Ethics: “I wouldn’t do that… would I?”
Briefly summarise the story.
What do you think of this man – the manager?
How do you view his actions? (Discuss)
Note: v.8 is very difficult. (Read from the Good News.) This manager is praised for doing something illegal and unethical!!
This doesn’t fit with our normal understanding of Christian teaching. (Reminds us of the importance of not just grabbing a verse (proof text), but to take scripture as a whole (scriptural warrant)
I like the New Living Translation, it provides what I think is a helpful interpretation. (Read.)
Commentators help further, (although I don’t find any explanation quite satisfying.)
One explanation: Jews couldn’t charge interest – usury. Instead when a loan was paid back the amount would be increased. So if someone owed 800 sacks of wheat they might well be expected to pay back 1000. So what the manager did was actually charge the correct amount, without the profit added. Hence his master couldn’t do much because what he’d done was legal. It may even be that he gave up his own profit in order to curry favour. Hence v.9 “make friends for yourself with worldly wealth.” (Still problems with this, but it helps)
So, given the problems, why did Luke include this passage in his gospel?
What do we learn from it? (Discuss)
- We need to work as seriously for the Kingdom of God as an entrepreneur works to make money.
- We need to use our possessions to cement relationships, which are more important because they have eternal value.
- We’re told elsewhere that the love of money is the root of all evil. But this passage urges us not to despise money, rather, to use it for the glory of God.
I don’t want to discuss this passage without commenting on ethics!!
I put it to you that despite his master’s grudging admiration Scripture condemns the actions of this man!
We are not to steal, or be dishonest, or misrepresent the truth in any way.
These actions are not to be condoned, let alone copied.
Of course, you and I would never do anything like this, would we?!
(Story – video shop on Monday. Fined $4:50. Girl halved it. I thanked her!! Etc.)
I wonder, have you ever made a dubious claim on your tax in order to maximise your return?
Article in the ‘Opinion Page’ of Monday’s Age, by Leon Gettler. It was headed, ‘We’re ethical, aren’t we?’ He argues that ‘there is a big gap between what we think we are and reality’, and says people are fooling themselves if they believe they always behave ethically.
I suspect most of us can recall times when our behaviour has been less than our morals would normally dictate? (ie. we’ve not felt ‘true to ourselves’)
In the past I’ve been amazed when it has been revealed in the press that some well known Christian preacher has been caught swindling the books, or else sleeping with his secretary, or whatever. It happens far too often.
And yet the reality is that we are not so different. It’s a thin line that we can easily step over!
As Christians we need to be very careful about the small matters, and then the big matters will look after themselves. But if we compromise our values on small things, it easily becomes a slippery slide. (Could mention frog in hot water)
Story – Kerryn Conabere – suggested to her she should write a letter saying that Naomi can’t live at home. Then CentreLink would pay the full ‘living away from home’ allowance. Would be worth $5000 to $10000 per year!
But if we compromise there, then what about the next thing, and the next. (Before you know where you are someone will be halving your video fines!!)
Be true to the values you hold. be true to God’s calling on your life.
And remember, don’t despise money but use it to cement relationships and further the Kingdom of God!
Traralgon 23rd Sept ‘07
Luke 16:1-13
(Notes provided include 2 translations of v.8) |