In this sermon manuscript I prepared, I explored a “digital homiletics” theory as suggested by Sunggu A. Yang called “Episodic Preaching” or “Four-Page Preaching” based on Paul Scott Wilson’s The Four Pages of Sermon.[1]
The Parable of the Dishonest Manager
The parable begins with Jesus Christ sharing with his disciples The Parable of the Dishonest Manager found in the passage of Luke 16:1-13. There are four parts or scenes in the parable: (Act 1) the Dilemma, (Act 2) the Manager, (Act 3) the Master, and (Act 4) the Lesson. The story is about a manager who was not an unfaithful steward of the resources and properties of his master. He was threatened that he will be fired as a manager.
After being reprimanded by the master, the manager had a change of behavior and tried to correct his mistake while also looking for potential security for his future life and career. He tried to get ahead of the master by cutting the amount into half or less of the people who had financial debts to the master. For example: one owed the master a hundred measures of oil but the manager only asked for fifty as a payment. Another owed the master with a hundred measures of wheat, yet the manager only asked for eighty. The manager somehow was having dishonest transactions.
Despite the dishonesty of the manager, the master commended him. It is difficult to comprehend why the master would commend the manager’s dishonest action. Yet, since it was a parable, it has a deeper meaning behind the surface level of the story. Let’s see how it progresses below.
Act 1: The Dilemma (verses 1-3) – The manager abused the role and stewardship given by the master to him. He had assumed that the resources he received were his. That’s the dilemma. It is easy for us to forget and recognize God’s ownership of all the resources, possessions, and providences that we have. The master is the owner; the manager is a steward. In the church context, giving your money to the church is difficult because we think it is ours. And yes, maybe because we think we deserve it; we worked hard for it; we need to pamper ourselves with that hard-earned salary income that we get. And yet, we realize here, wait—we are not the masters in the story—but we are mere managers in this whole kingdom narrative.
Act 2: The Manager (verses 4-7) – The natural reaction when encountering a life-career predicament is to turn to ourselves. We start thinking for and relying on ourselves to solve the problem, like the manager. Most of the time, any decision that is self-focused falls short. But, in this context, there were two perspectives on what the manager did.
- Cons: He was self-reliant and became dishonest in several aspects. However…
- Pros: The debtors thought they were saving up money because they’re only paying less than what they owed. Hence, at the same time, the manager was earning their trust and a potential patron later in the future once he was kicked out of the master’s place.
Act 3: The Master (verse 8) – he commended the manager’s wittiness or innovative wisdom to settle all the balances of those who owed his master. But why was he commended? He was dishonest and self-serving. But if you read it carefully, he was doing it not for the money but for his future status in the master’s presence. He needed to prove he was reliable or would find someone he would go to once he was out of the master’s place. The manager served others with his actions–even though unintentionally. Moreover, God wants us to think about our future heavenly realm over our temporal earthly matter. While the manager thought about his present situation, he acted for his future status in life. Likewise, God commends those who think ahead of time, innovative, and value other-centeredness.
Further, believers who use their wealth generously give evidence of their faith and commitment to God and of their understanding that God will give eternal rewards to those who are generous in their use of the resources he has entrusted to them. Craig Keener comments, “Use your possessions to serve people, rather than accommodating it for yourself, because you are only God’s manager of anything you have.” In verse 9, the “use worldly wealth to gain friends” phrase is evangelistic and other-centered. Meaning, use your finances for God’s glory, sharing with others, and not just for your personal benefit.
Act 4: The Lesson – How are you managing God’s resources today? Can God trust you with the little things in your life so that he can trust you with his true riches? Reading verse 13 proved that the manager loves the master more than the money. The manager no longer thinks about the wealth he can earn and keep but his relationship with the master and others. Let us evaluate ourselves.
Can you trust God to oversee your finances? A great yardstick when it comes to trusting God is your giving. How are your tithes and offerings? How much percentage of your giving goes to God? Or is it just resting in your banks, assets, and new properties? This principle ought to be applied by our kids as well. Is your money just your own or are you willing to treat someone to a coffee shop so you can share Jesus with them? I can see a lot of young people today who can save up money and spend two hours on a concert. And yet when it comes to offering, they only give change or what’s left of that concert.
Three Declarations When You Give
Based on the passage, you declare three things when you give your tithes and offerings: (1) God is your Master – he supplies everything to you, (2) you trust God – he will sustain you, and (3) you care for others – other-centeredness, unselfish, thinking for the good of the church, your fellowship, your community, and others who need Christ in their lives.
A Tale of a Café – there is a small coffee shop that started just two years ago. They describe their café as a grab-and-go coffee shop because they do not have a big space. Just about when they were about to celebrate their second year, they realized the need for a bigger space so they could serve their loyal customers with a full menu and food. They started a Kickstarter website—a fundraising campaign—and were able to receive great support. Their goal was to reach $50,000.00 for their new coffee spot. They reached the goal and even surpassed it with a total of $54,775.00 from their community, followers, customers, and friends.
Now my question is, “If they can do it for a coffee shop, how much more for the church, for Christ, for discipleship, and for the lost souls waiting to hear the gospel?” What’s your action? Be a generous giver.
Read Giving as an Act of Worship and King David’s 7 Principles of Giving
Photo by Eva Bronzini on Pexels.com | Sermon delivered at Union Community Bible Church – Pathway on July 28, 2024. Powerpoint link
[1] Sunggu A. Yang, Digital Homiletics: The Theology and Practice of Online Preaching (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2024), 19-33. Cf. Paul Scott Wilson, The Four Pages of Sermon: A Guide to Biblical Preaching (Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1999).
John&Paul's Reflections 
One thought on “[Sermon] Holy Hustle: God’s Kingdom Currency”