upon to give an account of his steward ship with the result that he was about to be relieved of his position (v. 2). In the midst of this crisis, the steward did a little ingenious figuring in order to make the future easier for him (w . 3, 4). He called one after another of his master’s debtors to him and reduced very largely the amount that each should pay, evidently forfeiting his part of the profits in order to make good friends for himself (w . 5-7). After all he realized that friends are the best asset a man can have in this life. A man will get along in almost any cir cumstance if he has many friends. In various ways they will provide for him. The Parable’s Application Luke 16:8-10 The master of the steward commended the latter for his wisdom. The Scrip tures use the word “ lord” with a small “1” . Of course, we must not confuse this “lord” with the Lord Jesus Christ. If we do we will have difficulty with the parable. But this worldly lord or mas ter recognized how wise his steward had been in his dealings in order to provide for his future. And the inspired record goes on to say that “the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light” (v. 8). Our Lord exhorts His followers to be as sensible as the children of this world. They ought to be far more sensible. They have so many reasons to be. God’s chil dren ought to make “ friends of the mammon o f ' unrighteousness” , that is, they ought to use any money or riches they possess in His service and for heavenly reward. Money can be of great blessing if only it is used properly. It seems that God cannot trust most of us with very much of it. Maybe that is why there are so many poor Christians! Helps for the Children Being Honest in All Things Ex. 20:15; Luke 19:1-10,45,46 Memory Verse: “Thou shalt not steal” (Ex. 20:15). One of God’s most important com mandments is “ Thou shalt not steal.” Those who break this commandment cause much unhappiness in their own lives and in the lives of their family and friends. Early in life boys and girls need to learn what is theirs and what belongs to others. Anything that they take as their own that truly belongs to another is an act of stealing. Some boys and girls who would not take anything large, are guilty of taking little things that do not belong to them. Perhaps it is only a piece of chalk from the school room or a penny from mother’s purse, or a piece of paper from the tablet of another child. Maybe they can sneak a penny piece of candy off the counter at the store when no one is looking. Per haps they place a small toy in their pocket when they are playing at their friend’s home. Maybe they just take a T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
like to let their minds think of unclean things, and then these thoughts lead them to do unclean actions. God wants His children to take care of their minds as well as their bodies. Only the Lord Jesus can keep our hearts and our minds clean and pure. Only as we talk often to Him and fill our minds with His Word can they be pleasing in His sight. Each morning pray with the psalmist: “ Let the words of my mouth and the meditations [thoughts] of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” Only when you keep your mind upon the Lord Jesus will it be clean and pure. June 8, 1952 PERSONS AND PROPERTY Stewardship is a word that looms large in the realm of the Christian life. It has to do with the believer’s use of the things which have been committed to his care by Another. The Lord has given every Christian certain abilities, talents, opportunities, and material pos sessions of one kind and another. These are gifts of God to be used for His glory. The Christian does not even own himself. He has been bought with a price and belongs to the One who bought him. Everything he possesses has been entrusted to him by the Sa viour who expects a proper use to be made of these things. Thus every be liever is a steward and ought to live his life always and only to glorify God (1 Cor. 6:20). A Basic Command Ex. 20:15 Unselfishness should mark the follow er of God. Stealing is the very opposite of this characteristic. It is self-seeking. It aims to make what belongs to another one’s own. It reveals the absence of the love which is epitomized in the second table of the law. More than material things may be stolen. Thought, time, reputation, accomplishment, etc., may be taken wrongfully from another. Cheating in examinations is stealing. Defaming another’s character is steal ing. Exaction of unreasonable profit in business is stealing. While this com mand is in the Mosaic law, yet it should be remembered that this command, as well as each of the other Ten Command ments, except the fourth, is repeated and applied to Christians in the present generation by the New Testament Epis tles. See Eph. 4:28. A Parable on Stewardship Luke 16:1-7 A worldly relationship is here used to lay the basis for a Christian application on stewardship. A certain rich man had a steward who was accused of being wasteful in the discharge of his respon sibilities (v. 1). The steward is called Ex. 20:15; Luke 16:1-12 Pointers on the Lesson
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