1 Tim 6:6-19 for Sunday, September 30, 2007

Translation:
(6)And godliness is a means of gain with contentment. (7)For we bring nothing into the world, so we can carry nothing out. (8)But having food and clothing, [with] these we will be satisfied. (9)But the one who wishes to be rich falls into temptation and a trap and many foolish and harmful desires, that drowns people into irreparable loss. (10)For the source of all evil is the love of money. Some, being eager for it, wander away from the faith and they pierce themselves with much pain. (11) But you, oh man of God, flee this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love , patient endurance, gentleness. (12)Fight the good fight of faith, take hold of the eternal life, into which you were called and confess the good confession before all witnesses. (13)I command you before God who preserves all life and Christ Jesus who testified before Pontius Pilate the good confession, 914)to keep the commandment pure, without reproach, until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (15)which he will show at the appointed time -- the blessed and only ruler, King of kings and Lord of lords, (16)he alone has immortality, living in unapproachable light, which no person has seen nor is able to see, to him be honor and eternal dominion, amen. (17) To the rich in the present age, command them not to be arrogant, and not to have hope in uncertain wealth but in God who gives us everything abundantly for pleasure, (18) to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, sharing, (19)acquiring as a treasure for themselves a good foundation for the future, in order that they may seize the real life.

This scripture speaks a difficult word about wealth. It asks us to do the reverse of what seems logical. Everything around us tells us that we must have more money. Without more money, you can't have vacations, the best schools for children, bigger homes, nicer clothes, good retirement packages. Searching out the best investment plans is wise, we are told. Saving money is good.

But is it really? Surely a "rainy day" fund cannot hurt, but what happens when we become earnest for money, greedy with our own desires. Will we enjoy life more? Will we like ourselves better? Will we have better friends?

This scripture says that a love for money isn't worth the time. Money cannot give eternal life. In fact, striving for money will only cause pain. "Irreparable loss." The Greek there is a juxtaposition of terms meaning "destruction," "ruin." When Greek piles up terms like this, the meaning gets more intense. Desiring wealth and material gain causes people to drown in irreparable loss. The only thing worth striving for is a deep, personal relationship with God.

You'll notice, however, that the scripture never says that money itself if a bad thing. It never calls rich people sinners. That's because none of those things are true. It is those who wish to be rich, desire wealth, strive for money that risk falling into temptation. That is to say, a rich person can still have a deep relationship with God and good perspectives on what to do with wealth, but with wealth comes the risk of temptation.

What the scripture says instead is that it would be better to strive for things like gentleness, righteousness, godliness, love. These things bring the kingdom of God closer to fruition. In fact, storing these things up (as you would save your money) ensures a sturdy foundation (nest egg? 401k?) for the future. In other words, despite what the media tells you, money cannot buy you freedom. In fact, striving for money is likely to bind you into all kinds of freedom-sapping temptations. On the other hand, striving for righteousness, godliness, gentleness, love and patient endurance can lead to true life.

The fact of the matter is, even though the Gospel asks us to do things that seem contrary to our human nature and are difficult or even seem impossible in our culture, it is really meant to give freedom. All the laws of Israel and all the teachings of Jesus may seem like an impingement, but really they free us to be the people God created us to be. You were not created to love money, and trying to do so will only create grief and pain in your life. You were created to love God. So, put your time and energy into the things that are life giving and life sustaining!

Luke 16:1-13 for Sunday, September 23, 2007

Translation:
(1)And he said to the disciples, "A certain man was rich who had a manager, and he brought charges against him that he was squandering his property. (2)And summoning him he said to him, "What is this I heard about you? Give an account of your management for you are no longer able to manage." (3)And the manager said to himself, "What will I do? Because my master is taking away the management job from me. I am not able to dig and Iam ashamed to beg. (4)I know what I will do so that when I lose my job as manager I may be welcomed into people's homes. (5)And summoning each one of the debtors of his master he said to the first "How much do you owe my Lord? (6)And he said, "One hundred measures of olive oil." And he said to him, "Take your bill and sit down and quickly write fifty." (7)Then to another he said, "And how much do you owe?" And he said "One hundred measures of wheat." He said to him, "Take your bill and write eighty." (8)And his master commended the dishonest manager because he acted prudently, for the children of this age are more prudent with their own generation than the children of light. (9)And I say to you, make for yourself friends by means of dishonest riches so that when it fails they will receive you into the eternal dwelling. (10)One who is faithful in little is also faithful in much and one who is dishonest in little is also dishonest in much. (11) If then you have not been faithful in dishonest riches, who will have faith in you with true riches? (12)And if you are not faithful with another's possessionwho will give you what is yours? (13)No slave is able to serve two masters, for he will hate one and love the other or he will be loyal to one and he will despise the other. You are not able to serve God and money.

So what is going on with this parable? The fact of the matter is that from the earliest times, people have been confused by this parable. A good commentary will present you with several options for what is really happening in this verse. If you're interested in reading about all the possibilities, stop by my office sometime or drop me an email and we can look at them further. For now, I would like to tell you what I think is going on.

First, a "manager" is someone who takes care of his master's accounts. It might be like hiring a financial adviser today. In any case, the manager is in charge of keeping all of his masters accounts in good order. We know that the dishonest manager is about to be fired and his master wants to see the receipts from all the accounts the manger has been in charge of. This would be like a massive audit.

Here's the tricky part: why is the manager going to get fired? What did he do? I think this is a case of usury. The Bible strictly prohibits any kind of usury. In other words, the manager was charging interest on his master's accounts without telling the master. That way, his master was still getting the amount due to him and the manager could keep the interest for himself. When the manager learned that he was about to get fired, he knew that if his clients learned of his dishonest dealings, he would never find another job.

So, the manager does the thing that seems obvious. He reduces his client's accounts so that there is no interest charged. They change the receipts (the same ones his master is looking for). This way, he is looked on with favor by his clients who are now less burdened with a large bill. His master commends him for his "shrewd," or maybe more accurately "prudent," behavior. Why? Because now all of the master's clients think of him as a kind person, willing to give a break every now and then. Everyone wins!

Verse 9 is maybe the most cryptic because it seems that Jesus is telling the disciples to act shrewdly like the manager. What Jesus is saying is that we should also act prudently with our material wealth so that when it is gone we will still be welcome in the eternal home. In other words, do not make a friend of unrighteous riches, but by means of it (the Greek preposition could be translated either way--its an interesting Greek nuance and a little play on words).

Jesus knew that it was impossible to live life without having some contact with money. What he is telling the disciples is to use money prudently in order to make friends and to help others because one day they may run out of money and it will be their friends that they turn toward. You can't have it both ways. You can't be in love with your money and also love your friends. If you love your friends, giving them your money won't be so bad. If you love your money, you'll be willing to sacrifice your friends for it. One or the other--not both. In the end, I think Jesus was trying to say that being wealthy is not a sin in and of itself. It is what you do with the wealth that is important. In the long run, it will always be better to run out of money than to run out of friends.

Luke 15:1-10 for Sunday, September 16, 2007

Translation:
(1) And all the tax collectors and sinners were gathered around in order to listen to him (2)and the Pharisees and scribes always murmured, saying "He welcomes these sinners and eats with them." (3)But he told them this parable: (4)Any of you who has one hundred sheep and loses one of them, won't he abandon the ninety nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it? (5)And when he finds it, he puts it upon his shoulder rejoicing (6)and coming home he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, "Rejoice with me that I found my lost sheep!" (7) I say to you that likewise there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents more than ninety nine righteous people who do not need repentance. (8)Or what woman, having ten coins if she loses one coin will not light a lamp and sweep the house and search thoroughly until she finds it? (9)And finding it, she calls together friends and neighbors saying, "Rejoice with me because I found the coin which I lost. (10) Thus, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

These two parables of Jesus closely echo each other. Many of the same Greek verbs are used in both and the conclusion (explanation) of the parables in verse 7 and 10 are very similar, indicating that these two parables were intended to be read together.

The scene starts out with Jesus surrounded by tax collectors and sinners. The Greek indicates that Jesus made this a habit. He is always eating with these unworthy people and the scribes and Pharisees are always murmuring about it. The way they describe Jesus welcoming and eating with these persons is the way one might describe how an honored guest is warmly received in a home. Jesus isn't just eating with sinners. He is even giving them the choice seats and giving them the treatment of kings. The scribes and Pharisees object to this kind of treatment for such common (even despised) people. It just isn't socially acceptable.

That's why Jesus tells these stories. In both parables, something insignificant is lost. One lost sheep in a flock of one hundred is really pretty minimal. Particularly if it was a weakling. Taking a chance on finding the one lost sheep when the other ninety nine hang in the balance seems silly. Likewise, the woman who loses a coin has lost one silver coin. One silver coin was not worth very much in Jesus' day. Ten silver coins were worth more, but not so much that it would warrant such a thorough search. The point is that the thing that seems insignificant still has value. In fact when this small loss is found, it is worthy of a party and a celebration. Jesus reminds them that even one soul that repents is worthy of a warm reception by God, perhaps more worthy than ninety nine souls not in need of repentance.

What is interesting is that the scripture actually says that there is more joy in heaven for one sinner who repents than ninety nine righteous people without need for repentance. Who among us (even the righteous) is not in need of repentance? Perhaps the haughty, hubris-filled folks do not need repentance. But, it begs the question--who then is the lost sheep? The tax collectors and sinners or the Pharisees and scribes?

Jesus is the master at role reversal. In one short parable he manages to turn the tables so that God's grace is extended to the most unlikely recipient. Jesus initially paints a parable where the Pharisees and scribes are in a secure position as the ninety nine not in any jeopardy. However, the story makes it clear that God receives the one lost lamb more warmly than the ninety nine. Since the Pharisees and scribes do not seem too open to the possibility of participating in the welcoming celebration, who then is closer to the spirit of God? The Pharisees and scribes or the tax collectors and sinners?

In any case, scripture has the most impact on us when it intersects with our own lives. So, which are you? Are you one of the ninety nine feeling pretty secure? Are you the lost sheep, alone and afraid, waiting for the shepherd? Are you one rejoicing? Are you one repenting? Take a minute to take stock of which you are and then reread the parable with new eyes.