9TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus bur Lord. Amen.

Dear friends in our beloved Savior.

In God's Word prudence is not only commanded as a duty but is highly exalted as a wonderful virtue. Christ says to his disciples, "Be ye wise as serpents and harmless as doves," Mt 10:16; and in his Proverbs Solomon speaks to his readers in the words, "Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister," Prov 7:4 and adds to its praise, "Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it." Prov 16:22. Walking prudently, not only meaning well, not only having a good purpose in what one does and says but also using the correct means to reach his goal, not only not acting from malice and against the love of God and his neigh-

bor, but also not acting foolishly and against the rules of wisdom, is necessarily also a part of a God-pleasing walk of a Christian. A Christian, who wants to do good but proceeds thoughtlessly, does not choose a fitting time, nor takes the place and circumstances into consideration, nor ponders whether in spite of his good intentions his project does more harm than good, still lacks a most important part belonging to the adornment and the proper form of a true Christian. Such an unwise Christian without wanting to does much harm and must often as bitterly regret his deeds done with the best of intentions as his sins. But where the wisdom of a serpent is combined with the harmlessness of a dove, there we have the Christian's true picture.

Though one must often complain that Christians of all people still lack true wisdom, most of the children of this world seem to have far outdistanced the Christian in fulfilling Christ's command, "Be ye wise as serpents." The children of the world not only know that wisdom is worth more than riches and power, they also understand how to take all the circumstances into consideration in their transactions and to choose the surest means, the most fitting time and the best place to attain their goal, so that they far surpass and shame even Christians. While, on the other hand, Christians are indeed often harmless as doves but not wise as serpents the children of the world, on the other hand, are often as wise as serpents but not harmless as doves. The children of the world always seek their own advantage and to attain their greatest aims do not disdain to use even sinful means just as long as it leads them to their goal; they do not ask whether they sin against God or their neighbor by their deeds.

The world considers him a wise Christian who, as they suppose, sides with God and with the world as well; who, as they call it, takes the middle road in his Christianity, being not too pious but also not too godless; who is pious with the pious yet also, as they express it, who howls with the wolves; who confesses his faith where it will bring him honor, but who is silent when it could mean harm, shame, and hatred. The world looks on that preacher as wise who can preach so that everyone gladly listens to him, who out of love of peace is not too particular with the truth and changes the presentation of religion to suit the times and circumstances. The world calls that businessman wise who, in order to become rich in the easiest possible way, can purchase good products below their value and sell poor products for more than they are worth, in short, who knows how to deceive in such a way, that he still does not loose the reputation of an honorable, respectable, solid man.

Though the world thinks highly of its wisdom, and though it greatly despises Christians and looks on them as fools because they also do not deal as wisely, do not wish to besmirch their conscience nor offend God and their neighbor and for that reason in general are less prosperous than the worldling and let themselves be deceived by them, yet the wisdom of the world is not the true but a false wisdom; it is nothing but the most deceitful cunning of which a' true Christian must be ashamed; yes, if a Christian does not want to be a fool in the eyes of the world any more, if he looks enviously upon the wise children of the world, and if he begins to covet their wisdom and embrace it, he ceases to be a Christian. The wisdom of the world is that light which from that moment on shone in the soul of man when the first people ate of the forbidden tree which they beheld with the thought: it is a "tree to be desired to make one wise."

As much as a person has to guard himself against being wise in the way the world is and following its evil example, nevertheless, we can learn from the world's wisdom in dealing with earthly things, how we should be even more wise

in dealing with heavenly matters. In this sense the wisdom of an unjust steward is presented in our today's Gospel to the children of light as an example worthy of our imitation. Let us direct our devotion to that though:

The text. Luke 16:1-9.

This Gospel just read has already caused many Christian exegetes great difficulty. Many could not reconcile themselves to the fact that here Christ says: the unjust steward who had dealt so deceitfully and consciencelessly was praised. Emperor Julian the Apostate who fell away from the Christian faith and became a great enemy of Christ even reproached Christians that in this Gospel their exalted Savior even praised unrighteousness. But he erred. Christ in no way praises the dealings of the steward in our Gospel; rather, he clearly calls him an "UNJUST steward:" is that praise? His wisdom is praised but he is also plainly rebuked for using his wisdom in an unrighteous way. Through his example Christ wants to encourage his hearers to be just as wise in good things as the unjust steward was in wicked things, even letting evil things serve for a good purpose and thus in a certain sense even gather grapes from thorns and figs from thistles.

So permit me to present to you:

THE TRUE WISDOM TO WHICH EVEN THE MISGUIDED WISDOM

OF THE WORLDLING ENCOURAGES US

Their example shows us that true wisdom

I. Consists not in Living on Securely and Unconcerned About the Eternal Future, and

II. In Being Earnest and Zealous in Doing Everything to Reach Eternal Salvation.

Gracious and merciful God! We must all complain and confess that, by nature we are without true wisdom, that by nature our understanding has been darkened, and that, we do not know what belongs to our peace, to our true salvation, yes, that in general your counsels your way, your leading seems to be foolish to us. Through your Word and Holy Spirit you alone can work true wisdom within us. We, therefore, beseech you, enlighten us so that, we become wise, that we do not choose the false way which leads to ruin but the true, way which,.brings us to . eternal life. Oh do that for everyone of us so that none, none of us will be lost. Hear us for Jesus! sake. ;Amen.

I.

At the close of our Gospel we read, "And the lord commended the unjust steward. because he had done wisely." V.8a. Now wherein did his wisdom really consist? First of all, that he had provided for the future.

He had made away with the property of his lord. The gracious lord whose property he administered had peacefully let him go on without seeing through his calculations. But finally when the report of his wicked dealings had come to the ears of the lord, he suddenly demanded an accounting in the words, "How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward." v.2. If the steward had paid no more attention to this warning and threat; had he lightheartedly thought: time brings wisdom; had he thought: if things are going well with me now, why do I want to be concerned about the future? If he had not reflected that his accounts would show

how unfaithful he had been in his office; had he tried to hide the evil circumstances into which his affairs had come because of his poor management and to convince himself that all was well, would this not be the greatest folly? If he had now remained secure and unconcerned, if without thinking about the future he had now even joked and laughed, would not everyone hold him for a fool, yes, for insane? Most certainly.

But what did he do? He let himself be aroused from his feeling of security and said, concerned about the future, "within himself: What shall. I do?" He earnestly reflected that his position absolutely would not continue as they had in the past. The thought that something would happen, that things would be different with him, filled his entire soul. He did not conceal from himself the fact that he was face to face with a desperate situation. He, therefore, added, "My lord taketh away from me the stewardship; I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed." V,3b. So he believed that he would lose his office and would soon fall into the deepest shame and bitterest poverty. He finally came to a decision and said, "I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses." V. 4.

By the example of the misguided wisdom of a worldling we learn the first point which is a part of true wisdom; it consists chiefly in not living on securely and unconcerned about the future, but in thinking of eternity and not hiding from oneself the fact that he could not stand an accounting before God.

We also are all stewards, stewards of God, the richest lord of all the world. All that we have in possessions of body and soul, our money, our homes, our time, our mind, our understanding, our powers, all this is not our property with which we can do as we please but possessions which belong to God, which we merely administer, and over whose management we must some day give God a strict accounting.

Is it not a terrible folly that most live as if they were lords of all which they have? Is it not terrible folly that most so live as if they would remain here forever? as though there were no death? as though they would never have to die? as though God would never call them to account for their earthly life? as though God would never ask them how they used the possession loaned them? Is it not terrible folly that most always try to hide from themselves what a poor accounting they would give? that they could not stand before God and answer him one in a thousand?

That the unjust steward would have acted unwisely if he would not have provided for the future in time, everyone sees; is it not amazing that the very ones who pass for the wisest in the eyes of the world and also really reveal the greatest wisdom in worldly affairs, that these are the very ones who live on so securely and unconcerned about the eternal future, never earnestly thinking that they must some day die and appear before God's judgment? that they never earnestly ask: What will happen to my soul? What must I do to be saved? Can a reasonable person act more foolishly, yes, more insanely? Do they act any different than those who stand at the edge of a fearful, horrible, abyss and yet unconcerned about the danger lie down and go peacefully to sleep?

Yes, my friends, though they who dismiss earnest thoughts of death, of the judgment, and eternity from their minds and think only of how they want to live in happiness, gather riches, and attain great honor before men, may think themselves wise, they in spite of all their earthly wisdom are still the greatest fools. Only he acts as a truly wise person who provides for the future, who lets himself be awakened from his spiritual sleep and, therefore, thinks: I must die some day; but when I must die, whether after many years, or tomorrow,

or even today, is uncertain and known only to God; I will, therefore, provide in time for my soul so that death will not overtake me; I will join the unjust steward in asking in time, "What shall I do?" and not rest until I know how I also can find God's grace and be saved. Though they, who try to convince themselves that they are not such great sinners as God's Word describes men, may consider themselves wise, they would nevertheless stand in God's judgment; God as a dear Father would not immediately punish them because of their sins, God would also see the many good things which they had done: all who think thus are not wise but blind fools.

But he acts as a truly wise person who does not wilfully close his eyes to his great sinfulness; who admits his evil condition; who confesses that he is a wicked steward and who, therefore, joins the unjust but wise steward of our Gospel in admitting this and says, Yes, yes, that is true; my God and Lord will some day take my office from me; I would not stand before him; I would be found too light; I must think, of delivering my lost soul and again win my forfeited salvation.

My friends, do you belong to the wise? or do you still belong to the fools? Do you still think that you are the lords of your possessions, for the management of which you are not obligated to give account to any person? Do you still think: I can do what I wish to with what I have? Are you still secure? Have you still not begun to go through your accounts in God's presence? Perhaps God has often knocked in sicknesses, in distresses and tribulations, or even through great blessings and miraculous deliverances and said to you, "Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward." Does your conscience say that to you quite often?

Have you also listened to this warning voice of God? Have you begun to provide for your eternal future? Be not deceived! Do not say: why, of course, I am providing for the future for I come, to church, I pray every morning and evening, I read God's Word.

This in no way proves that you truly provide for eternity. Examine yourselves earnestly: what kind of a concern does really dwell in your heart? is it the concern for temporal or for eternal things? In what are you most deeply interested: a healthy body in this world or that your soul will be saved in eternity? About what are you more interested: gathering earthly or heavenly possessions? remaining on .good terms with men or in God's grace? having a happy life or being able to die a blessed death when your hour comes? I ask you - your salvation depends upon it about which you dare not joke -- : Have you actually taken the question of the wise steward, "What shall I do?" into your heart? Or, if you want to be honest, must you admit that the concern for the salvation of your soul is really a matter of secondary importance as far as you are concerned, that you really are much more interested in temporal things? Well, then, know that there is no greater fool in the world than you, for you are concerned about worthless things, and you are unconcerned about the most important things of all upon which your happiness and salvation depend for all eternity. Though otherwise you may be wise, you are nevertheless blind concerning your true happiness; true wisdom does not yet dwell within you, for that consists above all in this, that one does not live on securely and unconcerned about your future salvation.

II.

Secondly, that one is also earnest and zealous in doing everything in order to attain eternal life is also a part of this.

This also is something we learn from the unjust steward in our Gospel. To be sure, he would have acted most foolishly when he recognized and deplored his

his wretched state and had pondered upon what he must do to save himself, if he had not also without delay used every means and done everything possible to take himself out of his dangerous situation. The steward, however, was not so foolish. The moment he had thought of a way he could be helped, he without delay went to work. He did not rely upon himself; he did not make the vain attempt of convincing his lord of his innocence, since he knew very well that this would be impossible; neither did he flatter himself with the hope that his lord would' overlook his unfaithfulness in his office and his great wastefulness because of his past efforts; no, he chose the certain in place of the uncertain; he earnestly prepared himself for the time when he would be convicted of his unfaithfulness and be displaced from office; since this was not even to be avoided, he at least tried to make friends who would accept him in the time Of trouble. He, therefore, hurriedly called all the debtors of his lord around him and commanded every one to deduct a specified amount from the debt owed his master. Thus he was actually provided for in the time of trouble.

As shamefully and deceitfully as the unjust steward dealt with his lord in order to help himself, and as godless as it would be if anyone would want to imitate the steward in his manner of helping himself, nevertheless his example encourages us to be just as wise in spiritual matters and in the proper way as he was in earthly matters and in the wrong way.

We would all call the steward a fool if he would have hoped to convince his lord that he was faithful, after he himself was convinced of his unfaithfulness: are not they, therefore, greater fools who hope to convince God that they are righteous, pious, blameless people, when they must condemn themselves as sinners?

We would all call the steward a fool if he would have hoped that his lord would forgive him for having so shamefully administered the office entrusted to him, even though he had had much trouble in the past: are they not, therefore, greater fools who hope that God will forgive them their transgressions of his commandments, even though they had labored and endured much in their life?

We would consider the steward a great fool, if he would have thought that he could have helped himself, since he as a penniless man could never have replaced the wasted property: are they not, therefore, greater fools who wish to help themselves in spiritual matters and not accept Christ's help and his grace, even though they have lost their soul's salvation?

We would consider the steward a great fool, if he would not have used the means available for his deliverance and yet would have hoped that things would go well: are they not, therefore, much greater fools, who know from God's Word what they must do to be saved, but who fail to do it and yet hope to be saved?

God's Word says that everyone who wants to be saved must repent: is it not folly to hope for salvation and not be converted and repent? God's. Word says that everyone who wants to be saved must believe in Christ from his heart: is it not great folly to hope for salvation and merely hear about Christ and not believe in him from one's heart? God's Word says that anyone who turns to Christ in faith, if he does not wish to lose the treasure again, must daily read God's Word, pray without ceasing, struggle against flesh, world, and Satan, not seek to become rich, but consider all earthly things as insignificant, permit no sin, not even the very least, to rule over him, pursue sanctification in all things, be humble, gentle, generous, reconcilable, chaste, and unselfish and renounce everything one has, fasten his heart to nothing in this world, but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness: God's Word shows us this narrow way to heaven and no other; but who travels this way? Most never even set foot upon it; and many, after they had chosen it for a time, leave it and are again more concerned about temporal than eternal things, have the form of

godliness but deny the power thereof -- and yet they hope to be saved! Is that not the folly of follies?

Ah, my friends, let us become wise from the example of the unjust steward. As he used every means in order to make friends for himself with whom he found a refuge in the time of trouble, so let us use the means indicated in God's Word to make God our Friend so that when we die, he will receive us in the eternal mansions. Let us accept the known for the unknown. Let us sacrifice earthly for heavenly treasures, sacrifice temporal to win eternal treasures. Let us not hope to reach the heavenly goal by traveling the broad way of the world. Let us not hope to receive the crown without having struggled for it. Let us not hope to see the Lord without first living the sanctified life. If we have merely a historical faith, let us not hope to seize Christ and his grace, righteousness, and salvation with that. Let us not hope that it is enough once to have been a Christian, so that in eternity we do not see ourselves wretchedly deceived and must exclaim: We fools have failed to travel the correct way, the light of righteousness has not shone upon us, and the sun has not risen upon us.

Only he is truly wise who knows the true goal of his life and has it always in view, namely, that he will be saved and that he has faithfully used the means to attain it. Only he is truly wise who swears allegiance to the principle, "What is a man profited, if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mt 16:26,and acts accordingly. God grant this to us through Jesus Christ. Amen.

- - - - - - - - - - - -