And I say unto you, make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. Luke 16:9
“Dispense your money so as to win the poor man’s blessing. Take that which, through men’s unrighteous dealings, so often becomes a curse to its possessor, and let it be clean while you have it, and a boon to someone else, when you part with it. Rob Mammon’s temple, so to speak, of some of its heaped-up offerings, and consecrate to charitable uses what is really God’s, and not the idol’s, though men pervert it to profane uses so often…
When ye fail; that must be understood of the hour of death. Your dismissal time will come like that of the unfaithful steward. Your light will be quenched, your strength wasted, your place left empty, your work at an end. Be ready for that time, and prepare…The friends thus made shall greet you at your entrance into your eternal home, if they shall depart before you.”
John Hampden Gurney in his sermon on Luke 16:1-9 entitled “The Mammon of Unrighteousness; It’s Slaves and Masters” in Christian Almsdeeds and Faithful Stewardship (London: Rivingston, 1862)
I’m reading classic stewardship sermons from the mid-1800’s and finding inspiration for my teaching and speaking in modern settings.
In today’s excerpt, I appreciate how Gurney speaks pointedly of those with heaped-up wealth. Money “becomes a curse to its possessor.” It controls those who hold on to it. He challenges people to “let it be clean while they have it.” It is made clean through giving. We “rob Mammon’s temple” when we consecrate money for “charitable uses.”
Jesus alerts us to be prepared for our dismissal time. Why? There are eternal implications related to our earthly obedience. In that sense, all stewardship ministry is not trying to rob God’s people but helping people “rob Mammon’s temple” so that while alive, they store treasures in the right place for eternity.
Today, as CEO of Global Trust Partners, I fly to Atlanta. With my Board Treasurer, Mark Whitsitt, and CFO/COO, Shawn Manley, have key meetings with a number of people, including the CEO of National Christian Foundation and the CEO of TrustBridge Global. Pray for us as we discuss ways we can collaborate to inspire God’s people to faithfully dispense God’s money to trusted ministries.