Web Thoughts

Luke 16:1-13

 

 

Are we really to emulate the dishonest manager? Are we to ‘make friends for ourselves by means of dishonest wealth? Are we supposed to pursue wealth in dishonest ways??

Really now. This year our confirmation students will begin learning the Ten Commandments. 

 

Shall we count together the number of commandments the dishonest manager breaks?

 

7 – You shall not steal

8 – Do not bear false witness

9 & 10 – Do not covet

1 – you shall have no other gods…

 He is clearly being his own God. Scheming ways he can secure his own future…

carefully plotting out the way he can save himself.

 

So, am I supposed to teach our young people that the commandments don’t really matter?

 

Is Jesus really saying that this man – this cheating, stealing, commandment- breaking loser – is a person whose witness we should teach, even aspire to?

 

Come on.

 

I don’t buy it. Especially when I listen again to that summing up statement Jesus gives:

 

“…make friends for yourselves by dishonest wealth so that when it is gone they may welcome you into the eternal homes.”

 

During the Adult Sunday School class, two questions were immediately asked: 

See, this is where it gets murky. Earlier, you’ll remember, when the man was thinking through his post-employment strategy, when he finally made up his mind about what he would do, the goal was that “people would welcome them into their homes”.

 

 

 

Just what are these ‘eternal homes’ we’ll be welcomed into? Jesus doesn’t say, because

 

People don’t have eternal homes on earth. The work that this man put into securing his future is only a short-term fix. His efforts will not bring a result that provides ultimate security.

I think Jesus is messing with us. Maybe he’s even ‘playing’. I honestly imagine Jesus saying this with a twinkle in his eye, knowing he’s really gonna tick off the Pharisees with this one. 

 

But what is the point? Why does Jesus tell the story at all? 

 

His story reveals God’s power and the whole life claim in several ways: First, Jesus says, Look: God can use a dishonest, self-absorbed, commandment breaking loser to reveal God’s ways!

 

And, God can use this man who is only concerned for himself to accomplish God’s work of mercy and justice. While the rich man was acting out of purely selfish motives, he still did what was merciful and gracious – life-giving…in spite of himself!

 

 

Second, Jesus commends shrewd thinking, working urgently – only for those who follow him, the motivation isn’t self-preservation but mercy propagation.

 

Third, Jesus is saying that the decisions you make about your wealth matter. What you do with whatever money you have matters. Every decision every day… God’s claim encompasses it all. You cannot serve God and wealth. The way you handle money absolutely connects to the health of your faith.

 

Finally, what this parable tells me is that living in God’s kingdom is ultimately to trust Jesus to show you the way.

 

In John 12:46 Jesus says “I am Light that has come into the world so that all who believe in me won’t have to stay any longer in the dark.”

 

The hymn of the day is Christ, Be Our Light  (Evangelical Lutheran Worship # 715).

The song beginswith acknowledgment that we wait in darkness. But Christ’s light changes that place, and it changes us. And so we pray: Make us your own, your holy people, light for the world to see…Your word alone has power to save us…make us your living voice. Make us your building, sheltering others. Let us be signs of your kingdom come.

 

Christ, be our light.

 

Christ is our light. Following him, trusting him, we find understanding,and His way, and life. And walking in his light, even we, like a dishonest servant, can be made new.

amen