18th Sunday after Pentecost, Morning Worship, October 12, 2025
Sermon Series: Rick Warren’s Transformed – Week 6 Financial Health
Sermon: Transforming How I See and Use Money
Accompanying Scripture: Luke 16:1-13
Transforming How I See and Use Money
Luke 16:1-13
He was living high on the hog.
Lavish feasts, extravagant travel; the kids went to the best schools.
And he managed it all, not on his paycheck, but on the owner’s pocketbook.In short, he embezzled money.
Eventually, the owner discovered it and fired him.
The manager’s reputation was lost. He would never work as a steward again.
What lay ahead for him was ditch digging and begging.He hit rock bottom.
He had nowhere to go.
There’s a lot of talk these days about the growing homeless community. They collect basketfuls of stuff that seem to hold great value to them until it no longer matters, and it becomes trash on the street. They panhandle on dangerous medians. We believe that it was a homeless person who exchanged a blanket for an old bicycle sitting in my driveway. We don’t talk to them for fear that this beloved child of God may have a mental illness and hurt us.
Yet, these are the ones who pick up stray dogs and take care of them and keep them, feeding the dogs first before they feed themselves. These are the people who look out for each other, checking on them through alliances made in the shelters around town.
They have learned how to survive on the streets in a manner we might consider unethical. And they use those unethical judgments to care for each other.
And so, our steward/manager uses his abilities and temporary power to bring equity into the world. Not equality: note that he doesn’t cut the debts by the same percentage.
The surprise is that the owner is impressed. The manager had given up clinging to money and had brought a measure of justice into the world.
At the heart of this passage is a warning: “No servant can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and mammon [money].” Wealth in itself is not evil, but our attitude toward it can either draw us closer to God or lead us away. When money becomes our master, it shapes our decisions, our values, and our hearts. Jesus calls us to choose. Will we use what we have for ourselves alone, or will we surrender it to God’s service?(i) With this in mind, let’s look at our bulletins:
Four things not to do with your money:
- Don’t waste it
2 So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management because you cannot be my manager any longer.’ (Luke 16:2) - Don’t love it or live for it.
13 No slave can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth (Luke 16:13) - Don’t trust money for security.
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist. When your eyes light upon it, it is gone, for suddenly it takes wings to itself, flying like an eagle toward heaven. (Proverbs 23:4-5) - Don’t expect it to satisfy.
The lover of money will not be satisfied with money, nor the lover of wealth with gain. This also is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
I have a friend who loves retail therapy. Her husband often shakes his head in dismay, saying, “She sure loves to shop.” Shopping can be fun and it sure feels good! There’s nothing like
bringing home a new outfit and trying it on.
The problem is, it doesn’t last very long. That outfit goes into the closet with all our other clothes, and the thrill is gone.
What God says about money:
- It all belongs to God.
Then Jesus[a] said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. - God is using money to test us.
a. What we love the most
b. What we trust the most
c. It shows if God can trust us. - Money is a tool to be used for God’s purposes.
And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth[a]
so that when it is gone they may welcome you into the eternal homes.(Luke 16:9) - The best use of money is to use it for getting people into heaven.
A colleague of mine living in New Jersey shared with me the story of her congregation. They spent nine months of the year collecting for a garage sale. They were known all over the community for this garage sale that took about three months to set up and price.
Historically, the collected funds were donated to two different charitable organizations in the community. The amount collected each year was in the neighborhood of $5,000.00.
In the past few years, they have changed their giving. They keep the money in a savings account because they’re afraid they’ll run out of money.
And the community knows nothing about this. They still believe that the church is sharing the profit with other organizations in town.
“Getting people into heaven” is not a phrase that I like to use. It’s not my job to get people into heaven. That’s up to God. However, it is my job to be generous with my money. It is my job to bring the light of Christ into the world.
You may have noticed a change in the wording I use to call for the offering. I used to remind us that everything belongs to God and we’re to return a portion to God.
Although I believe in it and live it out, I’m not satisfied with it. It’s true that God provides us with everything we have. It’s true that we are called to return to God a portion. But, I think those words need more. And so I’ve added the word “generosity.”
“Because of your generosity.”
- We have a building with no deferred maintenance, because you take the risk to give.
- We go above and beyond the Mission budget because of your love and empathy for those with little.
- Our garage sale was our investment in an outreach program that brought hundreds of people together to enjoy cool cars and the love of God.
- Our passion to teach children and youth about Jesus is matched by our generous giving.
- Our worship is enhanced because of talented musicians who provide thoughtful and thought-filled music and liturgy.
- Our faith education takes on a variety of themes that seek to understand what is happening in the world through the lens of scripture.
- We fellowship together in unique ways, reminding us of our love for each other.
- Talented people give not only of their money but of their time and talents to keep FPCO thriving and serving in our community and the world.
We’re not getting people into heaven. We’re doing more. We’re revealing the kingdom of God to the lost and alone.
- One day I’ll give an account to God.
So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear
about you? Give me an accounting of your management
(Luke 16:2)
Friends, the world often admires cunning, ambition, and worldly success. But Jesus asks us to be faithful stewards, to use every resource in our hands—however small—for the glory of God and the good of others. Let us be shrewd for God’s kingdom, not in self-serving ways, but in loving, generous, and faithful service. Let us use our lives and resources to shine the light of Christ, knowing that what is done for Him will last forever.(ii)
All glory and honor be to God.
Amen.
i Microsoft CoPilot
ii Ibid