In Praise of the Dishonest Manager (by Elizabeth Palmberg)
One of Jesus' most in-your-face stories, and a personal favorite of mine, is the Parable of the Dishonest Manager in Luke 16. I would loosely paraphrase its central insight as follows: "If you have the sense God gave a dog, you will realize that you can't hold onto money very long anyway, but you can keep the friends you make by giving it to those in need. You do the math." The passage doesn't say anything about burning sulfur, just about priorities and how to take the long view.
An attractive feature of this parable is that it sets a really low bar for divine commendation. The manager doesn't have sense enough to stay out of trouble to begin with. What's more, even after he has his "friends are friends forever" epiphany, he starts backsliding almost at once: He quickly gives his master's first debtor a 50% markdown, but for debtor number two the manager gets pointlessly stingy and only takes off 20%. He still gets praise for knowing what side his bread is buttered on.
And, because the kingdom of God is so often about taking things way over the top, the final verses go on to radically redefine what honesty and faithfulness are. Good stewardship is supposed to be about accurate accounting and careful saving, right? Not here. Money is inherently "dishonest," and impromptu unauthorized debt forgiveness is "faithfulness." (In fact, the master fires the manager before even seeing his accounting - the grounds for dismissal appear to have been less fiscal irresponsibility and more that he made enemies willing to accuse him).
The Protestant Work Ethic is not invited to this party, and you can virtually hear the groans of the prodigal son's responsible brother if he happens to look ahead from his seat in chapter 15.
Despite this parable, other parts of the Bible suggest to me that it's reasonable to save something for retirement. But I want to combine this conventional form of stewardship with long-view social accounting, which is why I'm excited about the special Web extra to our May issue about faith and finances. In it, my colleague Julie has accumulated a heaping helping of Web sites that can help you figure out how and where to invest retirement savings for the common good (and also where to free your mind with Bible study, teach your teenage kids about money, and plan - and pray over - your household budget).
Check it out – and e-mail it to a friend to share the abundance!
Elizabeth Palmberg is an assistant editor of Sojourners.
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Comments
If conservative churches would talk about usury as much as they talk about homosexuality, this society would be a whole lot better off.
Posted by: I and I | May 6, 2008 5:21 PM
There is a lot of sulfur in the last parable of Luke 16. This chapter says so clearly that no one can live large and love God.
Posted by: Oak | May 6, 2008 5:42 PM
If you read to verse 15, it's about Pharisees. Just because your boss is pleased with you doesn't mean God is.
Posted by: frankie | May 6, 2008 6:36 PM
"There is a lot of sulfur in the last parable of Luke 16. This chapter says so clearly that no one can live large and love God."
That isn't what it says.
Posted by: kevin s. | May 7, 2008 12:01 PM
No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this and scoffed at him. But he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts; for what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God."
I think this says it clearly, that to love comfort and stuff is to hate God.
But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you in your lifetime recieved your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.'
Thus the sulfur.
Go ahead Kevin, spin this to say you can live large and love God.
Posted by: Oak | May 7, 2008 12:33 PM
Oak
"I think this says it clearly, that to love comfort and stuff is to hate God."
The key here is not that the rich man was rich, but that he loved his money, comfort, and stuff, that he looked down on the poor person in need right outside his door, and that in doing so, he valued such above God and his fellow man. The evil that Jesus is pointing out is not the money itself, but the LOVE of that money. Thus, the verses don't specifically say that one cannot live large without loving God.
However, in practice, I do think it is rather difficult (although not impossible) to live large and love God, especially when one really pays attention to where the money, comfort, and stuff came from in the first place. For example, did the stuff come from a sweatshop? Does living large use enough energy to fuel a small country? Most of us live in ways that are exploitative of the poor and dispossessed in the world, although most of us don't pay enough attention to know or care.
That said, it is possible to live large in ways that don't have the negative social and environmental effects of these examples. In fact, the rich are much better prepared to live far more socially conscious lives because they can afford the higher upfront prices of non-fossil fuel energy, of clothes made by unionized US garment manufacturers, of organic food, of more energy-efficient homes and appliances. And of course, they can also use their resources in ways that benefit the community.
Posted by: squeaky | May 7, 2008 1:27 PM
"Go ahead Kevin, spin this to say you can live large and love God."
You are conflating the possession of money with the love of money. It is possible to work hard, earn a good wage, and still love God. Until you make the case that this is not possible, no spin is necessary.
Jesus does not confer condemnation on the rich man for being rich, but for ignoring Lazarus.
You do not want to face the wrath of a God who heaps condemnation on those who "live large". Trust me. Everything is relative.
Posted by: kevin s. | May 7, 2008 2:33 PM
Question for kevin s. Why does Jesus say that "it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God."?
Posted by: ando | May 7, 2008 5:55 PM
ando - Jesus says that precisely for the reason squeaky mentions. It's very difficult to love God and have vast wealth at the same time. Wealth tempts one to the false idols of materialism, power, and trusting in one's own abilities rather than remaining humble and trusting in God. As Kevin said, it's not impossible to possess wealth and follow Christ, but, as Jesus said, it is harder.
Posted by: Eric | May 7, 2008 7:53 PM
Squeaky got it right. It is not having wealth that is the problem, but what one does with it. That is why I put the emphasis on living large rather than simply being rich. Living large is usually wasteful, although, as Squeaky points out, that is not necessarily so. There is only so much to go around and to use more than ones fair share is unchristian.
Posted by: Oak | May 8, 2008 12:26 AM
Yes -- Squeaky is right. It's not money that's the root of all evil-- it's the love of it. Solomon says the same thing.
I personally think it's very difficult to be content when you're struggling to pay your bills -- and not wasting your money. Or when you always have to tell your kids, "No we can't buy cereal this week". It's really easy to fall into sin when you're discontent too. People don't talk much about that in this context.
Posted by: frankie | May 8, 2008 10:45 AM
frankie - You're correct to point this out. There are also temptations to sin that plague those in need as well. If I found a wallet on the ground with $50 in it, I'd do my best to try to return it to the person who lost it with the money inside. If I was struggling to put food on my table for my children, I'll admit I'd be tempted to take the $50.
As Christians though, we can work to alleviate those temptations by providing for those in need. It's hard to alleviate the temptations that plague those with means.
Posted by: Eric | May 8, 2008 11:39 AM
I am including hte following two emails that came in from Yangon, Myanmar this morning for this reason alone. In the first note we are reminded that we should take no comfort in the things of this world, for they are merely temporary when see within the context of an eternal existence. That seems easier to say when we are only slightly inconvienced by everyday issues yet more difficult to deny when we are nearly swept from the face of this planet by a cyclone.
Dear Roger,
Internet access was down, now only I can email you again. Hope that you are getting better in these days. With our children we are always praying for your health.
At the time thousands of people lose their lives, by His protection, we are survived but our programs and plan of wedding was failed on Saturday and changed on Sunday. It turned to helping others in needs especially for our members. Since every one was busy with his own work, phone line and transportation problems caused by the storm and flood, so we just called a church pastor, Philip and Dante and only some of our neighbor and made wedding at home.
We learned so many lessons from those things happened. we felt that God has taught
us not to love the world neither the things that are in the world. It made clear that our earthly life is just really temporary and unreliable. Now, the city of Yangon and it's surrounding areas lose it's beautifulness. It has a lot of changes and different from the time you came to Myanmar.... [The prices] of things are getting higher day by day.
And unlimited numbers of outskirt people are in trouble because they are homeless and without food. By His grace in this time we have privileges to show our love, care and concern to our church members at Shwelinpan who are in trouble by giving rice and the funds they are really in need.
Among our members at Shwelinpan, two of the tents (houses) were fallen down and faded away. another one of the roof was destroyed. One was survived.
If we can not continue to supply their need, they will be without food and house. So, I let you know the condition of our church members at Shwelinpan. Beside, thousands of outskirt people are in great trouble. they can not solve the problems they have by their own.
Please pray that these things lead them to know and trust the Saviour alone.
Your brother in Christ
Elisha
______________________________________
Dear
Brother Roger:
I am so sorry that I could not give you information about us earlier.
I know that many people concern about our situation. We are saved.
Bryce Lodges One, Two and my family are saved. We do not suffer any serious damages.
But the prices are sky rocketed.
Thank you so much for your concern.
Prayer Requests:
1. Give thanks to God for He has saved us from this storm.
2. Pray for all the Bryce children for the coming admissions to the school. Usually,
admissions start about May 20.
Posted by: d.e.sharp | May 8, 2008 2:13 PM
"...it's not impossible to possess wealth and follow Christ, but, as Jesus said, it is harder."
It's not impossible to fit a camel through the eye of a needle, but it's difficult. :)
OK, I guess I'll leave it to the literalists to figure that out. I think Christ chose a rather humorous metaphor for making avery serious point. and as we see what is happening with foreclosures around the country, we ought to consider making this more of a "moral issue" than it is.
It's certainly not impossible to be rich and follow Christ, but I think putting free-market principles on the same level as Christian principles is clearly worshipping at the altar of mammon.
Posted by: I and I | May 8, 2008 5:18 PM
All these, "it is possible to be rich and love God comments", are clearly arising from the non-poor, probably from the West, and more than likely from those who have successfully coconeed themsleves from encountering real need.
How can you pour out you life in love for God and neighbour, jealously guarding 'your' possessions, while others are starving, without education, suffering under curable diseases... ?
Posted by: Adrian | May 9, 2008 8:11 AM
"Question for kevin s. Why does Jesus say that "it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God."?"
So, then, have you sold all of your possessions, or have you foresworn your place in the kingdom of heaven?
Posted by: kevin s. | May 10, 2008 12:35 AM
All you bible people and others: This statement Jesus made that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. This pertains that all the goods had to be unloaded of the camels back to enter into a city before such and such an hour or you could not enter because the gate being closed. So it is refering to a rich man that is hard to give up some of his goods because he believes it was a blessing that he had obtained by himself, and not matter on how he obtained it. So this is why the love of money, is idol worship.
Posted by: Sydney Mooradian | May 10, 2008 11:24 AM
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