Luke 16:1-8 And he said also to his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward… I. THE OBLIGATION TO THIS. 1. Because we are dependent on God. 2. Because we are accountable to Him. II. ITS PROPER NATURE. 1. In general. (1) It is provident of the future. (2) It conceals not from itself the true state of matters. (3) It is inventive of means for its well-being. (4) It forms its purpose with greatest determination. (5) It discloses clearly who or what can be of service to it for the accomplishment of its purpose. (6) It does not content itself with purposes, but goes immediately to action. (7) It employs the time without delay. (8) It transacts everything with careful consideration. 2. In particular. (1) It employs temporal goods in well-doing. (2) It is mindful of death and the day of reckoning. (3) It has an eye to eternal bliss. III. THE CONSEQUENCES OF IT. 1. It obtains the approval of the Lord and Judge of all. 2. It renders us capable and worthy of receiving greater, truer, abiding goods. (F. G. Lisco.)Lessons: — 1. A regard to our own interest is a commendable principle. The great fault which men commit is, that they mistake the nature as well as the means of happiness. 2. There is another object which our Saviour has in view. It is to compare the sagacity and exertion which worldly men employ in order to attain their ends with the lukewarmness and negligence of the children of light. Do we not see with what ardour and perseverance those who place their happiness in wealth pursue their grand object? 3. We learn from parable, and the observations of our Saviour which accompany it, the manner in which riches may be applied for the advancement of happiness. 4. From this passage we may learn the benefit which good men may derive from observing the vices which prevail around them. This lesson our Saviour has taught us. By seeing vice, as it appears in the world, we may learn the nature and character, the effects and consequences of it. 5. But the principal object of this parable was evidently to teach us that the exercise of forethought is an important duty required of all Christians. Forethought, then, is necessary to reformation. It is not less necessary to improvement. For does not improvement presuppose that we seek or watch for opportunities of exercising our benevolent affections — of doing good and kind actions — and of supplying the importunate wants of the needy and the destitute? (J. Thomson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. |
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