WONDERWHAT

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Relational Stewardship

This is Memorial Day Weekend.  While we’ll have our fun doing what we do best as Americans (BBQ), lets enjoy ourselves for all its worth, but not forget the price that gets paid to ensure our freedom to do so. Lets pray for peace and an end to madness…that’s the best gift we can give to any solider far from home.

Ok…well, this Sunday we’ll be reading Luke 16:1-9  …it is a serious WTF passage. (WTF=”where’s this fit?”…..why, what did you THINK I meant?)

Scholars have had headaches for hundreds of years trying to puzzle through what this story is trying to say…and how we apply it to life as the church.  I scoured through a lot of writings by experts from  N.T. Wright and Eugene Peterson to John Piper and John MacArthur (different ends of the doctrinal spectrum, FYI),   and taking their thoughts in overview provided  the footing I needed to try and exegete this passage.  I’m no scholar…so you may disagree with me, and that’s totally cool…but I think we CAN learn some valuable principles from this passage that are at very least in harmony with the rest of Scripture.

I won’t throw out a lot of questions in this post….just one main one:  What do you think Jesus’ point is in telling this parable?  Can you decipher a context that could help this make sense?

I’d be interested in your thoughts….but it’s an odd passage, so I’m not pressuring you to weigh in.  You’d be surprised how many scholars just say “We can never understand it”, and move on to the next verses.  Not US though…we’re taking this passage to the mattress!   Hope you can be there to join the exploration!

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2 responses to “Relational Stewardship”

  1. julie Avatar
    julie

    Whoa.. either I have never read this which seems strange or I didn’t give it enough thought when i did but i must say this does leave me with wtf in my mind… seriously i’ll take a guess but look soo forward to hearing what it really means tomorrow! The steward seemed to act mercifully toward the debtors of his master even though there was an ulterior motive involved. He gained favor in these debtors eyes. Maybe he,by means of this calling on the carpet by his boss, did some self examination, repented and used his God given talent to relieve some of large debts and provide for his own future as well. Then in turn the very one’s who he had helped turned him on to the true Provider. “they may receive you into an everlasting home” ? just a thought! Look forward to tomorrow…

    Reply
  2. Martin Avatar
    Martin

    In law, under certain circumstances, particularly when it appears the agent has apparent authority to act for his master, an agent can bind his master. Thus, the servant, acting on behalf of his master and with apparent authority, bound his master to forgive a portion of debts owed to him. Yet, we notice that the servant seemed to have questionable motives, at best, in the forgiveness of debt. Still, the master rewarded his forgiveness. This is interesting in light of our knowledge that God looks to the heart of man. Does this story tell us to be forgiving always, even if our motives are not entirely pure? This is also a lesson from the Lord’s prayer which implores the Lord to forgive us as we have first forgiven others. This them is said another way in Mark 11:26. Forgiveness seems to have pre-eminence here. Was the servant himself encouraged to do good by his master’s forgiveness of the servant’s forgiveness of debts owed to the master, even though the servant’s motives in so doing were suspect. My head hurts now. But forgiveness reigns supreme. Praise God!

    Reply

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