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In the Parable of the Good Steward in Matthew 25, Jesus gave this judgment to all bad stewards . . .
Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30, NLT).
The question is: Are we useless servants?
We often think that those thrown into outer darkness will be perverts, sinners, idolaters, and people we don’t like. But Jesus says bad stewards will be thrown into the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Now we know the importance of asking: Am I a good steward?
The context of the Parable of the Good Steward (Matthew 25:14-30) is the end-times. The verse before this parable preludes with this thought . . .
So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return (Matthew 25:13).
The verses at the end of this parable conclude . . .
He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left (Matthew 25:31-33).
The Parable of the Good Steward is set firmly as a judgment about end-times stewardship. Are we sheep, or are we goats? How we live as stewards determines the answer.
Recent reports indicate that Boomer Christians (60 to 80 years old) in America have an accumulated net worth of 16 trillion dollars. In comparison, the total annual income of the Roman Empire (In a good year, with the olive prices up. LOL!) was 566 billion.
Wow! No wonder Jesus left us a parable about stewardship. In His time of history, it would take 28 years for the entire Roman Empire to accumulate the totality of wealth held by Christian Boomers today.
UH, OH!
If we think we are good stewards, are we fooling ourselves?
We might excuse our bad stewardship by pointing out the recent cost of living increase. However, the total family net worth in America has risen from 38 trillion in 1989 to 140 trillion today.
Jesus taught that a good steward realizes that God possesses all wealth. We don’t own our resources; we are stewards of them. And as good stewards, we must be careful that banks, investments, and 401k’s aren’t modern forms of burying our talents.
Now, back to the Parable of the Good Steward and end-times judgment of bad stewardship. Only the dull of hearing could deny that Jesus must be referring to us.
Jesus says in Matthew 24 that . . .
The Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).
Let’s review . . .
God has given American believers more money than imaginable. It’s the end-times. As good stewards, we should be using our wealth to obey the Great Commission by taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.
By faith, will Boomers be the most generous stewards in history? The alternative is frightening.