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Sunday 29 December 2013

Luke 16:1-15 - Wise Living

This is a fascinating parable and has to do with our attitude towards and use of money. It calls on us to have a realistic view of what life is really about. Money is very deceitful. As Paul says, the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 
On the face of it the manager seems to be acting dishonestly!, yet he is commended by the master. He acted knowing that the money was not his and prepared for the future. Likewise, the money and other possessions we have are not really ours, we are just stewards of them. So instead of using money to get things for ourselves we should seek to get riches in heaven. We should give to God and give to others.
Jesus is quite open that the manager was dishonest, then He moves on to talking about us being trustworthy. Jesus is not calling on us to be dishonest, nor to act irresponsibly, but to use wealth for what it is. We are entrusted with various things, we need to use them for the glory of God and for the good of others. One day God will give us even greater responsibilities, and how well or otherwise we carry out our responsibilities here will have a bearing on the future. 
Jesus closes this section with the warning that we cannot love God and money. Some of the "prosperity" preachers really need to be bear this in mind and take heed. The Pharisees did love money. Jesus condemns them for seeking to justify themselves and living by man's standards. We are to live for God.

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