Dear Christian friends:

No man is so bad that he cannot teach us something. Even a scoundrel serves as an example in this strange parable about the unjust steward. Here Jesus tells about the far-sighted shyster who looked to the rainy day and bought future security with present favors.

About the only good thing one can say of this steward is that he looked ahead. So, Jesus uses this story to remind us that we, too, need to look ahead to the day, "when it fails."

All earthly things will fail, verse 9. (read it!) Jesus does not say, "if it fails," but "When it fails." There is no uncertainty about failure. Everything created will fail. This past week we have had a very vivid example again of the failure of personal political power. Some fail more gracefully than others. Some leave in honor, some in violence, some in disgrace. Regardless the end result is the same.

The creature is not worthy of our trust. The best that man can do or think will fail. The tallest tower will fail, but not the high tower of God's Name. The sturdiest foundation will fail, but not Jesus Christ, who is, "the same yesterday, today and forever." The fastest aeroplane, the finest automobile, the latest and the greatest of everything, all will fail. God will not fail those who put their trust in Him. Jesus says, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away." Of course the ultimate failure comes when our health fails our youth and beauty vanishes and we die.

That's what Jesus is talking about when He tells us to be like the crooked steward who knew is end had come and who wisely made plans for the future. In spite of certain failure there is a future.

The future after it fails. We need to prepare for the future, for eternity. In this parable Jesus does not tell us how to prepare for that but He does in many others. Normally that we believe that He is the Son of God and Savior of the faltering, sinful, flailing men and women. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36) If we believe in Jesus Christ and rely on His Words and promises ours will be a happy and glorious future with God in heaven.

If we put our hope and trust in the creature and in creation we have nothing to look forward to but a dismal dark and lonely future without God in this world and the next.

May God help us, each one, to be aware of our end so that we will prepare with Jesus to enter the glorious everlasting habitations!

Amen.