Luke 16:1–13
The Parable of the Dishonest Manager
Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, “What is this that I hear about you? Give me an account of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.” Then the manager said to himself, “What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.” So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, “How much do you owe my master?” He answered, “A hundred jugs of olive oil.” He said to him, “Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.” Then he asked another, “And how much do you owe?” He replied, “A hundred containers of wheat.” He said to him, “Take your bill and make it eighty.” And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.
‘Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.’
Reflection
My own life does not belong to me. Life did not come from me and I can't say that I asked for this life on earth that I now live. So, my own life does not belong to me or come from me. The question comes to mind then... Do I value this life I live? Do I appreciate this life? If I answer yes, then I am living the treasure of someone else's gift to me. If, I answer no, then I have to wonder why am I alive? If I'm not alive for myself, am I alive for someone else?
Questions to ponder that seem to lead in circles to more questions.
The parable above is a puzzling parable of Jesus. At first glance it appears that Jesus is encouraging crooked actions. But I think Jesus is taking us to something deeper yet. I think Jesus is taking us to the center of life and our being and purpose.
I'm caught guilty of squandering this life God has given to me. First off, as I Child of God, I'm taking that God is my source of life. Thinking this way then, I know that I'm guilty before God and deserve to have this life of mine taken away. I deserve to lose this life I live because of my inaction, my lack of love, my selfishness, my sin, my separation from God. I deserve to lose my life.
And, just like the dishonest manager, I go out and work the angles I can work. I go out to those that I know who also deserve to lose their lives to God for the same reasons I have. And I work a deal. I work a deal on God's behalf. I take their accounts and let my clients pay them off for less than what they owe. I give these other people a free gift from God. I lessen the burdens of their lives on behalf of God. I work the Ponzi scheme.
And it works! God likes me for what I have just done! I can't believe it! Until I considered what God has already done for me, for you and for everyone. God really didn't need me to lessen the burdens of lives lost to sin. God really didn't need me, but I was acting just like the One he sent to do this very same thing. The One that would completely clear the account. The One that came to all who would receive him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of the blood or the will of the flesh, or the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-14)
God sent his Son, the One, Jesus, to give his life for us. To me the purpose of my life is to give it away. Jesus came not to be served but to serve and give his life as ransom for many. (Mark 10:45) God gave us new life through Jesus. The complete debt that we owed was wiped clean in Jesus. Jesus was the source of money that the dishonest manager used to relieve our debts.
So, I give my life away, to you and to God. I give it all away, so that when my life on this earth is spent and gone, I can look forward to my life with all God's Children and my brother Jesus and my Father in heaven. I give my life because God gave his life in Jesus away for me. And therein lies the true riches. The true riches of life in Jesus. The true riches of life in relationship with God and with God's people. Call it heaven or call it the eternal reward, call it whatever, God calls us to give of ourselves first to him and then to one another in love. God calls us with a purpose and with the purpose of life. God turns it all upside down, inside out and takes it all the way around in love for his creation and in life for all that God has made.
My life belongs to God. My life comes from God. I use my life for God to fulfill God's purpose, God's joy, for God. That's life that I can live happily and in joy and in honor and praise to God my Creator, Redeemer, my Life. Yes, I live my life on this earth for God and for you. I live my life to give it away, all because of Jesus. All because Jesus gave his life for mine so that life could come through death. I couldn't do any of this on my own. There is no way! Only through Jesus can I live and give my life away. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Father, I give you thanks for new life in Jesus. I give you all the praise and glory for what you have done for me and for all who would receive Jesus gift of life. As I move and breath and travel in this life, make me a blessing to you and to others, that all may see your glory and your love and your wonderful gift of life... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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