(Luke 16:1-13)

It was the saying of an old preacher,

"We all have notice to quit. Every grey hair, every aching tooth, every painful limb, 'Notice to quit.' We all have to go."

The remark was made with regard to the Parable of the Unjust Steward, given us in Luke 16. Ministry upon the subject of this parable is rare. For some reason it seems to be shirked. Whether this is intentional or unintentional we know not. But many bear witness that it is the case.

And yet the picture-in-words comes from the same lips as that of the Prodigal Son-from the lips of the Lord Himself. Surely then its message is of prime importance. We do well to consider it carefully in view of the fact that a reckoning day is at the door and we all have to hand in our accounts and pass from our stewardship here. It may be more pleasant to be occupied with the grace of God and with all it brings, but it is salutary for our thoughts to be engaged with our responsibility at times.

Examining it then, let us notice first that it was spoken to disciples, to those who took the place of learning from our Lord. It was a solemn word for them surely, and it is such for us who have received the message of a full and free salvation in the .riches of God's grace.

The steward of a rich man is accused of wasting his master's goods, and is called upon to "give an account of his stewardship." Now we are stewards-all of us. We do well to ask ourselves therefore whether we too have been found wasting our Master's goods? We belong to Him, and our time, our talents, our abilities, our possessions, are only "ours" in trust. We are not our own, we have, been "bought with a price," and therefore are called upon to glorify God in our "bodies, which are His" (1 Cor. 6:19,20).

Now what are we to learn from the action of the unjust steward? What is the instruction in it for us ? Notice that He is designated unjust by our Lord Jesus, and the injustice is not to be imitated. What then will it be wise of us to copy?

This:He employed the present in view of the future. He was still steward. He had his master's goods under his hand. He could control matters for the moment. So he used his opportunity in the present of gaining friends for future need. He looked ahead. He saw that he was to be without resources soon. To earn his bread by digging was impossible. To beg his bread was unpalatable. So he planned to secure the friendship and succor of some of his master's creditors, when he should have had his stewardship taken from him. Thus he settled the account of one by a reduction of fifty per cent, and of another of twenty per cent. He acted unjustly as a steward, but was wise in his injustice; and his master learning what he had done said that he had been clever in his roguery and shrewd in his dealings.

As we have seen, our Lord Jesus brands him as an unrighteous steward. But He bids us to use what is in our hands as stewards in view of the future. He urges us to employ the mammon of unrighteousness which is in our possession, not for our present enjoyment but with "everlasting habitations" in prospect. If we do this, then when we fail (that is, when we pass from our stewardship here) we will be welcomed to the eternal dwelling-places.

As far as "this generation," this period of time, is concerned (when the Lord is away and not yet reigning in His kingdom), the children of this world are wiser than the children of light. They can teach us lessons of wisdom in providing for the immediate future, though as to that which lies beyond this life, they exhibit the utmost folly.

Certain it is that even if our Lord tarry "we have to go." Our place here is lost through sin. We cannot stay on earth. But our Master's goods-termed by our Lord "the mammon of unrighteousness"-are still under our hands. We can employ them. The mammon of unrighteousness is connected with man's fall. It has been pointed out that there was no money in Eden before man's fall, and no money will be in circulation in heaven. It is in this present period that it 'is in use. We Christians should employ such of it as lies under our control for the glory of God in the help of others, and not for the gratification of our own present desires.

But we may extend the application of the thought of the unrighteous mammon to every thing over which we have power. Our time, our abilities, our homes, our motor-cars, and all else. And we may ask ourselves, Are we using these for our present enjoyment, or do we employ them in seeking the blessing of others?

An old hymn asks the question as to the time of our entering heaven:,

"Will any one there at the beautiful gate,
Be waiting and watching for me?"

Will there be those there whom we have benefitted by our service while on earth, and who will receive us with gladness into the everlasting habitations? This life is like a Bureau de change. We may change our money here into heavenly coinage. If we do not it will perish. We cannot take it with us.

Seeing we have "Notice to Quit," and that the hour when we must .leave draws on apace, let us see to it that we are just in our stewardship, and use present circumstances for the blessing of others in every way .possible.

The "true riches," and "that which is our own," as believers, are the eternal blessings to be known when our stewardship of things here is completed.

Solemn are the Lord's words, "Ye cannot serve (that is, be bond-slaves of) both God and gold." It is not, "Ye do not," it is not, "Ye should not," it is, "Ye cannot." It is a moral impossibility to do both.

So we have to decide whether the things which we possess in stewardship shall be used by us for ourselves or for others in the service of God.

Let us not forget that it is required of a steward that, a man be found faithful, and that soon we must hand in our account.

May it be ours to live as under the holy eye of our God in our earthly stewardship and earn His praise "in that day" soon to dawn. Inglis Fleming