Kingdom Building

September 21, 2019

Scripture Reading:
Luke 16:1-13

Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, “What is this that I hear about you? Give me an account of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.” Then the manager said to himself, “What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.” So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, “How much do you owe my master?” He answered, “A hundred jugs of olive oil.” He said to him, “Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.” Then he asked another, “And how much do you owe?” He replied, “A hundred containers of wheat.” He said to him, “Take your bill and make it eighty.” And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd, in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. –Luke 16:1-9

Recent news stories about wealthy parents who bought their children’s way into acceptance at prestigious universities flashed through my mind as I read this parable. Indeed, the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. Getting caught is the sin—missing the mark—of the world. God did not call us to be naive. Jesus tells us we must be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves*.

David understood the ways of the world which allowed him to overcome them. Most often that was on the battlefield, but he was a clever politician and diplomat. Our challenge today is to use our talents and skills wisely as we work to fulfill God’s vision for the world God created. The stories of David recorded in the Bible books of Samuel constantly refer to David as maintaining communications with God. He certainly proved that he was not a perfect man but he never relented in keeping his relationship with God.

Several of those parents who attempted to bribe their children’s way into college have plead guilty, made apologies, and are now trying to right their relationships with their children.  Life usually brings us many opportunities to renew and restore our relationship with God, we need to seek them as we journey toward a better world.

Prayer: Lord, as we see the shrewdness of the world, help us to shine your light of love around it and convert it into the wisdom of your Kingdom. Amen.

*Matthew 10:16

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.