Make Friends with Money Pt 1
Luke 16:1–9
He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager,
and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.
2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you?
Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’
3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the
management 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 when I am removed from management,
people may receive me into their houses.’
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.’
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 manager for his shrewdness.
For the children 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 wealth,
so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.
Manager wasted & embezzled – the master is about to review the books
The manager makes friends of his master’s debtors
The man secured his future comfort
He would be taken care of ‘beyond’ his impending financial collapse
Jesus declares: the children of the world are more shrewd or wiser
– astute: accurately assessing situations & turning them favorably, clever
They are more prudent – acting with thought for the future
Doesn’t Jesus tell us not to think about tomorrow? (Matt 6:25) No
He says don’t have anxiety about tomorrow – don’t be a worrier
We must think about the future – Inheritance, establishing the seed
As children of light, we are supposed to be ‘enlightened’
1. (Wise) We don’t work the plans the Lord has provided us
We’re looking for shortcuts & bargains
2. (Prudent – thinking future) We don’t seize opportunities
We figure the Lord will make a way
3. (Astute – assessing opportunities) We don’t act “quickly”
We let critical moments pass
4. (Shrewd) We don’t use our money to ensure that we will have a future
Make friends of unrighteous wealth –
It doesn’t mean the money is bad – this is distinguished from “true riches”
When “it” fails – the system fails – i.e., recent government shutdown
Look at how many people were not prepared
1929 The Great Depression – 90 years ago
2008 The Great Recession – 11 years ago
The housing bubble burst / Sub-prime lending
As Blacks, the system betrays us first
We are already behind
In Memphis, the median household income
· Blacks is $30,100,
· Hispanics $31,800
· Whites average $55,200,
The median household net worth
· Blacks $17,600
· Hispanics $20,700
· Whites $171,000
There is a huge disparity in wealth, with us being the tail & not the head
Then we spend more for the same things
“Home loans are consistently more expensive for Black and Hispanic buyers than for white buyers.” – National Bureau of Economic Research
Education is supposed to be the ‘great equalizer.’ Because of the high cost of education, minority students have to take on larger debt loads. Then, because of the pay disparity, minorities carry the burden of student loans much longer than others educated professionals. – Business Review at Berkley
How do we change things & level the playing field?
We must learn new ways to think about money & handle money
We must be renewed in our minds
Who teaches us or where do we go to get the right information re: Money?
Many stay stuck in shame
Many think they don’t have enough money
The places where you spend your money won’t help you
Your church is going to take the oldest & best Business Book – the Bible
And teach you How to Make Friends with Money?
even when you don’t have much
Church-world hasn’t always been our best guide in thinking about money
Churches have taught things like
· Subtly taught against rich people while longing to have what they have
· Money is the root of all evil
· Money cometh
God blesses, but we need to understand His normal M.O.
2 Cor 9:10
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
He gives us seed
· It can be a dollar
· It can be an idea
· I can be a connection
· It can be an opportunity
Then, He gives us the ability to multiply what’s in that seed
There’s something in the seed & there’s something in you
“Be fruitful and multiply”
We must learn to be
· Shrewd – wise
· Astute – accurately assessing situations & turning them favorably
· Prudent – acting with thought for the future
Don’t keep doing the same thing
Take Storm Measures
Acts 27:17-18 NIV
They passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. 18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard.
1. Passed ropes under the boat – take care of the most important needs (food, shelter, clothes
2. Drop Anchor – Give God what’s His (Tithe)
3. Throw cargo overboard – honest evaluation
Get ready to Learn
Get ready to Increase
Get ready to Make an Impact
Get ready to Leave an Inheritance
It’s going to take time – but we’re going to be disciplined
Prov 13:18
The one who neglects discipline ends up in poverty and shame,
but the one who accepts reproof is honored.
Even though it may seem like we are a generation behind…
Ps 37:25
I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.