God’s Stewards

Sermon September 21, 2025, Luke 16:1-13

God’s Stewards

Reverend Fred Okello

Our lectionary comes at a good moment because both Bethel and Emmanuel are working on their budgets, dealing with money problems, and wondering how we can meet our financial obligations.

After looking at our data, we see that our regular costs are higher than what we get in our general funds. We feel the weight of that truth because we want to keep the lights on, support the ministry, and be true to the task God has given us.

But we aren’t the first ones to have to deal with the stress of having too many duties and not enough resources. In today’s Gospel, Jesus narrates the story of a manager who suddenly ran into money problems. Even though his acts seem wrong, many praise him for being wise and acting quickly.

Jesus tells this surprise story not to encourage dishonesty, but to remind His followers that being a good steward is about more than just money; it’s about being true to God in all situations.

This story makes us think about three crucial questions:

1. Are we smart with what God has given us?

2. Are we faithful with the little things?

3. And finally, who is really in charge of us—God or money?

The story starts with a steward who is accused of wasting his master’s things. He knows he doesn’t have much time left, so he rapidly sets arrangements to avoid being poor. The master praises him, which surprises us. The master praises him not because he is dishonest, but because he is smart and knows how to act with foresight and urgency.

Jesus says that people in this world frequently care more about short-term things than the children of light do about long-term things. People work hard to make money, get promotions, and feel safe in this world. But when it comes to eternal investments like establishing God’s kingdom, caring for others, and giving generously, we might be slow or care-less.

We as a church are in a time of making a budget. Jesus doesn’t want us to be disheartened by our limited resources. Instead, the Lord wants us to be smart stewards and use every dollar, every gift, and every resource in ways that develop relationships that last forever and help God’s mission grow. Taking care of things isn’t only about paying bills; it’s also about investing in God’s kingdom.

Church, it’s vital to be wise, but being wise isn’t enough. Jesus goes on to the next principle of faithfulness. 

Jesus said, “If you are honest in small things, you will also be honest in big things.” The Lord teaches us that how we deal with little things like our time, money, and chances shows how we will deal with bigger things.

Resources on earth don’t last forever. They are not the real wealth. But God is watching how we deal with these short-term problems to see if we can be trusted with things that will last forever.

We may feel small as a church when we compare ourselves to bigger churches with higher budgets. But Jesus tells us that being faithful with little we have is what really counts. God can do much more with us than we think if we are faithful with our prayers, our offerings, our presence in worship, our talents, and our witness. Faithfulness isn’t about how much we contribute; it’s about how honest and consistent we are with our stewardship.

Church If wisdom is how we make plans and faithfulness is how we act, then the most important question is: who do we serve? At the heart of everything we do, who is in charge?

Jesus ends this lesson with a strong statement: “No one can serve two masters.” You can’t serve both God and money at the same time. Money is a wonderful tool, but it shouldn’t be your boss. Money will rule us, let us down, and leave us empty if we live for it. But God takes care of us, guides us, and offers us peace when we live for God.

During this time of year when people are making budgets, it’s easy to worry about the numbers. But Jesus tells us to look up higher: Do we believe that money can save us, or do we believe in God? God is the only one who can provide us real security, hope, and a future.

Every choice we make, both as individuals and as a group, shows who we really serve. Putting God first makes money a tool for His work. Putting money first pushes God to the side. This is why Jesus makes it so plain that we can’t serve two masters.

Church, the story of the smart manager teaches us to live with urgency, wisdom, and loyalty as caretakers of God's gifts.

• Be smart with what God has given you. Use your resources for things that will last forever.

• Be honest in the little things. God is observing how we take advantage of the opportunities we have today.

• Know who you work for. God is the only one who deserves your full commitment.

Let me finish with this illustration: It seems so tiny when a farmer places a seed in the big soil. But there is potential for a harvest inside that seed—grains, fruits, or vegetables that feed many people. When God gets hold of something that seems small to us, it might become a lot. Our gifts, abilities, and even our modest acts of faith may seem like a drop in the bucket when we are facing problems. But if we give them to God with all our hearts, God will give us more than we can fathom.

As we work on our budgets this season, let’s remember that our resources may seem limited, but our God is big. And when we put God first, God gives us what we need and magnifies what we already have.

Let’s pray:

Lord, give us the wisdom, faithfulness, and unity we need to serve You. Help us use what we have not simply to satisfy our commitments, but also to invest in eternity. May our stewardship show the world that we trust You above all else. Amen.