Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 20C)

September 18, 2022

Text: Luke 16:1-15

            The fact is, the steward had wasted what the master had entrusted to him, his money, his possessions.  There was no denying it.  The master had been generous, and given the steward broad freedom.  Though everything ultimately belonged to the master, the steward, for all practical purposes, could count it as his own.  It was a sacred charge.  The steward… and I prefer the word “steward” over “manager,” as our ESV has it…  He is not simply a manager of assets and liabilities, of business transactions, but one who is in relationship with the master, enjoys his confidence, one to whom the master entrusts the care and cultivation of his entire estate, and all who depend on him.  This is probably a sharecropping situation, and that is to say, the master is the lord of a manor, and any number of tenants farm his land, paying their rent by giving him a share of their crops.  So the steward is entrusted, not only with money and stuff, but with people. 

            Now, one can understand the temptation.  The steward was in such a position of authority, that in any matter dealing with the household, the finances, the land, or the produce of the land… in all the things belonging to the master, the steward’s word was as good as though the master had spoken it.  And somewhere along the line, the steward ceased to think of the things entrusted to him as the master’s things, and he began to think of them as his own things.  And all at once, he ceased to regard the master as his master, and the things, the money, the possessions, the mammon, became his master.  For you cannot 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. 

            Jesus doesn’t tell us the nature of the waste.  Was the steward spending the master’s money for his own comforts and amusements?  Was he overcharging the tenants and keeping the excess for himself?  Or had he simply allowed things to slip, the equipment and the estate to fall into disrepair, neglected to keep up on the books, the debits, the receipts?  Whatever the case, he had broken the master’s trust.  He had been unfaithful.  And now he cannot be the steward anymore.

            What will he do?  Life is simply impossible apart from the master.  He isn’t strong enough to dig.  That is, he is incapable of laboring, doing the work it would take to preserve his life.  And he is ashamed to beg.  The charity of others won’t save him.  Now, he could attempt to justify himself before the master, claim that he is more righteous than the master thinks he is, show the master all the good things he has done, or compare the quality of his stewardship with the inferior work of others.  But, confronted as he is by his transgressions, his wasting the master’s possessions, it is clear that self-justification won’t save him, either. 

            But one thing will, and he knows it.  And you might miss it in the story, if you aren’t careful.  If there is one thing he can bank on, one thing in all of life he can be certain and sure of, it is the master’s mercy.  “Before I turn in the ledger, and before the news spreads of my termination, I’ll make one last round among the tenants.  And I’ll cut their debts.  I’ll forgive them.  Quick, take the hundred measures of oil you owe, and cut it in half.  Take the hundred measures of wheat, and lop off twenty percent.”  And see, this is not just so the people will like the steward and take his side in the matter, or take him into their homes when he is destitute, although it will have that effect, and he is very shrewd in this way.  But even more, it will reflect well upon the master.  The people will think the master commanded the steward to forgive their debts.  And they will thank and praise the master.  They will love the master, and be devoted to the master.

            And the master commends him.  Not because of his dishonesty.  Understand that.  But because the steward was shrewd.  Because he came to his senses, and used the master’s possessions, not as masters themselves, to be served, but as means graciously given by the master, to accomplish the master’s ends, and in that way, to prosper the steward as well, and the people in the steward’s care.  The steward had faith in the master, and in his compassion.  And he acted accordingly.  That is what is commended.  As it turns out, mercy is precisely the investment the master desired the steward to make with his possessions all along.  For the master is merciful.  That is who he is.  Therefore, employing his wealth in mercy is never a waste.

            This is how we know the parables are not, as you’ve been told, “earthly stories with a heavenly meaning.”  They are not fables that end in a moral.  The parables are stories that are out of this world.  They are entirely counterintuitive.  They go against our every instinct.  What earthly master would approve of his steward letting his debtors off the hook?  Who could run a business that way?  The parables show us, in no uncertain terms, that God is not like us.  His ways are higher than our ways.  His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. 

            The master in the parable is, of course, God.  The tenants, the debtors, are our brothers and sisters in Christ.  But who is the steward? 

            You are, beloved.  You are. 

            God has given you so much.  Generously.  Freely.  Your body and soul, eyes, ears, and all your members, your reason, and all your senses, and He still takes care of them.  Clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, family… perhaps a spouse and children, parents, siblings, extended family… Employment.  The means to make a living.  Money.  Friends.  Community.  All that you need to support this body and life… and more!  He defends you against all danger.  He guards and protects you from all evil.  Only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in you.  And it is a sacred trust.  For all this… with all this… it is your duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.  See, it all belongs, ultimately, to Him.  But for all practical purposes, you can count these things as your own.  He gives them for you to steward… to use, yes, and even to enjoy (in fact, God takes great delight in your enjoying them)… but to care for and cultivate, to invest for the good of God’s Kingdom, and the benefit of His people.  And in this way, you, yourself, will prosper, as well as all the people God entrusts to your care. 

            But how would it be if God suddenly called you up to examine the ledger?  Have you been a good steward?  Always?  With everything?  Have you wasted what God has entrusted to you?  Have you blown it all on your own comforts and amusements, to the neglect of God’s Kingdom and people, or even to their detriment?  Have you been selfish and greedy?  Perhaps even cheated your neighbor, overcharged, sold inferior goods, stolen, been negligent or lazy at work, lied on your tax returns?  Have you hoarded things up?  Neglected your duties?  Have you abused your power and authority over others?  Neglected your neighbor?  Have you seen your neighbor in need, and told him to be warmed and filled, but otherwise passed by in indifference (James 2:15-16)?  It happens infinite ways, and all the time in our sad sack of flesh.  We cease to regard God as our Master.  Instead, money, possessions, stuff… Mammon, becomes our master, our idol.  And you cannot serve two masters.  You cannot serve two gods.  Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you’ll be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and Mammon. 

            When God examines the ledger, as He has, and as He will do publicly on the Day of Judgment, you, in and of yourself, will be found wanting.  And you can’t be God’s steward if you are found wanting. 

            So, what can you do?  Life is simply impossible apart from the Master, apart from God, who gives life, and who is Life.  You aren’t strong enough to dig; that is, to do enough works to dig your way out of transgression, and into God’s good graces.  It would do you no good to beg.  The charity of others cannot save you.  And, self-justification?  Well, you could try that, pleading that you’re basically a good person, that you’re faithful most of the time, with most of your stuff (really though?), that you do your best, especially in comparison with others.  But it didn’t work for the Pharisees, and it won’t work for you.  It won’t save you.

            But there is one thing that will, and you know it.  It is the Master’s mercy.  It is the Master’s Son, Mercy Incarnate, our Lord Jesus Christ.  If there is one thing you can bank on, one thing you can be certain and sure of, in this life, and the life to come, it is the Master’s mercy in Jesus Christ. 

            In fact, you can count on it for yourself, first.  Confess the waste.  Confess your unfaithfulness.  Don’t justify yourself.  And don’t look for a plan B.  Be honest with yourself.  And be honest with God.  This may not be explicit in the parable, but at no point does the steward deny that he has transgressed.  So, just say it.  You know what God will do.  What He does for you continually.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9; ESV).  He will forgive you, for Jesus’ sake, on account of His sin-atoning death on the cross.  He will restore you, enlivening you with the life of Jesus, who is risen from the dead, and with His Holy Spirit, so that you can continue in the stewardship. 

            And then, He will give you to take all the grace and mercy He has poured out upon you, and pour it out on others.  Spend it on others.  Mercy toward others.  It is never a waste.  Forgive others their debts, their sins against you.  Not just 50%, or 20%, but 100%, as God, in Christ, has forgiven you.  You’ll find it frees you as much as it frees others.  And tell them about the 100% debt forgiveness they have before God in Christ.  So that they will believe, and be saved, and welcome you into the eternal dwellings on that great Day.  Spend your money, your time, your effort, in mercy toward your neighbor.  Take care of your family, your congregation, your community, the widow, the orphan, the stranger among you, with all that God has given you.  That’s why He gave it to you.  And it really belongs to Him anyway, remember.  Be generous.  Be merciful.  Enjoy it, yes, of course.  But much of the joy is in giving it away.  Be a conduit of God’s unfailing mercy.  You can bank on this: His mercy for you will not run out.  In fact, what will He do?  He will commend you for your shrewdness.  For recognizing that money and stuff are not your masters, but means God has graciously given you to accomplish His ends, advance His Kingdom, and prosper you and all who are around you.

            The fact is, you have wasted much of what the Master has given you.  But Christ has redeemed it.  And Christ has redeemed you.  Christ is the Good Steward.  And He gives you to be His under-steward.  And what a privilege.  Serve Mammon, and you lose Christ.  Serve Christ, and Mammon will serve you.  And it will serve Him through you.  Mammon will be unseated as an idol.  And Jesus Christ will be all in all.  In the Name of the Father, and of the Son X, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.