however is not the case. It is the Steward's lord, or master. Put away then at once this mistake from your minds. And again remember what his master commends him for-not for his conduct generally, for from this he had greatly suffered, but only for his cleverness.

The next difficult point is at the close of the Parable, where Jesus gives us this advice -"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."

What did our blessed Lord mean by this? By "the unrighteous mammon," or, as it is here called, "the mammon of unrighteousness," He meant worldly riches. Now, these are worthless in themselves, and are positively a snare to many. They have ruined thousands. But He would have us turn them to good account, making a blessing of them, instead of a curse. If, for instance, we possess worldly goods, we should so employ them as to further the glory of God, and the welfare of men, so that when we die, we may be received into heaven.

Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man. And among other things, he built for himself a new sepulchre. There was perhaps some little pride in this. But when he becomes a Christian man, he turns his riches to a good account. He "makes friends of the mammon of unrighteousness" by laying it out for the Saviour whom he loved.

Mary too "made friends of the mammon of unrighteousness" when she bought some ointment, which in itself was worthless, and anointed the feet of her Lord, thus testifying her love for Him.

The poor Widow also, who spent her last farthing by casting it into the Lord's treasury, thus "made friends," as it were, "of the mammon of unrighteousness."

This, I think, is the meaning of the ninth

verse.

But there is a yet further difficulty in the three next verses-" He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit

S

to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?" I can fancy some of you being a little perplexed by these words. Let us examine them.

ones.

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much "-that is, The man who is honest and trustworthy in little matters will be so in great ones; and he that is unjust in little matters will be unjust also in greater The Steward wronged his lord as to a few measures of corn and oil: and most likely he would not have scrupled to wrong him to a much larger extent, if only he had had the opportunity. And so again, if we act unfaithfully as to worldly things, how can we hope that God will entrust to us the far greater things of His kingdom. If we do not use aright our present gifts and blessings, we cannot expect that He will commit to us the true riches of His grace. And further, our Lord says, "If ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?" As much as to say, Worldly advantages are intrusted to

men as stewards. They are not our own, but we are to employ them for God. If then we are not faithful in the use of these, is it likely that He will give us the treasures of heaven, which, if once ours, we shall possess for ever?

Thus I have endeavoured to give you the best explanation in my power of this difficult Parable, and of our Lord's words at the end of it. If, bearing in mind what has been said, you will read it again with care, I trust you will be able to understand its meaning.

But now let us turn this important Parable inward upon ourselves, so that we may not lose the great lessons which it was intended to teach us. First it seems to teach us that we are all Stewards, and God is our Master. We are not our own, but His. We are not sent here to live as we please, but to do the will of Him that sent us. Our blessings, and our advantages, and our opportunities are entrusted to us to be employed in God's

service.

Our money for instance, whether we have much or little of it, is not our own-it is

merely lent to us.

This is not a way of talking: it is the truth. If I have a few pence in my possession, or as many pounds, I am answerable to God for the way in which I expend them. For this, among other things, I must render an account.

Our time too is not our own. God gives it to us, but only for a while-just so long as He pleases. He may call it back at any moment. Never think that you may do what you please with your hours and your days. Are you spending them merely on your own pleasure, or in your own way? Are you forgetting that you are but a Steward, and that you have a Master who employs you? Perhaps the day is not far off, when you will long to call back even one wasted hour, that you may spend it on the great concerns of your soul.

Our influence again, whether it be great or small, we must use for God. Are there not some, who are doing no good in the worldsome who are doing positive harm. Oh bear in mind that the Master's eye is upon youthat you are a Steward-and that "it is required of stewards that a man be found. faithful." I am a steward, and so are you.