Reading: Luke 16: 1-10
The Parable of the Dishonest Manager
1 He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a steward, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.
2 And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.'
3 And the steward said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.
4 I have decided what to do, so that people may receive me into their houses when I am put out of the stewardship.'
5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'
6 He said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'
7 Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'
8 The master commended the dishonest steward for his shrewdness; for the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.
9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations.
10 "He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.
COMMENTARY
The minor tasks that must be done in the Lord's work often attract little attention and seem unworthy of recognition. Yet the faithful Christian who attends to these details, whether emptying wastebaskets or typing the church bulletin, is making a valuable contribution. He must therefore not become weary of doing little things, because in God's sight they are big things.
The following legend, brought to mind by Leslie B. Flynn, illustrates the point. "As construction began on a magnificent cathedral, the angel in charge promised a large reward to the person who made the most important contribution to the finished sanctuary. As the building went up, people speculated about who would win the prize. The architect? The contractor? The woodcutter? The artisans skilled in gold, iron, brass, and glass? Perhaps the carpenter assigned to the detailed grillwork near the altar? Because each workman did his best, the completed church was a masterpiece. But when the moment came to announce the winner of the rewards, everyone was surprised. It was given to an old, poorly dressed peasant woman. What had she done? Every day she had faithfully carried hay to the ox that pulled the marble for the stonecutter."
When God gives us a job to do, He doesn't want us to be concerned about either its greatness or its insignificance. He only asks that we be faithful. Even if your part seems minor, it is worth doing well. If it's done for the Lord, it's no small task.
NEWS
REMEMBER !!!!!!!!!! "MOON CAKE LUNCH" - 21 September 1983 at 1.00 pm
PRAYER - Let's sing the song "Family prayer"
