September 22, 2019 "Dishonest, But Very Clever"

September 22, 2019 Luke 16.1-13 “Dishonest, But Very Clever” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

Anyone born between 1981 and 1996 would be between the ages of 23 to 38. These folks are called millennials.  I met a millennial this week. Within a few minutes of our conversation, this person shared openly and honestly that they were an abuse survivor. They also shared that their partner was an abuse survivor. As this person shared, haven met me within just a few minutes, I felt pity and sadness and did not know what to say, so I took a risk and extended my hand and they took my hand, as I squeezed their hand, trying to communicate as much care as one stranger might share with another stranger. It was a small gesture, but it seemed special and meaningful.  Speaking one’s honest truth in a caring atmosphere stirs up healing and hope. Truth builds trust. The honest to God truth sets us free.

We all remember Judas Iscariot because he was one of the twelve beloved disciples. Jesus called him a friend. Not everyone gets to be honored by being called a friend. Judas was not a great friend to Jesus because he loved money more than he loved Jesus. He betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Thirty pieces of silver was the price of a slave. Today thirty pieces of silver are said to be worth about $200.  When Judas was finally honest with himself, he realized no amount of money was worth betraying Jesus.

Money is a very seductive God. Many of our temptations are connected to our need for and our love for money. Jesus talks more about money more than any other topic besides the kingdom of God. So it is no surprise that Luke records Jesus telling a parable about a rich man who hired a manager. The manager was causing the business to lose money, so he was fired. But before he left the company, he did some wheeling and dealing with his boss’s money. He did, some schmoozing and cruising in order to make friends to take care of himself as well as to take care of others. He gave discounts and bargains. 

In other words, even though he was a sleazy character, he did one thing wisely. He used money instead of letting money use him. He was in charge of money instead of letting the money be in charge of him. Though he had been dishonest, he learned a lesson in the school of hard knocks and he was wiser for it.

Have you learned anything about your relationship to money? Do you need to change your relationship with money Do you give thanks for what God has given you? Do you ask God’s will for the stewardship of your money? Are you afraid, frivolous or frugal around money? Are you a stingy tightwad or a stealth like the dishonest manager?

There are many twists and turns in this passage, many ways to wonder about what it says as well as what it means. One thought is clear as we seek new disciples. Even worldly people can have valuable insights about many things. Even people who betray Jesus, can be Jesus’ friend.

Luke’s final word from Jesus is we cannot serve God and money at the same time. Some researchers say that there is no such thing as multi-tasking. When we think we are doing two things at once, our brains are really pausing to do one thing at a time, this one, then that one, but never both at once. We think we are multitasking, but our brain knows better.

So today let us surrender our lives as well as our money to a loving and wise God and to no one or nothing else, because even if we think we can get away with anything less, we are just fooling ourselves. Our brain and our heart know better. Amen.