READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l There are certain ways of doing things in this world, one of which is you have to take care of yourself. In the parable of the shrewd manager, Jesus contrasts the manager’s way with the way children of light ought to live. Jesus teaches us to be wise to invest more in eternity than in tomorrow (V8).
Two ways to invest more in eternity:
1) Invest more in people than in things
The manager uses people for his own gain. Jesus teaches us not to emulate the cunning manager but to use our God-given resources to help others and gain friends and eternal rewards. For example, we invest time in our spouse and children instead of in pursuing material possessions before it is too late. While our loved ones need money to live, they also need our love and time, and this is of eternal value. Don’t wait until it is too late.
2) Invest in our souls than in material security
Though it is important to eat healthily and plan for retirement, we must not neglect the care of our souls. Our physical body will not last forever and death can come to us any moment. One day we will have to leave everything behind (Ps 103:15,16). The brevity of life means we need to be wise and pay attention to eternal things so that when life on earth is over, and our material resources have ended their use in this world, they will continue working to our advantage in eternity.
How to invest in our soul? Three questions to ask:
1. Are you growing in your relationship with Jesus?
What is your relationship with Jesus now? Are you still taking time to be with Jesus – to read and meditate on His word and pray or are you relying on past experiences? Dallas Willard in his book The Great Omission challenged us to think whether we will be comfortable spending time with Jesus in eternity when we have no desire to be with Him here.
2. Are you growing to be more like Jesus?
Jesus didn’t save us just to give us a place in heaven but he also wants us to grow to be more like Him so when others experience us, they will be drawn to Him. Jesus takes a serious view on the matter of stumbling others especially if we prevent them from knowing Him. Do we stumble others and prevent others from knowing Him? Jesus warns of judgment against those who stumble others (Lk 17:1-3). When people look at you, do they see Jesus or the devil?
3. Have you been using your talent/gifts to serve God?
Scripture does not teach what most of us seem to assume and that is, once we reach heaven all of us will be transformed into equal beings with equal possessions, equal responsibilities, equal capacities, and equal rewards. It teaches just the opposite. What we do in this life with what we have, have eternal consequences. Examples of Jesus teaching on such matters can be found in various parables like, the parable of the talents, the parable of the ten minas, parable of the tenants, etc. Scripture also teaches that there is some reward system in heaven. (1 Cor 3:10-15).
God created us to do good works. There is a lifetime of good works for us to do. God expects us to use the talents that he has given us to bless others and bring glory to Him even if one has only one talent. God is not unjust, He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them (Hb 6:10).
Alfred Nobel became rich when he invented dynamite and other explosives that are used and bought by world governments to produce weapons of mass destruction. When he realised that he had become rich by enabling others to kill each other, he made a decision to use his fortune to reward accomplishments that benefited humanity, including what we now know as the Nobel Peace Prize.
Alfred Nobel had a rare opportunity to be able to assess his life at its end and to still be alive and have the opportunity to change that assessment. May we emulate the example of Alfred Nobel and don’t wait till it is too late.
There are some things in life that are of true value and some things of passing value.
Do not play games with your eternal future. Be wise to invest in things that continue in eternity. Be wise and invest in people and invest in your souls.
(Sermon notes by Woo Choi Yin)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- How has the Holy Spirit spoken to you through the preaching of God’s word?
- How would you summarise the message of this section or story?
- What are the implications for us through this message?
- What are the personal implications (for you)?
- What are the communal implications (for our gospel community)?
- What are the missional implications (for those we want to reach for Christ)?
