Day 21~ Luke 16, Matt. 18, Luke 17:1-10
Hello All! I will be the guest blogger for
the next week and I am excited to participate on this great platform!
Luke 16 started off with the Parable of the
Shrewd Manager. This is not a parable that my mind often reflects upon during
my day to day life, as opposed to the Sowing of the Seed, or the Prodigal Son.
However, the message of this parable encourages us to desire heavenly riches
and not earthy riches and therefore the message is of great importance and
should be committed to memory.
At first, I read the parable as I would read
the Prodigal son, in which I would be the prodigal son (here the manager) and
God is the welcoming Father (here the rich man). However, upon further
inspection, I do not believe that the rich man resembles God, nor are we
encouraged to act as the manager did. First, I find it unlikely that Jesus
would compare his all-knowing Father to an aloof rich man who is oblivious to
the management of his money and personal assets. Second, Jesus would not
encourage believers to act shrewdly and at all costs (despite the impact on the
rich man or others) secure worldly riches and stability. Third, it is a rich
man or worldly man that would commend shrewdness. Jesus commends honesty,
sacrificial love, and meekness. (to name a few) (Matthew 5:5)
If my interpretation is correct, then this
parable is rather used to contrast a non-believers work ethic with the effort
that Christ followers should be exerting to storing up treasures in Heaven! If non
believers work feverishly to store up treasures here on earth that are
fleeting, then how much more should believers be committing their time and
energy toward glorifying God! Luke 16:9 discusses using worldly wealth to “make
friends for yourselves” in order for these friends to welcome one into eternal
life. In order for them to welcome one into eternal life they must be Christ
followers. Therefore “make friends for yourselves,” cannot be confined to
treating neighbors well and taking them out to a dinner or ski trip. Rather, it
appears like we are being called to utilize worldly wealth in order to donate
to the needy, to be available to personally serve, and to bless others with
platforms so that other believers are provided with an opportunity to evangelize
and share the gospel to these “friends” that will develop into eternal
companions as fellow Christ followers.
Comments
“If non believers work feverishly to store up treasures here on earth that are fleeting, then how much more should believers be committing their time and energy toward glorifying God!“
Amen to that!!
Great point!!!