Wednesday 1st July | Will Johnson
Readings
Reflection
The Bible Project have recently produced an excellent series of podcasts all about Jesus’ parables which I would highly recommend. Rather than trying to unpack the meaning of each individual parable they instead provide the listener with tools to dig into the scriptures and find out the meaning of the parables themselves.
When Jesus tells a parable he is revealing something about the kingdom of God. These parables fall into three main categories: ones that tell of the surprising nature of the kingdom (mustard seed); ones that tell of the upside down ethical nature of the kingdom (prodigal son); or one that leads us to a crisis of decision about the kingdom of God (the tenants).
The parable of the shrewd manager falls into the last category. At the heart of this parable is not an ethical lesson on whether it’s ok to be dishonest with our money. We know this as it stands in opposition to the teachings found throughout scripture. However, the reason we can find this parable so jarring at first is that we try to crowbar it into the second category of an upside down ethical lesson.
Actually Jesus is presenting a crisis of decision. What are you for and what are you against? If you follow me, you don’t get to sit on the fence. The parable is set up so the manager has to act. He has just been fired and has to decide what is he going to do? Ultimately, the manager chooses to win friends for himself.
In Jesus’ mind, relationships are more important than money and should be served by money rather than the other way around. This is why the master praises the manager—not because he stole his money, but because the manager didn’t allow money to distract him from the greater goal of relationships. This is how Jesus views money and calls his followers to view it. This parable forces the listener to decide what it is they trust.
Whether we live for Jesus and his kingdom forces a moment of decision on us. Will we trust that Jesus is more trustworthy than all the economic structures around us? If those who don’t know Jesus cheat one another because they know the value of relationships over money, then how much more should we use the money God has freely given us by God for the benefit of others?
Prayers
Choose a section of Psalm 77 and pray through each verse.
Collect
Almighty God,
You have broken the tyranny of sin
And have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts
Whereby we call you Father:
Give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service,
That we and all creation may be brought
To the glorious liberty of the children of God;
Through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
Who is alive and reigns with you,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and for ever.
Amen.
