April 1st, 2022
by Mike DePope
by Mike DePope

Friday, April 1
STEWARDSHIP by Amy Sanders
Luke 16:1-13
Jesus also said to the disciples, “A certain rich man heard that his household manager was wasting his estate. He called the manager in and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give me a report of your administration because you can no longer serve as my manager.’
“The household manager said to himself, What will I do now that my master is firing me as his manager? I’m not strong enough to dig and too proud to beg. I know what I’ll do so that, when I am removed from my management position, people will welcome me into their houses.
“One by one, the manager sent for each person who owed his master money. He said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil.’ The manager said to him, ‘Take your contract, sit down quickly, and write four hundred fifty gallons.’ Then the manager said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘One thousand bushels of wheat.’ He said, ‘Take your contract and write eight hundred.’
“The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted cleverly. People who belong to this world are more clever in dealing with their peers than are people who belong to the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves so that when it’s gone, you will be welcomed into the eternal homes.
“Whoever is faithful with little is also faithful with much, and the one who is dishonest with little is also dishonest with much. If you haven’t been faithful with worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? If you haven’t been faithful with someone else’s property, who will give you your own? No household servant can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
Reflection
A straightforward reading of this parable (fancy word for a teaching story from Jesus) really muddies the water as to what message he wanted to leave his disciples. I can imagine them listening, scratching their heads, before turning to each other and asking “are we supposed to be like the dishonest manager???” Unfortunately, the Bible doesn’t include any follow up Q&A session.
Whether you think Jesus wanted us to identify with the manager and recognize his shrewdness and foresight, or whether you think Jesus was making a justification for using worldly wealth in furtherance of God’s kingdom, Jesus really hits the nail on the head - we have a very complicated relationship with money. We idolize it, we’ll go to great lengths to get it (sometimes illegal and morally-bankrupt ones), we misuse it, we mismanage it, we hoard it, and we forget that we can’t take it with us.
The analysis of the parable isn’t the important point - it’s the warning that Jesus leaves us with: you can’t serve God and wealth. Sure, there are ways to use it wisely and honorably, just as there are sinful ways to use it to further evil. But, we are ultimately called to handle it with caution, because wealth doesn’t translate into the kingdom of heaven. There are different treasures waiting for us there.
Question for Contemplation
Do you have a healthy relationship with wealth?
Prayer
Generous God, you bless us with necessities, gifts, and resources (some earned, others by chance). All that we have is yours, and we give you thanks for it. Help us to have a healthy relationship with our money and our things, so that we may use our earthly wealth to bless others. Amen.
Jesus also said to the disciples, “A certain rich man heard that his household manager was wasting his estate. He called the manager in and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give me a report of your administration because you can no longer serve as my manager.’
“The household manager said to himself, What will I do now that my master is firing me as his manager? I’m not strong enough to dig and too proud to beg. I know what I’ll do so that, when I am removed from my management position, people will welcome me into their houses.
“One by one, the manager sent for each person who owed his master money. He said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil.’ The manager said to him, ‘Take your contract, sit down quickly, and write four hundred fifty gallons.’ Then the manager said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘One thousand bushels of wheat.’ He said, ‘Take your contract and write eight hundred.’
“The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted cleverly. People who belong to this world are more clever in dealing with their peers than are people who belong to the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves so that when it’s gone, you will be welcomed into the eternal homes.
“Whoever is faithful with little is also faithful with much, and the one who is dishonest with little is also dishonest with much. If you haven’t been faithful with worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? If you haven’t been faithful with someone else’s property, who will give you your own? No household servant can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
Reflection
A straightforward reading of this parable (fancy word for a teaching story from Jesus) really muddies the water as to what message he wanted to leave his disciples. I can imagine them listening, scratching their heads, before turning to each other and asking “are we supposed to be like the dishonest manager???” Unfortunately, the Bible doesn’t include any follow up Q&A session.
Whether you think Jesus wanted us to identify with the manager and recognize his shrewdness and foresight, or whether you think Jesus was making a justification for using worldly wealth in furtherance of God’s kingdom, Jesus really hits the nail on the head - we have a very complicated relationship with money. We idolize it, we’ll go to great lengths to get it (sometimes illegal and morally-bankrupt ones), we misuse it, we mismanage it, we hoard it, and we forget that we can’t take it with us.
The analysis of the parable isn’t the important point - it’s the warning that Jesus leaves us with: you can’t serve God and wealth. Sure, there are ways to use it wisely and honorably, just as there are sinful ways to use it to further evil. But, we are ultimately called to handle it with caution, because wealth doesn’t translate into the kingdom of heaven. There are different treasures waiting for us there.
Question for Contemplation
Do you have a healthy relationship with wealth?
Prayer
Generous God, you bless us with necessities, gifts, and resources (some earned, others by chance). All that we have is yours, and we give you thanks for it. Help us to have a healthy relationship with our money and our things, so that we may use our earthly wealth to bless others. Amen.
Posted in Lent Devotional 2022
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2025
January
Happy New Year // M-Note 1.4.2025Cancel the Noise // M-Note 1.11.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 1The Beloved Community // M-Note 01.18.2025Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 2What A Coincidence // M-Note 1.25.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 3Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 4The Original Influencer // M-Note 2.1.25
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The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 1Exploring New Sites…And You’re Invited // M-Note 2.8.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 2Uncovering Implicit Bias // M-Note 2.15.2025A "Flurry" of Activity // M-Note 2.22.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 3The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 4
March
Beloved Community Action Steps // M-Note 3.1.25Vulnerability & Wilderness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 1Trusting the Spirit's Lead | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 2Courageous Connection | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 3What's Your Emotional IQ? // M-Note 3.8.25The Spaces Between Us | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 4Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 1Jesus Weeps With You | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 5When Sadness Lingers | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 6Lurking in the Shadows | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 7Cycles of Life and Death | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 8Inked in Memory | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 9The Void of Grief | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 10Sending Forth // M-Note 3.15.25Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 2Journey Not Alone | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 11Friends Along the Way | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 12The Loneliness of Fear | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 13Not Through With You Yet | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 14Clinging to Hope | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 15Bring It To The King | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 16Pray When Unsteady | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 17Courage to Stand for Faith | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 18Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 3A Holy Rage | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 19Focus on What is Holy | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 20Fast for Justice and Kindness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 21The World is Harsh and Beautiful | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 22I Feel Sorry for Jesus | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 23Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 4i flipped a table once | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 24Ain’t Got Nothin’ | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 25Spring Forward in Faith // M-Note 3.29.25Visio Divina | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 26Everlasting Joy Sealed in Your Heart | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 27
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