Roger's Postings

Friday, September 17, 2010

Luke 16:1-13. Wise use of our money?? 19/9/10

(1) Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. {2} So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.' {3} "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg-- {4} I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.' {5} "So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' {6} "'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.' {7} "Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?' "'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied. "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.' {8} "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. {9} I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. {10} "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. {11} So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? {12} And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? {13} "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

This morning we are encouraged to think about that one subject that is ‘taboo’ in the preaching within our churches. To bring up the subject of money into the pulpit is sure to cause a stir. But if we read our Gospels, we find that Jesus didn't shy away from the subject. In fact, he often addresses this issue; and I am sure that he does so, simply because it was a touchy subject: simply because many had and still have a problem in this area of their lives. In fact, Jesus hits very hard with his comments in this reading when he says that: "no servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.'

Now there, surely are some words that must make us sit up and do some thinking. He is saying quite clearly that we can't have a leg in both camps. We can't live as though money is the be all and end all in this life and still expect to get to heaven.
Jesus reminds us here that we can not be completely loyal to our Lord and our money and the system by which it operates, at the same time. To use and view our money and wealth the way our world encourages us to, is to despise what God has to say to us. To love and place such great importance on our money and what it can achieve for us, is to hate God and what he stands for. And we can’t say that this is not a problem for us in our country today.

Yes, these are strong words to us and our society today. But there is no way around them, unless we want to ignore what God has to say to us. These are the facts as God sees them – and so we had better take them seriously. To do otherwise could have dire consequences. Now of course, while we live here on earth we need to use money. It is part of our everyday life in our society - Jesus recognised that; but it is our attitude toward it and our misuse of it, that we are warned about. We do need to be wise in this whole area.

At the same time, we must recognise that God is God. He is the Almighty – the only true God; and there is no fooling him. We might be able to cheat on our tax; a business deal; not give to the work of the Church as we know we should; and the like and get away with it here on earth. Here, we most likely will not be questioned: But God sees - God knows – and if we think we can cheat him and get away with it - look out. He also knows when our obsession with the making of money at the expense of the things that are truly important, is there.

So what are we to do as God’s people? What advice does Jesus to give us here? Listen again to the parable that Jesus uses. : "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. {2} So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.' {3} "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg-- {4} I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.' {5} "So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' {6} "'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.' {7} "Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?' "'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied. "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.' {8} "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.

Yes, this guy was cunning. With the bosses money that he had at his disposal, he made wise use of it in order to ensure a good future for himself. So what is Jesus encouraging us to do here: To cheat with regard to money in order to gain influential friends? Well yes; but not in the way that we would like to think. Yes, we are to cheat: to cheat on the system of selfish, self-centred use of money; on the system that sees money as all important and as that which makes a person something. Yes, we are to break the rules of that destructive system that tears relationships apart and leads us to see wrong things as important. We must not go along with that which is wrong, even if it is done by many around us and is seen as quite acceptable by our society around us.

No, we as Christians are to have a different attitude and approach. We are to use the money and wealth that we have been given, in ways that make us friends: friends that welcome us into heaven. We are to use money wisely in order that we keep our real friends; friends that have the keys to eternal life: In other words Jesus Christ, our Lord and saviour. After all, he is the one who has given us that which is most important of all; forgiveness of sins, membership in God's family, and eternal life. He has ensured that we have everything that we possibly need in order to get through this life safely; and so that we can have the security, peace of mind and the greatest superannuation plan. It is far safer than any bank or company or amount of money could give; and it is guaranteed. So in other words, it is all there for us; everything that we will ever need; in Jesus Christ.

So let us not blow it all with the wrong use of our money and wealth. Thinking that what money can buy and what the world has to offer is better than what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. If we think we can sneakily be dishonest even in very small matters we are in trouble. If we do not seek to be faithful in the use of our worldly wealth, Jesus says, how can be trusted with true wealth. If we have no desire to be faithful in using the money and wealth, which God has given us, he says why should he give us eternal life.

That being the case, we need to be very thoughtful in how we view and use the wealth that we have been given. Let us then consider carefully whether we go to the pokies, pub or whatever; or selfishly hoard our wealth, or spend our kids inheritance. Should we be spending all our time earning those extra dollars so that we can get ahead - have our boat, two cars, billiard room and every other luxury item so that we can be seen to be impressive people and that we can simply enjoy ourselves. Instead let us consider our every use of what we have, in order to see that we are using it; not in ways that are wrong, harmful and selfish, but instead in ways that will be helpful and useful in ensuring that we do not loose out in that which our Lord Jesus has won for us, and which will be helpful for others to know Jesus and the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation that he has won for us. Let us use what he has given us in ways that might serve him and his kingdom, and that will ultimately bring him the honour and glory that he deserves. Will it help people to get to know God and what he has done and is doing for us through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross?

It is here that I will point out that we do need to consider our giving toward the work of the church - we do need keep up our budget: our treasurer is saying that we are running behind what we have budgeted for. Then, maybe if there was more, there could be other things that we can do also that will help others to know the Good News of Jesus Christ as well. But it is not just there - in every way we use our money and possessions we need to consider if it helpful for God and his kingdom. Would he be happy with what I am doing even in small matters? In every aspect we are called to be wise - to be faithful.

So yes, here we have a challenge set before us. Here we all need to do some solid thinking. Our money is important - but how we view it and use it is vital. Let us remember that we cannot serve two masters – God and money. All the while, never forget what God has done for us through Jesus Christ and the cross. Without him, our money and even our life itself, would be nothing. So let us see to it that our wealth doesn't sidetrack us away from that which is important. But instead, to use it for our Lord and friend, who has done so much for us. Be faithful - be wise – for God has blessed us already, so richly. To him be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home