Sunday 19 September 2010

Background

None of Jesus' parables are simple stories of right and wrong,however much we try to pin them down. Even so, the parable intoday's reading is more puzzling than most.

In the story of the dishonest steward, Jesus seems to praise theself-serving, manipulative and deceitful action of the steward whohas been caught out not doing his job. What does it mean, that hismaster "commended" him? It is confusing to think of Jesus teachingthis.

Some say that Jesus' point was that we should be as energetic infinding ways forward for God's kingdom as we are for things likemoney-making and other matters "of this age". Then the example ofthe dishonest steward is an ironic one. We are to be as urgent ashe was, but in the service of God instead of the service ofwealth.

The trouble is that this seems to set up a division where 'mammon'(an older word for wealth) equals bad and God equals good, as ifmoney is inherently dirty. From the other stories in this sectionof Luke, and elsewhere in the Gospels, Jesus' attitude to moneyseems more complicated than simple rejection.

Later in this same chapter (verses 19-31) Jesus tells a story whichcondemns a rich man who left Lazarus poor and in need at his gate:after death and no longer protected by his wealth, the rich manbegs that Lazarus be allowed to return to warn the rich man'sfamily to do better. In the verse immediately following today'ssection, the Pharisees (the teachers of the Law) are condemned as"lovers of money" - they treat wealth as evidence of God's favourand make it an idol. It is not money itself that is bad in eitherof these examples, but its misuse.

The point of the sayings gathered at the end of today's reading isthat if we misuse money we will end up as its slave. Like thedishonest steward we can be slaves to wealth, whether we are pooror rich, if we mistake wealth for fullness of life.

To Ponder

Studies have shown that a majority of people said theywould prefer to make £30,000 a year in a community where theaverage is £20,000, than to make £50,000 where the average is£75,000.

What does this tell you about the love ofmoney?

Which situation would you prefer?

What should the Church teach about the use ofmoney?