To read the texts click on the texts: Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 16:1-8
The text of today contains a parable found only in the Gospel of
Luke and which is often titled as the Parable of the Dishonest Steward. In the
Parable, the steward is about to be dismissed because of charges against him of
squandering his master’s property. Since he does not want to have to do manual
labour or beg after his dismissal, he responds to the crisis in his life by
taking the decision of reducing the debtor’s debts. The amounts mentioned are
all large, and indicates commercial rather than household transactions. By the
reduction of the debts, he gains the favour of his master’s debtors, which will
stand him in good stead in the future.
It is not clear whether the steward
acted dishonestly through this action, because some presume that he was
foregoing his own commission or acting righteously by excluding the interest
prohibited by Deut 23:19-20.
Despite this, however, most prefer the
interpretation that the steward continued to be dishonest and arbitrarily
reduced the amounts of the debts. By doing this, the steward casts an aura of
goodness on his master and also provides for his own future. The point of the
parable is not so much honesty or dishonesty, but a call to cast
caution aside, seize the opportunity and make provisions for the future before
God. The kingdom is here.
>If you were told that you have only one more day before the Lord called you to himself, what three decisions would you make?
ReplyDelete- 1. Write an e-mail to everyone on my Contact List and thank them for playing a role in making my life beautiful.
2. Order my favourite pork dishes and desserts.
3. Invite my favourite relatives and friends to join me for the above feast. I’ll send photographs of my send-off party to those who wouldn’t be able to attend to let them know that .... I ate for them, too!
Oh, one more. Then I’d lay me down to sleep and look forward to waking up in Heaven!
Kate
P.S.: Dear Santa Claus, now you know what I want for Christmas. :-)