Jesus uses parables to teach those following him what
it means to live in the Kingdom of God. The term parable is translated from
Greek as “to place side by side.” Jesus wants people to do more than hear the
story. He wants us to step inside the story, to see in others’ shoes. Sometimes
this is easy. We can often identify with multiple characters – last week we
heard from Chap Lovell three parables of lost things… sheep, coins and people. As
I listened, I could see myself as every character – even the sheep and the
neighbors that got awakened in the night.
But some are easier than others. If you ever needed
evidence that the gospel can also be offensive, look no further. For the second
week in a row, the protagonist is flawed, not “our” kind of people. And of course, it’s that flawed character who helps
us see that God can use everyone to grow the Kingdom. Still, this one feels
especially difficult.[i]
I don’t think it’s the content of the story itself. We
see this story lived out in the news every day. There is clearly a villain and
we know who it is from the very first verse. We don’t know what his crime is but
we do see plenty of evidence that he’s trying to clean up the mess he made. Surely,
there is no doubt that this man’s behavior is not to be admired or repeated.
So, how crazy is it that Jesus defends the end result
of the manager’s behavior, calling him “shrewd.” I taught this parable in our
PWOC bible study last Spring, and of all the ones we did, this one was the
hardest to get our heads around. For me, the paradox lies in the use of the
word “shrewd.” Before I studied this parable, I thought of the word shrewd in a
negative context. But I looked it up in several dictionaries and found that
this is way down the list. Merriam-Webster defines it this way: marked by
clever discerning awareness and hardheaded acumen – i.e. common sense… to which
I say, “WHAT?” so, how do we fit that piece into the puzzle?
On the surface, we see a problem with money, graft and
corruption. But what if that’s not all it’s about? What if this manager is stealing
something even more valuable than what the property produces? Hidden deep
within the story is another thread. Sure, we easily see the manager
manipulating the landowner’s financial health. But what if the manager has
damaged something much more valuable… what if this is a really about damaging his
boss’s reputation?[ii]
You see, I think the manager knows this is the real
problem. That’s why he works so hard to clean up the mess before he goes. He went
all in for a solution that would protect not only him, but also the boss. Nothing
good comes from the tenants mistrusting their landlord, so the manager’s
solution not only pads his own slide from grace, but allows for the tenants to show
their gratitude and help him get back on his feet. To this end, he not only
gets a great response from the tenants, but also ingratiates them to the
landowner, whom they now see as generous and kind.
Once he was found out, the manager understood that the
landowner’s reputation must be protected. So, while we want the manager to get
what he deserves, the landowner knows that his best bet is to let it ride. He
understands that the manager has actually come up with a solution that benefits
everyone. The manager doesn’t get prosecuted for a crime, and the tenants are
grateful to both him and to the landowner.
So, what do we do with this new insight? With careful
reading, we can tease Jesus’ response into several strands. First, Jesus never
condones the manager’s dishonest behavior. He calls him out just by telling the
story the way he does. But he also sees wisdom in the manager’s attempt to make
the situation better. And that’s the kind of behavior that Jesus does want us
to pay attention to. Roughly translated, he’s saying, “Hey, it’s not too late
to do something good with whatever you have. In fact, it’s the very evidence
that you understand who I am.”
After that, there are lots of place to peel off. Today,
many of churches are using this passage to talk about stewardship and budget
building, often in very appropriate ways. But money is just one element of the
story.
Consider the climate crisis. The world is in a real
pickle right now when thinking about how lives are being threatened. Don’t
think climate change is real? Talk to the people of Houston, who average 50
inches of rain per year as Hurricane Imelda dumped 15 inches on Thursday alone,
while hosting their third 500-year flood in three years. [iii] Read the Scientific
American report that shows a 29% decrease in the bird population since 1970, with
the loss of over 3 BILLION birds in North America alone, actually a
conservative estimate.[iv]
Consider population migration. Millions of people have
fled their homelands to search for a better, safer life. Are they making
dangerous journeys to new lands because the grass is always greener on the
other side? Not usually. Migrants are fleeing war, government corruption and
loss of the ability for their land to sustain them. Think about that. They
believe that staying home is more life-threatening – more dangerous – than
overcrowding a boat to make it to European shores, or walking 1200+ miles
through dangerous in-between lands for the chance at a safer, more stable life.[v]
Consider all the factors that create vulnerability in
our world: poverty, racism, gun violence, sexism & gender-based violence…
the list goes on and on. The level of negative news has the potential to make
us lose hope. But these are the very places where we as Jesus’ people are
called to act – to restore the reputation of God and Jesus for the sins that we
have committed by considering our own needs more important that the needs of
others.[vi]
You see, we live with feet in two worlds. On one side,
we work and learn and gather what we need to make a comfortable life. Sometimes
we are more successful at it than others. The problem comes when the collecting
of things becomes the purpose of our lives, turning us away from helping people
and places with great needs. If nothing else, this story is a friendly reminder
that Jesus wants us all to play from the same sheet of music... To make his
priorities our priorities, his values our values.[vii]
Fortunately, some days we get it right, and that gives
us hope.
- On Friday, millions gathered in thousands of cities on all 7 continents to raise ever-increasing concern over the crisis of climate and pollution on our planet.
- Remember the dwindling bird populations? The only birds that saw an increase in population were waterfowl, largely credited to the work of conservation groups like Ducks Unlimited, who forged a path for hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, and scientists to work together to save these species and their homes.
- Also on Friday, we celebrated World Humanitarian Day to honor those who respond to crises around the globe, and to reflect on how we, as global citizens, might respond better, smarter and more effectively to the needs of those who suffer.[viii] Religious bodies and non-governmental agencies alike voiced the need for us to work together in places big and small in the belief that many hands make lighter work and honor God.
The key to real wealth is not a winning lottery ticket,
following up a hot stock tip or taking advantage of others. Our true wealth is
the legacy of our rebirth in Christ. This is the life for which we were created and
offered salvation. In the waters of baptism, we are saved, not by something
that we do, but by the mystical power of God to cleanse us with living water
that frees us from the burden of spiritual thirst. But this gift will wither
and die if we aren’t living in Christ’s love. That is what being saved is all
about… responding to extravagant love with extravagant love. And it’s never too
late to make a difference, to love of all our neighbors, near and far, just
because we can.
Each of us is called to live out a call. For some that
means working in the church. But for most, it is about living out Christ’s love
in whatever vocations we choose. Soldier or airman, teacher or doctor,
childcare worker, student, janitor, electrician, school lunch lady … it doesn’t
matter what work we do. Whatever that work is, we are called to do it with
love. This is how we, like the manager, can repair God’s reputation in the
world.
So, here is how I interpret or paraphrase Jesus’
closing remarks. They are our marching orders as we go back to live in the
world. He said,
The manager was shrewd
enough to get his house in order before things got really bad. But you should
think about not letting your lives get that much out of control. I’m here to
turn things upside down, to readjust your thinking. Don’t accept the world’s
take on life. Hear this: Little things don’t just matter – they actually matter
the most, because they say everything about who you are.
I saw a picture yesterday of teen activist Greta
Thunberg. It was taken in August of 2018. She decided to strike from school and
was sitting alone in front of the Swedish Parliament building with a sign that
said, Schools Strike for Climate. But she didn’t come up with this idea by
herself. She was inspired by students from Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High
School in Florida who refused to go back to school until their concerns about
gun violence in schools were heard after the death of 20 of their classmates.[ix]
Over the last year, students in many countries have
protested climate policy calling them Fridays for Future. Two days ago, only one
year and one month later, over four million students and adult allies in 160
countries joined her cause. They speak with their voices and their feet to
people in power - governments, businesses, and educational institutions. United,
they show us that they are a force to be reckoned with, with this explicit
message: Step up. Quit stalling. Do something now, because if you don’t, it
will be too late for us later.[x]
Think it’s too late? Think you don’t have anything
worthwhile to contribute, or that previous mistakes will weigh you down? That’s
not the way it works. Even the dishonest manager realized that he had to make a change. Hear again the words of Jesus, “Whoever is faithful in a
very little is faithful also in much.” Be assured, whatever we do in love
matters – it actually means everything.
Peace, Deb
