May we return to Luke chapter
16 that I read this morning. I said that I would probably
refer to or come back to it again this evening as there's so much
to say really in this chapter and a lot more could be said
than what I plan to say. That's the beauty, isn't it?
The wonder of God's Word. made me sort of think of like
Psalm 23 we all know Psalm 23 so well and then somebody preached
on Psalm 23 and you sort of think could they sort of say anything
different about Psalm 23 there's been so many sermons preached
on it Things were said concerning Psalm
23 that I'd never realised before such as the wonder and expanse
of God's Word. But in Luke 16, I think we sort
of got to about verse 10 and perhaps those verses 10 to
12 he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also
in much he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much
if therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon
who will commit to your trust the true riches and if you have
not been faithful in that which is another man's who shall give
you that which is your own Perhaps the title for these verses is
Faithfulness in the Little Things shows how one will be faithful
in the large things and that's very true isn't it? If you can
be trusted to deal with something small in
a good way then gives people confidence then well you know
to sort of upgrade you as it were and to give you more responsibility
for something that's a fact of life, isn't it? So he who is faithful in what
is least is faithful also in much. In these words of Jesus
perhaps money is considered to be one of the least things. Well
money is important of course but compared to eternity it's
nothing but it's considered I think here as a least thing. therefore
if a person cannot be faithful in managing the things that are
least they should not be trusted to be faithful in handling the
things that are much in this sense those who are leaders and
there's perhaps a responsibility on leaders among God's people
and I read somewhere how they must be good managers of money
of their own money If a person can't be faithful before God
with the money he gives, how can they be faithful with the
care of people? So it's quite a challenge, isn't
it? For those in positions of authority, you know, to be able
to look after your money and what is yours before you have
the responsibility for the care of people. We read, don't we,
in 1 Timothy 3.5, for if a man know not how to rule his own
house, how shall he take care of the church of God? So there's
a real challenge, isn't it, for those in leadership. Make sure
your own house is in order. And if it is, then indeed you
are most suitable then to take care of the church of God. If you're not being faithful
then what is another man's? Here Jesus seems to refer to
the fact that all our riches belong to God and we must see
that we are managing his resources. That's right isn't it? All that
we have, the money, the possessions, the talents and time you know
it's all given isn't it by the Lord. and so we are indeed to be faithful and we're not it's not wrong
to be rich as I said this morning and a lot of the Lord's people
are perhaps quite well off but it's how we use what we have
is what counts Psalm 62 10 says trust not in oppression and become
not vain in robbery if riches increase set not your heart upon
them but really as the Lord's people
the great thing is is to have a contentment isn't it as 1 Timothy
6 tells us godliness with contentment is great gain that's worth gaining
isn't it? Godliness with contentment because
we brought nothing into this world and it's certain we can
carry nothing out and having food and raiment let us therewith
be content But they that will be rich fall into temptation
and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown
men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money, as I mentioned
this morning, is the root of all evil, which, while some covet
it after, they have erred from the faith, pierce themselves
through with many sorrows. But in verses 10 to 13 Jesus
goes on to really expand the principles that we had in verse
9 that we've kind of been looking at really of one being faithful
in a little and then being faithful in much. Similarly if one is
dishonest in little he will also be dishonest in much. So may we be helped to be faithful
and we read didn't we in Matthew 25 and that's why I chose that
as a reading in Matthew 25 and from verse 14 speaking there of the one with
the different talents the five talents and the two talents and
then the one talent and we read in verse 21 and in verse 23 of
the one who used their talents wisely and to good use put them
to good use They have the commendation, well done, thou good and faithful
servant. And what about us? Can that be
said of us? Can the Lord say that of us,
that we are good and faithful servants? And of course, we read, didn't
we, about the unjust steward. He certainly didn't get a commendation, not for doing good, but of course,
we saw that he was being rather shrewd, but certainly was not
a good and faithful servant. And in verse 13 says no servant
can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love
the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God a moment.
That's it. You cannot. It's impossible. The climax of Jesus' application
is this verse. If God is our master, then our
wealth will be at his disposal. In other words, the faithful
and just steward, whose master is God, will employ that wealth
in building up the kingdom of God, not his own domain. And Jesus states that serving
two masters is impossible. ye cannot serve God and mammon. And maybe sometimes in life we
perhaps have tried to get the best of both worlds serving the
Lord and serving the world and it just doesn't work at all. And God's word says ye cannot. serve God and mum and it's not
as though well you might be able to but no God's word is very
clear you cannot serve God and mum mum 1 John 2 5 says love not the world
neither the things that are in the world if any man loved the
world the love of the father is not in him we're in the world
aren't we obviously we're in the world we're here now for
a reason and in the purposes of God we're living where we
are and we exist in this world nothing wrong with that so it's
not it's not that kind of thing about you know because we're
in the world aren't we But it's sort of the attitude
and the thinking of the world which we're not to love. And aren't we to love God wholeheartedly
with all our soul and mind and strength and heart? And that's not always easy. It's
easy to do that, isn't it? To love God wholeheartedly. then we move on in verses 14
to 17 a little bit of a kind of say very much here but we
see here in these verses about how the Pharisees were covetous
and that that can be a problem can't it anyway with people to
be covetous and they thought that keeping
their laws they had lots of laws that they made up well that was
right you must keep these laws but really what it was it was
most important wasn't it to keep God's law and then there is marriage
that is mentioned there in verse 18 as an example but then we go on in verse 19
to another sort of rich man we had a rich man earlier another
rich man from verse 19 really right through to the end of the
chapter and i won't i've read earlier
this morning i won't read it again but this parable we have in one respect stands alone in
the Bible. It is the only passage of scripture
which describes the feelings of the unconverted after death. For this reason as well as for
many others the parable deserves a special attention and that's
also why I read Matthew 25 as well. and that was a very solemn passage
as well. Obviously I won't read that again
because I read that chapter from like from verses 24 right through
to the end. But I mentioned this morning
about how Royal was very helpful and he has some points really
concerning these verses. His parable of the rich man and
Lazarus and he has several points and I just share these points
with you. We learn first from this parable
that a man's worldly condition is no test of his state in the
sight of God. Let us never give way to the
common idea that men are to be valued according to their income
and that the man who has most money is the one who ought to
be the most highly esteemed. The general teaching of scripture
is flatly opposed to it and we read don't we of not many wise,
not many mighty, not many noble are called in 1 Corinthians 1
26. And Jeremiah 9, 23 and 24 says,
Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom. It's good to be wise, but let's
not glory in that. Neither let the mighty man glory
in his might. Let not the rich man glory in
his riches, but let him that gloryeth glory in this. that
he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which
exercise lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth.
For in these things I delight, saith the Lord. So it's not about
our wealth, our talents, our strength, It's the Lord, isn't it? Our
relationship with the Lord. And if in the purposes of God
we are given a healthy bank balance, well, so be it. That's the Lord's
will. And we know that wisdom is a
good thing to have. Well, Solomon asked for that,
didn't he? He asked for wisdom. He didn't ask for riches. but
he asked for wisdom and was granted that indeed. So may it be that
the things of God and the attribute, the Christian sort of characteristics,
that these are the things that we want rather than the things
that are sort of more, not necessarily quite so much
the spiritual things but things you know as I said there's nothing
wrong with having lots of money or being a very powerful strong
person that's very useful isn't it if you're quite a strong person
and you know that has very many uses and in the work of God isn't
it perhaps to have somebody who's very strong physically to be
able to do things. Somebody who's very fit. So,
you know, these things, of course, we bless God for as well. But all the time, isn't it, we
must have our eyes upon the Lord and realise what we can do, what
we have, is from the Lord. And if we're not able to do something,
and accept that and say well the Lord hasn't given me that
gift or whatever but let's recognize the gifts that we have and seek
to use them and not bury them in the ground as we read about
in our reading. We learn secondly from this parable
that death is a common end to which all classes of mankind
must come The trials of the beggar and the sumptuous faring of the
rich man alike ceased at last. There came a time when both of
them died. And I've probably mentioned this
before, I'm sure I've mentioned it elsewhere, that when I was
in Portsmouth and the late Sidney Norton, who I knew well at Salem,
God, I'm very well with him, he's a good man of God. And I think I was walking through
St. Mary's churchyard, which is near
to Salem Chapel, and looking at all the graves, and he said,
here we have the great equalizer. All have died, different people,
different ages, different walks of life, and yet they've all
died. Where they will spend eternity
is a matter, obviously, of the Lords. But in terms of their
bodies and everything, yes, here's the great equalizer. They've
all died. They're all buried here in this churchyard. Death is a great fact that all
acknowledge. but very few seem to ponder. Most men eat and drink and talk
and plan as if they were going to live upon earth forever. And I'm sure many are like that.
As I said with the reference in James, we make plans, nothing
wrong with making plans, but if the Lord will, we should do
this and that. Realising it might be not the
Lord's will. So the true Christian must be
on his guard against this spirit. And we learn thirdly from this
parable that the souls of believers are especially cared for by God
in the hour of death. The Lord Jesus tells us that
when the beggar died, he was carried away angels to Abraham's
bosom. There is something very comforting
in this expression. We know little or nothing of
the state and feelings of the dead. When our own last hour
comes and we lie down to die, we should be like those who journey
into an unknown country. But it may satisfy us to know
that all who fall asleep in Jesus are in good keeping. They're
not houseless, homeless, wanderers between the hour of death and
the day of resurrection. They are at rest in the midst
of friends with all who have had like faith with Abraham. They have no lack of anything.
And best of all, Paul tells us that they are with Christ. It reminds me indeed, doesn't
it, of the dying thief who said to the Lord, remember
me. you know when you come into your kingdom he just asked to
be remembered and then the Lord said to him today thou shalt
be with me in paradise not next week or some time in the future
but today thou shalt be with me in paradise and here was this
dying thief who had no opportunities to... he was on the cross about
to be executed so he had no opportunity to go to the house of God and
to be baptized and to join or to do any good works and yet
he acknowledged who the Lord was and who he was who the Lord
was and the Lord replied today thou
shalt be with me in paradise. And it's a wonderful thought
for those who perhaps are on their deathbed, nearing death,
and say, I know where I'm going. I know I'm going to be with the
Lord. I don't fear death. It's wonderful
to be able to say that, isn't it? To be able to have that Blessed
assurance that Jesus is mine as the hymn says. And then fourthly
we learn the reality and eternity of hell. The Lord Jesus tells
us plainly that after death the rich man was in hell tormented
in the flames with fire. He gives us a fearful picture
of his longing for a drop of water to cool his tongue and
of the gulf between him and Abraham which could not be passed. So there are a few more dreadful
passages perhaps in the whole Bible than this one. And let it be remembered that
he from whose lips This Cain, the Lord Jesus, is one who delights
in mercy and in grace. The Lord has much to say, doesn't
he, about Pharisees and various ones and calling them quite severely,
calling out their behavior. And yet we have the Lord who
speaks such words of mercy and grace. And there's so many words
that we can read throughout the scriptures of the Lord speaking
in that comforting way to us. The great judge, the great God
and yet we can know him in a very personal way and he knows all
about us and what we're going through and is able to help us
through all that we go through in life. the certainty and endlessness
of the future punishment of the wicked are truths which we must
hold fast never let go you know eternity I mean it's a long right
time isn't it you know we can't grapple in our minds the length
of eternity an eternal torment what a fearful
thing that is but to be forever with the Lord well I mean again
we can't get our minds around that too and to be forever with
the Lord so it's a concept that we can't really our minds can't
understand but there will be a reality and may it be that
by the grace of God that we shall be forever with the Lord and
that we indeed will enjoy all the blessings of being with the
Lord and his people forever. And we live, don't we? We're
living in the day of grace, isn't it? You know, people are being
saved. The Lord hasn't come yet. Again,
we're still living in the day of grace. And the Lord is saying
now, you know, if you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. As he said, it wasn't too late,
was it, for the dying thief there. Today thou shalt be with me in
paradise. So bless God that we still live
in the day of grace. People are being saved. Sometimes we look at perhaps
the state of the church and we see a lot of things that kind
of depress us and bring us down. But God is at work. God is building
his church. The gates of hell shall not prevail
against it. He is sovereign. He is at work.
And may we know ourselves that we are his people and that we
will be then forever with the Lord. We learn fifthly from this
parable that unconverted men find out the value of a soul
after death when it is too late. We read that the rich man wanted
Lazarus to be sent to his five brethren who were yet alive lest
they also should come to the place of torment. While he lived,
he had never done anything for their spiritual good. They had probably been his companions
in worldliness, and like him, had neglected their souls entirely.
But when he's dead, he finds out too late, the folly of which
they had all been guilty, and desires that, if possible, they
might be called to repentance. It's now us alive, isn't it? Is to preach to people, preach
the gospel and to seek to encourage men and women to come to the
Lord. Now we're alive, isn't it? That's what we are to do
because it's too late when we have died. The change that will come over
the minds of unconverted men after death is one of the most
fearful points in their future condition. They will see and
know and understand a hundred things to which they were obstinately
blind while they were alive. It is a wise saying of an old
divine, I don't know who it was, but an old divine who said that
hell is nothing more than truth known too late. Hell is nothing
more than truth known too late. And we learn lastly from this
parable that the greatest miracles would have no effect on men's
hearts if they will not believe God's word. Somebody goes back
to them from the dead, they believe. We're told, aren't we, in verse
31, if they hear not Moses and the prophets got the word of
God, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. They've got God's word here.
And if that doesn't persuade them, they won't be, even if
somebody went back to them from the dead. But we know, of course,
it's It's the Lord that persuades. It's the Lord who saves. It's
not possible for any preacher or anyone to save somebody else. How can we, who are dead in trespasses
and sins, make somebody alive who is dead in trespasses and
sins? Just as if somebody dies and
we can't suddenly make them alive in a physical way. And so, if
you're spiritually dead, it has to be the quickening of God's
Holy Spirit. So it's that, you know, many things sort
of happen perhaps in our lives or that we hear about that sometimes
make us pull us up sharp don't they? Perhaps somebody suddenly
dies or we hear of tragedies as has been this past week and
we trust that it makes us sort of think seriously about our
own immortal souls but we know with us all that
our times are in God's hands We have a time when we were born. We were all born, obviously. But there will be a time when
we shall die too, unless the Lord comes first. But may we know that we're ready.
We're ready for his call or for his coming. That we know the
Lord. And that's a thing, isn't it? Just to sort of be ready. and to know that we are the Lords. And that's a wonderful thing,
isn't it? To know in your heart, knowing,
yeah, by the grace of God, I'm saved, I'm forgiven. There's
no condemnation. Now, for me, we're told that
in Romans there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Yes, we are, as we've seen with
the various stewards that we've read about this morning and this
evening, that they were sort of accountable and and with our Lord commending
our work. Not that our works save us of
course, but as a result of being saved we seek to do the Lord's
work. But may it be that we we know forgiveness, that we
know peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ, that we know that deep in our
hearts, not just in our minds, but that we know it deep down
in our hearts, that we are forgiven, that we are saved. As I said,
none of us know, and may it be that we have that God consciousness
about ourselves all the time. And I think that's important,
isn't it? Yes, we keep the Lord in mind with all things, with
what we have, what we can do. What we plan to do is keep the
Lord very much in our minds and hearts, knowing that the Lord's ways
are right and So may there be with us that
God-consciousness and may we love the Lord and be helped to
serve him in our days. There's nothing better is it
to be able to serve the Lord, to serve the King of Kings and
Lord of Lords. We were to serve our king in
some way at Buckingham Palace or something. Consider a great
honour, wouldn't he? To be able to do something, even
if it was just a bit of cleaning. I've got a job cleaning in Buckingham
Palace. But I've got the job there because
I'm doing it in Buckingham Palace and for the king. And so it may
be that We serve the Lord with gladness, as it says in Psalm
100 verse 2. Psalm 100 verse 2 speaks of serving
the Lord with gladness. And I think that was on the tomb,
I think I might have mentioned before, a long time ago, of a
missionary with new tribes. who was killed in a botched attempt
to free him from some from some sort of kidnappers
who had him His wife managed to escape, but Martin Burnham
was his name. He was not successful and he
was killed in the bodged attempt to save him. But he served the
Lord much. I think it was in the Philippines.
And that's on his grave about how he served the Lord with gladness. And may we be helped to serve
the Lord with gladness. May we know the Lord. That should
give us great gladness to know the Lord. And then we should
serve him with gladness. And may it be evident that we
have the joy of the Lord in our hearts. We'll leave those thoughts
there for now. Much more could be said, of course,
on, well, as I say, on any passage of scripture. but may the Lord
bless these few remarks to us. Amen. Closing hymn is hymn number 274. The Lord in Zion reign, and will
his people keep, tis he The universe sustains and well secures his
sheep. Hymn number 274 to tune number
49. The birds shall sing, and waltz
the gilded sheep. And with affliction so, He made
them exercise, And still in temptation adore, And still in what repose
? With poverty and loss ? ? Of
every kind or good ? ? Come smile to make our waiting cross ? ?
And help us then let go ? ? May we forever trust ? the glory
in his name. Jesus, the faithful, true and
just, forever is the same. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us
all now and for evermore. Amen.