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How to React to Stressful Times

How to React to Stressful Times

Jesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money. So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.’ “The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg. Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’ “So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe him?’ The man replied, ‘I owe him 800 gallons of olive oil.’ So the manager told him, ‘Take the bill and quickly change it to 400 gallons.’ ‘And how much do you owe my employer?’ he asked the next man. ‘I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,’ was the reply. ‘Here,’ the manager said, ‘take the bill and change it to 800 bushels.’ The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.” Luke 16:1-8 NLT

In stressful times, Jesus wants me to…

Think creatively

The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg. Luke 16:3 NLT

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews 10:24 NLT

Live wisely

The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd… Luke 16:8 NLT

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,  Ephesians 5:15-18 NLT

And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light. Luke 16:8 NLT

People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD. Proverbs 19:3 NLT

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Colossians 4:5 NLT

I’m trying to honor God by being wise though this crisis.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5 NLT

Connect relationally

Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired. Luke 16:4 NLT

The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends. Proverbs 11:30 NLT

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 NLT

Act ethically

Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? Luke 16:9-12 NLT

For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body. 2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a quiet place to be alone with the Lord. Allow your head and heart to become still. When you sense you are ready, invite the Lord to guide this time together. Reflect on the coronavirus crisis and how you have reacted to it. What has this stressful time brought up in you? In what ways have you acted out or gone off track? Next, ask yourself how wisely and creatively are you dealing with this stressful time? Allow your thoughts and emotions to surface. What do they indicate to you about how you’ve dealt with this? Share with the Lord what challenges you think you will face in acting in a godly way as described in the sermon. Talk to him about each of these challenges and ask him to give you some ideas about how you can make the most of this opportunity to share God’s love with others. Pray he will bring to your mind a specific good deed you can do this week to help someone through this difficult time. Thank him when he does use you to help someone else.​

Discussion Questions

  1. What stood out to you in your personal Bible reading time this week? What have you learned about God or yourself so far? (If you’ve fallen behind in your readings, encourage each other to use the extra free time in this season to catch up.)
  2. Read Luke 16:1-8. When faced with a stressful situation, what negative behaviors tend to creep or leap into your life?
  3. Read Hebrews 10:24. What are some of the creative things that you are doing, or can start doing, to motivate those in your relational world to love and good deeds?
  4. Read Colossians 4:5. What are some areas in your life where you need to be more wise and how might that lead to opportunity?
  5. Read Galatians 6:2. What is currently burdening you and what can we practically do to help share your load?
  6. Read Luke 16:9-12. Where do you currently see a temptation to act unethically and what can you do to actively combat that temptation?