions difficult. So himself to people who would
a subterfuge was often remember him kindly.
followed. When money was The parable closes with
loaned, it was illegal to write the statement, “The master
a bill stating any interest. commended the dishonest
So written bills generally manager because he had
showed only one amount: acted shrewdly” (v.8). It’s
the principal loaned plus the important to see what was
interest and the manager’s and what was not said. The
fees. This amount was master did not say that he
often stated in terms of
commodities (oil, wheat)
rather than money. In this The master did not
way, it would appear that say that he was
the law was being followed. pleased by his
If this was so, the
steward was probably steward’s actions,
discounting the face value but he did say he
of the notes by suspending was impressed.
the interest charges. Since
these charges were not legal
within Jewish law, his master was pleased by his steward’s
had no ground of action actions, but he did say he
against him. Presumably, the was impressed. The manager
debtors would be suspicious had tied his employer’s
of the reasons but would hands and achieved his own
accept the offer gladly. He ends. The master certainly
had therefore tied his did not commend the
master’s hands effectively, manager’s earlier dishonesty,
stayed within the bounds but, like a defeated athlete
of legality, and ingratiated commenting wryly on his
15

opponent’s skill and strategy, enough to act with practical
he was compelled to cleverness and judgment.
acknowledge the man’s The story is troubling.
success. Even though this shrewd
Since the word shrewd manager may seem to be
is the key to the story, it is a hero, he’s not. But in his
important to consider its actions, dubious as they
meaning carefully. The Greek are, we can see a quality
word means “to act with demonstrated that disciples
foresight,” and is illustrated of the Lord are required to
in Jesus’ discourse by the demonstrate if they are to
wise man (literally, the live effectively in the world.
shrewd man) who built his That quality is elaborated
house on the rock in in the Lord’s continuing
anticipation of a coming discussion.
storm (Mt. 7:24). It also
describes the five “wise” JESUS DISCUSSES
(shrewd) virgins who brought THE PRINCIPLES
extra oil anticipating future OF SHREWD
need (Mt. 25:1-13). This DISCIPLESHIP
was the dishonest manager’s The people of this
quality. He acted decisively world are more shrewd
in the present to position in dealing with their own
himself for the future. His kind than are the people
behavior was consistent of the light. I tell you, use
with his circumstances. He worldly wealth to gain
recognized his crisis and friends for yourselves,
seized his opportunity so that when it is gone,
because he had his eye you will be welcomed
on the future, not just the into eternal dwellings.
present. He was astute Whoever can be trusted
16

with very little can also weakens what Jesus actually
be trusted with much, said, which should be
and whoever is dishonest translated “the mammon of
with very little will also unrighteousness.” Mammon
be dishonest with much. is an interesting term that
So if you have not been includes not only money but
trustworthy in handling also possessions. The Lord
worldly wealth, who will made it clear that mammon
trust you with true riches? has enormous power. It is
And if you have not been not simply neutral. When
trustworthy with someone it is not placed under the
else’s property, who will authority of Christ, it
give you property of your becomes a rival god and
own? No servant can leads to evil. Thus, it is not
serve two masters. Either simply “worldly wealth” but
he will hate the one and “unrighteous mammon.”
love the other, or he will The Lord called us to
be devoted to the one and recognize the limits of
despise the other. You wealth. “So that when it is
cannot serve both God gone” (v.9) means literally
and Money (Lk. 16:8-13). “when it fails,” a reference
Shrewd Disciples to death, not debt. Paul put
Use Money To Achieve it this way: “We brought
Eternal Goals. The Lord’s nothing into the world, and
first message in Luke 16:8- we can take nothing out of
13 is that shrewdness with it” (1 Tim. 6:7). Shrewdness
money can achieve eternal forces us to recognize that
goals. In verse 9 He said, money is powerful but
“Use worldly wealth to gain limited, temporary, and
friends for yourselves.” The temporal. Part of its
phrase “worldly wealth” character is that it will
17

always fail. As Bernard of conversion or in meeting
Clairvaux wrote centuries their needs.
ago, “Money no more Few experiences are as
satisfies the hunger of the satisfying as visiting an area
mind than air supplies the where you once lived and
body’s need for bread.” ministered, and having
Certainly that is true at people line up to tell you of
the time of death. No your influence in their lives,
one takes it with him. much of it totally unguessed
Shrewdness with money or unrecognized. Imagine
also focuses on how it can that kind of reception in
be used for eternal purposes. heaven!
Jesus said, “Gain friends for The Lord calls us to use
yourselves, so that . . . you money shrewdly for eternal
will be welcomed [by them] reasons. Yet statistics tell us
into eternal dwellings” (v.9). that as the rate of disposable
Every believer will be income (adjusted for
welcomed into heaven, inflation) increased 31
but not all will have the percent among members of
same number of friends to 31 Protestant denominations
welcome them. When our between 1968 and 1985,
money is used to meet the only 2 percent of that
needs of fellow believers disposable income was
and when money is used given to churches and
to spread the gospel, we can Christian organizations
be sure that there will be (Chicago Tribune, July 31,
eternal consequences. Our 1988). In other words, 98
gracious Father will reveal percent of the increase went
to our fellow-saints how to support people’s lifestyles.
our use of money was In a world of escalating
instrumental in their needs and exciting
18

opportunities, this is hardly has eternal consequences
shrewdness with money. (vv.10-12). The principles of
Believers also need to stewardship are very simple.
live shrewdly—to strategize, The first principle is the
to plan, to dream, and to main requirement: “It is
use ingenuity and creativity. required that those who
Radical times require radical have been given a trust must
solutions, as the parable of prove faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2).
the dishonest manager The second principle is the
illustrated. The Lord is not reward, explained here
calling us to business as in verse 10 by the Lord:
usual. The shrewd disciple “Whoever can be trusted
needs to ask, “How can I with very little can also be
maximize my money for trusted with much, and
eternity?” We must be whoever is dishonest with
careful not to spend or give very little will also be
carelessly, sentimentally, or dishonest with much.”
impulsively. The Lord calls It is in the little things
us to be hard-nosed, clear- that we prove ourselves. As
eyed, forward-looking, the great missionary Hudson
astute people. Taylor once observed, “A
Shrewd Disciples little thing is a little thing;
Use Money In but faithfulness in a little
Light Of Eternal thing is a great thing.”
Consequences. There Faithfulness with
are three primary messages money is primarily an
in Luke 16:8-13. The first is issue of character. A modern
that shrewdness with money biographer explained with a
can achieve eternal goals. very perceptive comment
The second is this: why he was adding yet
Stewardship of money another biography to the
19

literature about the Duke Lord, we are acting exactly
of Wellington: “I had an like the dishonest manager.
advantage over earlier We are owners of nothing,
biographers. I found an old stewards of everything.
account ledger that showed What we possess is to be
how the Duke spent his used to further the Master’s
money. It was a far better purposes and goals. The
clue to what he thought primary value of earthly
was really important than wealth is that it is a tool to
the reading of his letters or train us to handle “true
speeches.” This is even riches,” which refers to the
more true of the account affairs of the kingdom.
of a disciple. Shrewd people, then, use
Shrewdness causes money in the light of eternal
us to view “mammon” in consequences. This includes
an interesting way. The opportunities to serve the
parallelism of verses 10-12 Lord Jesus in furthering His
equates “very little” (v.10), purposes on earth as well as
“worldly wealth” (v.11), and the privileges of service we
“someone else’s property” will enjoy in heaven.
(v.12). At the same time it Shrewd Disciples
equates “much” (v.10), “true Recognize That
riches” (v.11), and “property Stewardship Of Money
of your own” (v.12). Present Prevents Bondage To
wealth, said the Lord, is Money. The third message
really a very little thing. in Luke 16:8-13 is found in
In fact, it is not ours at all. verse 13: “You cannot serve
We are stewards, not both God and Money.”
owners. If we use our In other words, shrewd
present possessions as if disciples recognize that
they belong to us, not the stewardship of money
20

prevents bondage to money. middle ground. Either God
We can serve God with owns our wealth or it owns
money, but we can never us. As Henry Fielding once
serve God and money. wrote, “Make money your
A choice is inescapable. god and it will plague you
We can have only one like the devil.”
master. Jesus wants us to We all serve something
understand that we do not or someone. There is no
have the option of being the partial discipleship to Jesus,
masters of mammon. We and there is no part-time
can be stewards of it or we employment by mammon.
can be servants of it, but We must choose our
those are our only options. ultimate loyalty. When we
Mammon always strives to choose the Lord as our sole
take the place of God. master, He does not remove
our money. In fact, He takes
the money and transforms it
Stewardship of into an ally. The same dollar
money prevents that places a bet, pays a
bondage to money. prostitute, or purchases
“crack” cocaine also buys
We can serve God a Bible, digs a well, or
with money, but supports a missionary. The
we can never serve same dollar the shrewd
manager uses to pave his
God and money. way into a golden future,
a shrewd disciple uses to
The Lord used a vivid invest in eternal friendships.
personification in this But the difference is the
discussion to force us to product of a choice of
recognize the absence of masters.
21

How do we acquire our term was finished, he would
money? What do we want to be transported to a particular
purchase with our money? island and abandoned.
When and how do we give His delight was
our money? Where should replaced with distress.
we employ our resources? Then he devised a shrewd
These are the questions a plan. Over the next months
shrewd disciple asks as he he sent members of the tribe
emulates this strange “hero,” to clear and till the other
a man who acted decisively island. He had them build
with his resources in the a beautiful house, furnish it,
present to maximize his and plant crops. He sent
opportunities in the future. some chosen friends to live
The story is told of a man there and wait for him.
shipwrecked on a lonely, Then, when his time of exile
unknown island. To his came, he was put in a place
surprise, he found that he that was carefully prepared
was not alone. A large tribe and full of friends who were
of people shared his island. delighted to receive him.
To his pleasure, he Disciples are not headed
discovered that they treated to a desert island. Our
him very well. In fact, they destination is the Father’s
placed him on a throne and home. Yet the preparations
catered to his every desire. we make here follow us
He was delighted but there. If we are shrewd,
perplexed. Why such royal there will be eternal friends
treatment? As his ability to and eternal rewards to greet
communicate increased, he us. Fools serve money and
discovered that the tribal leave it all behind. Shrewd
custom was to choose a king believers serve God and
for a year. Then, when his invest in eternity.
22

THE PARABLE to set sail for missionary
OF THE work among the Muslims,
first in Egypt to learn Arabic
COMPLAINING and then, ultimately, to a
WORKERS remote part of China.
To the public and the

B
ill Borden was born media, and even to many of
a blue blood and his Christian friends, Borden’s
brought up with a actions seemed incredibly
silver spoon in his mouth. wasteful, especially when
His parents were both he died of cerebrospinal
descended from British meningitis shortly after
aristocracy, and his father reaching Cairo. He had
had made a fortune in real apparently thrown away his
estate in Chicago and in money, his career, and even
silver mining in Colorado. his life. To what end?
Bill was already worth a What makes a Bill Borden
million dollars by the age tick? What makes a person
of 21, an amount in 1908 turn his back on virtually
equivalent to about 40 everything most people value
million dollars today. He was to live in obedience to what
also handsome, intelligent, he believes to be the will of
well-educated, and popular. God? What’s in it for him?
But in 1912, at the age What are the returns on
of 25, Bill Borden did two that kind of investment?
things that made headlines. Why do we serve the
First, he gave away his Lord Jesus? This brings us
entire fortune, half to to an interesting discussion
God’s work in the United between the Lord and His
States and half to missions disciples in which He
overseas. Second, he chose addressed the question of
23

rewards posed by Peter but that wealth possessed
and then used a parable him. He would not let go of
to provoke them and us wealth to take hold of the
into deeper thought about eternal life offered by the Son
spiritual motivation. As of God. His trust was in his
Matthew recounted the story, wealth, not in his God.
the discussion followed the In a society where wealth
Lord’s encounter with the was often seen to be a sign
rich young ruler (19:16-26). of divine approval and
acceptance, the Lord made
THE PROMISE a statement that startled the
OF REWARDS: disciples: “It is easier for a
The Blessing Of camel to go through the eye
Discipleship of a needle than for a rich
A study in Psychology Today man to enter the kingdom of
in May 1981 probed the God” (Mt. 19:24). Salvation
influence of money on is not the attainment of the
people’s lives. One of its rich or successful. It is a gift
conclusions was that people of God’s grace, freely given
who are the most money- and humbly received.
conscious are much less Peter was not affected by
likely to be involved in a the drama of salvation being
satisfactory love relationship enacted before him so much
and tend to be troubled by as by the Lord’s promise to
constant worry, anxiety, and the rich young man: “Go,
loneliness. The story of the sell your possessions and
rich young ruler sadly but give to the poor, and you
eloquently reveals the power will have treasure in heaven.
of money to control one’s life. Then come, follow Me”
The young man’s tragedy was (v.21). Peter’s mind had been
not that he possessed wealth riveted by the implications of
24

“treasure in heaven. . . . but of reaffirmation. It is not
follow Me.” “If that is true wrong to focus on rewards
for him, what about us?” he and eternal blessings, or to
must have mused. “I left my desire “treasure in heaven.”
nets and followed Jesus. The Lord often extends the
What about my treasure?” promise of rewards in the
Finally Peter blurted out his Gospels (Mt. 5:10-12; 6:19-
concern: “We have left 21; 10:41-42; 24:45-47;
everything to follow You! 25:20-23). These are not
What then will there be for demeaning bribes or the
us?” (v.27). incentive programs of a sales
Only a person who is organization. They are rather
badly self-deceived is hard on the appropriate results of a
Peter. We may not be very life pleasing to the God who
proud of the “what’s-in-it-for- “rewards those who earnestly
me?” feeling, but it bubbles in seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).
all of us, sometimes closer to So the Lord directed
the surface than at other Peter’s attention to the
times. We sing, “It pays to millennial kingdom, “the
serve Jesus, it pays every renewal of all things, when
day. It pays every step of the the Son of Man sits on His
way.” But sometimes the pay glorious throne” (Mt. 19:28).
seems long overdue. We face This is the time prophesied
fatigue, frustration, failure, or throughout the Old
physical illness instead of Testament, when God will
blessing, joy, and fulfillment. establish the kingdom of
“What’s in it for me? When Messiah on the earth in
and how do I get some of this power and glory (Dan. 7:13-
treasure?” 22), and creation itself will
The Lord’s response to become “new heavens and
Peter was not one of rebuke a new earth” (Isa. 65:17;
25

66:22). This is the time all in His glory, reigning with
the disciples longed for. Him on the earth (Rev. 5:10).
Not only will the Lord In fact, we will not only judge
Jesus sit on the throne of the world, we will exercise
glory in the new earth, but judgment over the angels
the apostles will share His (1 Cor. 6:1-3). I don’t know
glory. “You who have all that this entails, but the
followed Me will also sit on promise is clear. Believers in
twelve thrones, judging the Christ are the royal family of
twelve tribes of Israel” (Mt. Messiah’s kingdom, and part
19:28). It’s impossible to of our “treasure in heaven”
describe how the Twelve will be to share in His regal
might have received this authority and splendor.
news. As Jews, they had But on what basis will this
longed for Messiah and had privilege be granted? In verse
staked everything on Jesus 29 the Lord established the
being the Promised One. principle of rewards. Present
Their reward would go sacrifice produces eternal
beyond their wildest dreams: privilege. “Everyone who
When Israel was the greatest has left houses or brothers or
nation on earth, they would sisters or father or mother or
rule over it, as subordinates children or fields for My sake
of King Jesus Himself! will receive a hundred times
The promise made in as much and will inherit
Matthew 19:28 is a very eternal life.” Mark, in his
specific one, made to the account, adds that we will
twelve apostles. But there is “receive a hundred times as
an extension of this promise much in this present age”
to all believers. When Jesus (Mk. 10:30). Obviously, this
returns, we who are His co- equation is not to be pressed
heirs (Rom. 8:17) will share literally. After all, who wants
26

to receive a hundred wives man was one of the first. He
or two hundred brothers? looked like a winner. But in
We could try to twist the the crucible of decision
statement into a formula for about Christ, he made a
materialistic gain: “I give choice that excluded him
$100, I get $10,000.” On that from true wealth. Those who
basis, we would be worse look like winners from a
than the rich young ruler, human perspective are often
and his tragedy would not life’s losers. Conversely,
be that he loved money more “many who are last will be
than God but that he didn’t first.” The disciples represent
know a good investment the “last.” Uprooted from
when he saw one! family and vocation, they
No, the Lord’s point is to wandered as the vagabond
say that there is a blessing followers of a rejected leader.
both now and in eternity Like Bill Borden, they had
that is all out of proportion taken a huge risk and
to the cost of discipleship. apparently had come up
Whatever losses following empty. But appearances can
Christ entails (and there are be deceiving. When they are
losses—we leave things seated on their millennial
behind), the Savior Himself thrones alongside King Jesus,
will repay richly. Following they will be revealed as
may not feel like it pays, God’s first on the earth.
but in God’s time and way Peter’s question, “Lord,
it certainly does. what’s in it for us?” has been
So the Lord summarized answered. In essence, Jesus
with two points. “Many who told him, “More, Peter, than
are first will be last” (Mt. you can ever imagine.
19:30). From an earthly You have given what you
perspective, the rich young couldn’t keep; you will gain
27

what you can never lose.” Matthew 20:1-16 plunges
And that answer should be us into daily life in ancient
sufficient for every one of us. Israel. It is worth noting that
Although we do not see the Lord was an astute
them all now, there are observer of life. His stories
blessings and rewards. have the ring of authenticity
There is a troubling note because they happen where
to Peter’s question that must people live. We should
still be dealt with. Behind notice that this story is not
“What’s in it for me?” there designed to teach us about
lurks a commercial spirit labor-management relations
that misses the essence of or about salvation or even
Christian living. It is that about rewards. The Lord
underlying attitude, present wants us to think about the
not only in Peter but also in attitude of heart with which
us, that the Lord addresses a disciple should serve Him.
in the parable of the workers Day laborers were a
in the vineyard, recorded in common fact of life in
Matthew 20:1-16. The line the Lord’s time. In this
with which the parable ends agricultural society, there
links it closely to the last were no labor unions and
phrase of chapter 19, which few contract employees.
we have just discussed. Men looking for work would
gather at a convenient spot
THE PARABLE OF in the town’s marketplace,
THE COMPLAINING and those requiring help
WORKERS: would recruit the men they
The Motivation needed. A rate of pay
For Discipleship would be arranged, the
Like so many of the Lord’s work would be done, and
stories, this parable in workers would be paid at
28

day’s end, in accordance . . . and I will pay you
with Old Testament law whatever is right” (v.4). They
(Lev. 19:13; Dt. 24:14-15). agreed and went with no
The story itself is contractual agreement, but
straightforward. At 6:00 a.m. simply with an opportunity
a vineyard owner went into to trust the landowner’s
the marketplace to hire promise and character. Three
workers. They agreed to a fair more times the process was
wage and set off to do the repeated—at noon, at 3:00
work. There is no suggestion p.m. and at 5:00 p.m.
that they possessed any When the day was done,
particular skills or abilities the owner ordered his
that made them more foreman to pay the workers,
desirable employees than the beginning with those who
others. They were available, had worked for only one
agreed to terms, and set hour and continuing to those
about their task. who had worked for a full
But for some reason the day. When the 1-hour
landowner felt the need for workers were paid, they were
more workers. Perhaps bad astonished to discover that
weather threatened the they had received a full day’s
crop or a contract required wage, a denarius. Obviously,
immediate harvesting. they hadn’t earned that
More likely, he saw the much. But a family could not
unemployed workers and live on less than a denarius
desired to help them. For a day, so the owner had
whatever reason, he returned generously paid them not
at 9:00 a.m. and saw men what they deserved but what
who were willing to work but they needed. Apparently in
unemployed. He made them his view, people mattered
a simple offer: “Go and work more than profits.
29

News of their good warning against three
fortune quickly spread down dangers in the service of
through the line, and the a disciple.
12-hour workers excitedly The Danger Of A
anticipated receiving a Commercial Spirit. An
bonanza. “If they got one old rabbinic story is very
denarius, we should get similar to the Lord’s parable,
twelve!” By the time they but the punch line is entirely
reached the front, they had different. When the protest is
already spent their bonuses made, the answer silences
in their minds. Imagine their the objectors: “This man
chagrin to discover their pay has done more in 2 hours
to be one denarius! This than you did all day.” We
was exactly what they had understand that response.
contracted for (20:2), but it It is fair that wages earned
hardly seemed fair. “They should correspond to work
only worked 1 hour and done. Unions may protest,
we’ve put in 12 full hours in but we understand the
the burning heat of the day. equity principle—pay
How can you call that fair?” equal to work done.
The owner’s answer was But kingdom economics
straightforward. He told are very different. If we work
them that their pay was fair for wages, we will get exactly
because it was exactly what what we desire, no more
they contracted for. But and no less. We become
those who didn’t work as hirelings, dependent upon
long were being paid our bargaining skills. How
generously, not fairly. much better to be children,
In the landowner’s voice dependent upon our Father’s
we hear our Lord’s gentle generosity. Our service does
rebuke of Peter. It is a not put us in His debt. If we
30

leave the reward to Him, we our hearts. “Are you envious
will be overwhelmed by His because I am generous?”
generosity. (v.15). Who do we think we
The Danger Of A are to complain about the
Competitive Spirit. eternally holy, righteous
When the 12-hour workers God? It was the continual
saw the 1-hour workers and murmuring and complaining
compared themselves to of Israel in the wilderness
them, “they expected to that aroused God’s anger.
receive more” (v.10). When Murmuring is an infectious
their eyes focused on what social disease that robs us
others had received, they and all those around us of
were unable to receive their joy. Those who focus on their
own wages with joy. Saul supposed deprivation and
delighted in his victory over who lament the cost of their
the Philistines, but when he discipleship have missed the
heard David praised more wonder of the grace and
highly than he had been, his generosity of our God.
heart turned to stone (1 Sam. The Lord concluded His
18:1-16). Nothing is less parable with a statement
appropriate in disciples than reminiscent of Matthew
comparison and competition. 19:30, “So the last will be
The Danger Of A first, and the first will be
Complaining Spirit. last” (v.16). Here, however,
“They began to grumble the contrast is not between
against the landowner” (Mt. disciples and nondisciples. It
20:11). Such grumbling, the is a reminder that external
Lord revealed, is an attack on circumstances are not the
the goodness and generosity key to eternal rewards. The
of God Himself. Furthermore, “first,” here, are the 6:00
it exposes the corruption of a.m. workers.
31

I was saved as a child, so much that we shall never
brought up to love Christ, be able to pay off our debt.
and given the privilege of Can that be called sacrifice
ministry at an early age. which gives us the deepest
I am much like those “first” satisfaction, which develops
people. Friends of mine were our best powers, and gives
not saved until much later us the greatest hopes and
in life than I, and their expectations? Away with
opportunities for Christian this word. It is anything but
ministry are sometimes a sacrifice. Rather, call it a
smaller than mine. Will ‘privilege’!”
those circumstances of life The apostle Peter’s great
qualify them only for a lesser mistake was that he counted
reward? No. God rewards the the cost and computed the
faithful heart, and generosity reward without considering
touches all He does. the privilege of service
On December 4, 1857, on (Mt. 19:27).
the threshold of his return to Why do we serve the
Africa, David Livingstone Lord? Fear? Duty? Prestige?
tried to put into words the Reward? Motives are never
motives that shaped his life: entirely pure, and a variety
“I personally have never of factors propel us. But we
ceased to rejoice that God certainly aren’t hirelings,
has entrusted me with His serving for wages. We are
service. People talk a lot God’s children, delighting
about the sacrifice involved in His work and trusting
in devoting my life to Africa. in His generosity.
But can this be called a
sacrifice at all if we give back
to God a ‘little of what we
owe Him’? And we owe Him
z
Author Gary Inrig is a graduate of
Dallas Theological Seminary and
currently pastors Trinity Evangelical
Free Church in Redlands, California.
32

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