Luke 16:1-13
Dear RTB’ers,
I’ve often said that Luke is my favorite gospel. Part of that is his historical bent and his desire to “get it right” (Luke 1:1-4). But I’m sure it’s also because of his focus on money and his concern for the poor and my own life as an economist. Today’s readings are at the top of the list in Luke’s covering of money and our relationship to God.
Jesus’ parable of the dishonest manager has always been confusing to me. In my 2019 comments on this passage I talked about credit card debt, how credit card companies are willing to negotiate with someone who has a great deal of their debt – often much of it from interest charges. The companies are willing to forgive the interest if they can get back the original debt. That’s how this parable makes sense to me, that the dishonest manager may have overcharged the debtors when the original purchase was made. (Credit to my Study Bible for deeper insight on this item.) But I think that sometimes the details of the parables are less important than “the moral of the story”. However, even Jesus summary statement on this parable (v. 9) is confusing to me.
The second part of today’s passage is more straightforward. “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?” (vv. 10-11) Right away, paying taxes as that “very little” comes to mind for me. I’ve always tried to be as honest as possible in preparing our family taxes – but I’ve also tried to get back as much as possible, subject to that integrity item. But I hear of and know of others who “hide money” or inflate deductions or whatever, with a quick dismissal of (their perception of) the government wasting their hard-earned dollars. I’m sure you all have other perspectives on what might be unrighteous wealth in our world today. Here, Jesus’ summary statement makes complete sense, “No servant can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.” (v. 13)
Blessings!