"Our Window of Opportunity"   2010

Ecclesiastes 1:1-9         Luke 16:1-15

 

Ecclesiastes 1:1-9

1The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 3What do people gain from all the toil at which they toil under the sun? 4A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. 5The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hurries to the place where it rises. 6The wind blows to the south, and goes around to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. 7All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they continue to flow. 8All things are wearisome; more than one can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing. 9What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.

 

Luke 16:1-15

16Then Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. 2So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.’ 3Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’ 5So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6He answered, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.’ 7Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘A hundred containers of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and make it eighty.’ 8And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. 9And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. 10“Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. 11If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? 13No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” 14The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him. 15So he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God.

 

Before I became a pastor,

            I didn't realize how many conversations I would have

                        with people facing terminal illness and death;

                and who would be trying to make sense of life, its meaning,

                        ultimate consequences and what really matters in the end.

*  Sometimes   it takes a crisis          before we seriously consider

            our long-term future beyond the limits of these mortal lives.

 

Over the years when I used to make my living in business,

            regrettably,  too many times  I saw lives, careers and futures

                        destroyed because an employee stole from their employer…

    … and what most surprised me, was how little it took, how cheaply

            some folks would sell out   their honor and integrity.

 

    For what was a relatively small amount of money

            compared to what it actually cost them in the long run,

                        they risked good jobs, reputation and even prison time …

               … as if they gave no thought at all   concerning their future.

 

In the parable that Jesus tells in Luke 16,

            the dishonest manager wasn't thinking much about his future

                        when he squandered and misused his employer's property.

vs. 1-2

            Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property.  So he summoned him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you?  Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.'

 

The steward

            is accused of wasting the resources entrusted to his care,

                        and misappropriating them for his own use and luxury,

                                    rather than for the benefit of the owner as required.           

The fact that this manager offers no defense or explanation

            when he faces a financial audit and is about to lose his job

                        for squandering his employer's resources and wealth,

                                                -- suggests that he is probably guilty …

            … and now that

                        he is facing the crisis of losing his job and income,

                                    his future becomes

                                                a higher priority and consideration for him.

 

As with most of the parables and stories that Jesus tells,

            it's helpful to understand a bit about Middle Eastern culture.

 

For the wealthy land owner,

            the critical issue of the dishonest and squandering steward,

                        is less about the missing money   then that when the word

                                    gets out about how dishonest and squandering steward

                                                has shamelessly humiliated his employer,à

 

            the owner will lose face;  honor and respect in the community

                        as a weak and foolish man who cannot control his affairs.

 

If the owner allows that impression of weakness to persist,

                then in the future, that will encourage others

                        to cheat and try and to take advantage of him as well.           

 

            So, as a matter of good business and to restore his reputation,

                        this situation requires a clear and drastic response.

 

Like so many of us,

            now that he is in trouble and facing a crisis in life,

                        the dishonest steward refocuses on his future.   vs. 3-4

            Then the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is

taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.  I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.'

 

Once word gets out about his dishonor and his sudden dismissal,

            it is unlikely that the manager would be hired by anyone else,

                        and such a loss of respect and honor in the community,

                               would make him an outcast & unwelcome in anyone's home.

 

As he contemplates this grim future,         he recognizes

            that before everyone has heard and learns about his dishonor,

                        there is    a very brief window of opportunity

                                    in which he might maneuver and arrange for his future.

vs. 5-6

            So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'  He answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.'           … and so on.

 

By claiming the authority to summon his master's debtors,  

            he is inferring that he also has the authority, and is acting

                        on owner's approval to reduce the amount of their debts.

 

And so now, because of the dishonest steward's shrewd scheme,

            in the eyes of his debtors and the whole community

                        the owner's reputation and  honor are greatly enhanced

                                    by this unexpected kindness and generosity to them.

 

The steward's plan has successfully manipulated the situation

            and has left the owner with only two options.

 

The owner could tell to the celebrating village and his debtors

            that it was really just a misunderstanding and a mistake;

                that since the manager had acted without his authorization,

                        the amount of their indebtedness goes back as it had been…

            … but then he would appear petty,

                        and even more foolish and unable to manage his affairs.

 

Or, the owner could go along with the corrupt manager's scheme,

            accept the accolades and gratitude of his debtors,

                        he could absorb the financial loss in exchange for being

                                    more highly respected and honored by the community…

 

            … which in that ancient Middle Eastern culture,

                        to be greatly respected for his generosity and honor

                            would be worth far more than the money that it cost him…

 

            … much the same way that philanthropists and donors

                        are willing to make significant financial contributions

                                    for the honor         of having something named after them.

 

With careful forethought, this manager has arranged for his future

   by boldly sticking his neck way out, and is commended by the owner

            for his foresight in working out this clever scheme;

                        for his shrewdness,

                                    in getting from where he was, to where he needed to be.

vs. 8

            And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly;    for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.

 

Facing a difficult crisis, the dishonest and squandering steward

            put it all on the line in order to provide for his future;à

 

            and Jesus is urging his disciples to consider,

                        that though we face   the crisis of death and eternity,

                                    yet we Christians, 'we children of the light’

                                                can be            pretty lackadaisical and careless

                                                            about living out  our faith commitments.

 

The point is,  what if     we put forth as much effort and forethought

            toward deepening our relationship with God and the eternal;

                        as do those of this world put forth energy and forethought

                                    toward achieving their goals for material success?

 

Considering what is at stake, shouldn't we be

            even more passionate about our ultimate goals and objectives,

                        and more focused on our spiritual growth and development

                                    and whether or not   we are living within God’s will?

 

Suppose we did work at deepening and developing our spiritual life,

                just as hard as those of this world,

                        strive toward the success and ambition that drives them? …

*    … how would that change the way we live, give, worship and serve?

 

And here's the irony in all this --- King Solomon,  who excelled

            at every possible achievement and goal this world has to offer,

                        looked back on all the many accomplishments of his life,

                                    and wrote, vs. 2,8

            Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.  All things are wearisome; more than one can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing.

 

All the material success he achieved in this world was meaningless.

            All was vanity, it was not nearly enough,

                        and so Solomon died, a disappointed and bitter old man…

*     … for despite all his great wisdom and knowledge,

                 he missed the point, he missed the purpose & meaning of life.

 

In  all my conversations with people confronting mortality & death,

            not even once have I heard,

                   "If only I had made more money, or spend more hours at work,

                                    and how I wish   I could have acquired more stuff."

*          Almost universally, in the end, their longing is for loveà

                        better relationships and a more authentic walk with God.

 

Jesus concludes the parable: Luke 16:9

            And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.

 

This phrase, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth,

            sounds very disturbing and not at all ‘Christ-like’.

 

But in the gospel of Luke,

            Jesus warns that material wealth poses a great & grave danger;

                            and that our culture-driven  pursuit of more wealth

                                    is usually detrimental to our spiritual health.

 

Because of the way this world and our materialistic culture

            focus on the acquisition of wealth   above all else,

                 it is corrupting, destructive & inherently dishonest wealth…

 

                        … and the way to counteract that powerful corruption

                                    is to keep our focus on Christ,

                                                and on his promises concerning our future.

 

*  The wisdom of Jesus and the point of this parable,

            is to use    even   the corrupt and dangerous wealth of this world

                        to do good, to serve, to honor, glorify and please God;à

                          by shifting our focus away from    greed for today,

                                    and instead, striving for the eternal Kingdom of God…

 

… for as dishonest as the manager was, at least

            he was pragmatic enough to use the things of this life and world

                        in an attempt to address and provide for his future …

    - and if a crooked steward could figure that out,

            why not us as well,  and why should we  be any less resourceful?

 

So, are we working  at deepening and developing our spiritual life,

            as hard as those of this world, and who do not know God,

                        are driven to achieve worldly success and ambition?

 

Wealth can be a real problem, a huge distraction  drawing us away

            from Christ’s call to faithful obedience and discipleship,

                        away from doing our best, our utmost to serve & please God.

 

The point is, our lives and  all that they contain

            are entrusted to us for a short   mortal lifetime,

                        life's finite resources given for the benefit

                                    and glory of God, their true owner  à

            à just as the steward was to manage the owner’s property

                        for the benefit and purpose   of the    true  owner ---  

                              and not squander them for his own desires and pleasure.

 

Then Jesus takes that point and gives further warning,

            that if we cannot learn to handle appropriately  

                        the passing resources & temporary wealth of this world,à

 

            then how will we be ready for the eternal resources of God?,

                 or ready for the things that last forever and truly matter?

vs. 10-13            

            "Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.  If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? …                         No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and wealth."

 

No, we cannot serve both God and wealth,  but      we can serve God

            by using our wealth and gifts for God’s good and holy purposes.

                   Our wealth and resources can be a dangerous trap

                       or they can also be a tool  for accomplishing great good.

 

It's really not that complicated,

            use the material blessings of lives as tools in God's service,

                and not as idols that interfere with our faithfulness to God.

 

Jesus wants us to know and understand

            that at some point each and every one of us will die;

                  and Scripture makes it very clear that we will answer to God

                        and we will give an accounting for how we have used

                           the resources entrusted to us during our lives.

 

This mortal life is our one and only   brief window of opportunity,

            to use the material goods entrusted to us by God, for good;

                        to manage that property  for the benefit of its real owner.

 

* The message is,

      to use our wealth well & wisely that can so easily lead us astray.

 

Jesus is asking and challenging us,

            how can we be so comfortably causal and complacent

                        concerning the eternal, the care and feeding of our souls?

 

But let me also  be very clear about this, it is not

            a question of our working to earn or be worthy of our salvation;

                        for that has already been fully paid by Jesus on the cross,

                                                but we are called   to live in   faithful response…

            … to use and invest our lives and resources

                    as those who have already been promised the Kingdom of God.

 

All during his life and ministry,   Jesus lived and described

            an alternative way of living     that is focused on God,

                  an alternative way of seeing     that this world is temporary

                        an alternative way of interacting with other people    thatà

                               lives out God's love, compassion and grace    as generosity.

 

Here what Jesus is saying to us,    Luke 12.32-34

            ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

                        Sell your possessions, and give alms.  Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.