| February 08, 2009
You are welcome to reflect on this message
Today’s text calls for “unscrewing the inscrutable,” because is allows as how sometimes it pays to be dishonest. It flies against everything we’ve been taught, as Jesus illustrates a good lesson from a bad example. We all know there are times when its wise not to tell the whole truth. If your wife says, “How do I look in my new dress?” You don’t wanta go there. “Oh its lovely dear, fingers crossed!” Anybody whose told the strict truth and later wished they hadn’t, knows various degrees of fuzzy dishonesty are tolerated in our land, as long as it doesn’t cross the line. Granted, this isn’t the highwater mark of Jesus’ teachings, but at least he’s aware of life’s subtleties; that there’s more than meets the eye, because all of us are mixtures. So sometimes it’s advantageous to fudge the truth. But never not to be genuine or authentic. Biblical rascals like Sarah, Jacob or David are not cited for their “virtue,” but because of their strong desires. Sarah wanted her son Isaac to prevail over Hagar’s Ishmael, and they’re still fighting over that one. Jacob envied his big brother Esau’s blessing, enough to cheat to get it. And David lusted after Bathsheba, manipulating, deceiving, and murdering to get her.Their cravings brought them a heap of well-deserved trouble. But it also kept them tantalizingly alive. It was their strong aspirations that propelled them in ways that God could use ... a heckuva lot better than those timid souls, who wouldn’t dare “color outside the lines.”
Today’s story is about a first century Donald Trump who hires a shady character, to speculate on the commodities market with the boss’ money. This guy’s no dummie, and he did quite well in his gamble. But after the boss caught him, the jigs up, and he demanded an audit. But it turned out to be a good move financially, because it not only endeared him to his customers, but gained favor with the boss for collecting the cash. The surprise is, instead of being fired, he gets a salute! Jesus commends Mr. Slick, “Would that the children of light were as wise ... as the children of this age.” This is the kind of person Jesus cites as a model for discipleship! Not because of his questionable ethics, but because he had no fear in moving on with life and his creativity in making it happen. Jesus was addressing his disciples and had to admit that the “sons of this age” had more going for them than the “children of light.” What on earth is he saying? Let’s look at it. First, he’s a practical guy, with sound survival instincts. He knew how to land on his feet when life pulled the rug out from under him. To make it in this world, you better develop something of what he had. His character’s not very high on the totem pole, but Jesus doesn’t let his imperfections hide his admirable qualities, like we do. We have a bad habit of remembering people for what they did wrong. And we do it with the church: letting what’s wrong with the church blind us from what’s right about God. On most occasions, Jesus chose to be truthful rather than tactful, when it’s impossible to be both. But this story indicates that if Jesus had to choose between honesty and realism, he’d take realism.
Risk-takers appealed to Jesus. He seems to almost envy this guy! At least a “child of darkness” is honest with himself, if not his boss. He wastes no time rationalizing or whining like a victim for getting himself caught. "Look, I'm too old to dig ditches and too proud to beg." “Life’s not fair, so I'm justified in falsifying the scales now and then." "If y’all want an example of how to be a disciple, be like ol’ wily coyote here. You may need to overlook his character. But he's got something worth emulating." He had no illusions about how the world works. And Jesus stops in his tracks. And the "children of light?" They play by the rules. But soft-minded thinking will get you taken to the cleaners more often than not. This realistic manager had the gumption to look out for himself because he had street sense. Even if he had to pad the scales to pull it off. My guess is Jesus got the idea for telling this story from his ancestor David the King, perhaps the Bible’s most famous “scoundrel.” Good at kinging, lousy at fathering and even worse at husbanding. In spite of his weaknesses, he was a man “after God’s own heart.” Something about David God just loved. Nathan the prophet was more negative, but his role was to hold David accountable. Jesus had David’s blood flowing thru his veins. St. Paul, a preacher who spent more time in jail than in the pulpit, said: “We have this treasure in earthen vessels.” Well whatever treasure this guy had, it sure was earthy! But earthiness didn’t bother God. Another outstanding trait is this man’s resourcefulness. He's been fired by the boss, so he has to think on his feet. “I can’t undo the past, so what do I have at my disposal that can help me out of this crunch? I’ve got it, I'll offer my investors a deal they can't refuse!" To one guy he says, "You owe me 100 gallons of olive oil? Reduce it to 50." He's giving up half of his commission. To another he says, "How many bushels of wheat?" "100." "Cut it to 80." 20% commission on that one. And presto--a little “book-cooking,” and he’s off the hook! This is not to say the preacher said it’s OK to cheat! Just that Jesus said, "Hey, there’s something about this guy!" His drivenness to succeed; his creativity making it happen is what caught Jesus' eye, not his deceit. It shows how Jesus looks up on us, not down on us.
Soon as he loses his job he goes into scramble-mode with energy, intelligence and forethought. And Jesus confesses to his disciples, "the sons of this age are more prudent toward their generation than the children of light." They work at honing their survival skills. Laboring early and late and when the hard day’s over, spend more time on their homework. They’re undaunted in the face of unemployment. Their devotion to getting by is all-absorbing. They tax themselves beyond the limits. They may not be “harmless as doves,” but they’re sure “wise as serpents.” Then he turns to his enlightened ones and says wistfully: "I wish y’all worked as hard on developing your faith as this fellow does at getting by."
Jesus praised this foreman because he looked forward not backward. That’s the direction God is going. And when we aren’t, that’s why we miss it. He had a good “forgetter,” and didn’t spend a lot of rear-view mirror time. He made a mistake and burned that bridge behind him. Trump says “You’re fired!” He immediately starts making preparations by cultivating friends. He negotiates with his buddies in anticipation of a time when all he’d have was their good will. And Jesus said, “Listen up!” Make whatever resources you have work for you, because there will come a day when money won’t matter.
I think Jesus liked this man because he did what the one talent man (Matthew 25) refused to do. Invest it: risk losing it for a greater cause. Make it work for you, make it your friend, not your oppressor. “Y’all better learn from that,” Jesus said. When you get in trouble in business or anyplace else, friends are crucial. Somebody that’ll stand by you through a tough time. You never forget them. There is no value that can be placed on somebody who helps you out of a jam. Here’s a guy whose reputation was mud, but he was blessed with “laser-beam commitment.” That’s what Jesus wants his church to be like. This man took a bleak future and worked at it with an imperfect faith at best. And by hook-or-crook, and single-mindedness, he channeled all his energy into it and succeeded.
No doubt folks can take issue with this biblical story: it’s just a little story with a big point. I hope ya’ll got it. You can’t push the details too far. A lot of Jesus parables come off to me like jokes. And with parables or jokes, if you have to explain them, they’ve already missed the point.
This story says something about sin, doesn’t it? God is a lot more at home with imperfection than we are. The “children of light” get bogged down in ritual, in love with their methods, that often shows up as moralism. But God expects growth and improvement. Does that mean to refuse to change is a bigger sin than cheating? According to Jesus apparently so.
Jesus is offering some good advice about an uncertain future. What other kind is there? None of us knows what’s coming. When you get to be my age, things start happening to our bodies, our friends die, our families grow up. So if there’s something out there you intend to do, you better do it now, because today could be “the day” for any one of us. All that’s at our disposal is to make something out of what we have and be ready to meet whatever comes tomorrow. I hope your coming to worship in the Meeting House helps you to do that. 'Cause we’re gonna need what this guy has, a lot more than money.
I think Jesus got a kick out of telling this story. He loved watching folks raise their eyes over what he said. But when “push comes to shove,” Jesus believed it’s better to be a resourceful rascal than a righteous backbencher! If the Gospel of Luke is any indication, God prefers a bold sinner over a timid saint any day! He wants us to be human. No more, no less. To take the gifts God’s given to us and put them to use. And to not dread the future, even though ol’ Yogi says: ‘The future ain’t what it used to be!” The Bible says, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” So we stride into it with confidence, not because of our abilities, but because of the grace of God.
Nobody seized the future like Jesus. He grabbed life with both hands, and trudged up Calvary’s hill carrying a cross over his shoulder. What kind of future is that? But he never looked back, said “Don’t weep for me!” Because he trusted absolutely in the One to whom the future belongs. He kept muttering something about “the 3rd day.” The 3rd day? What was it he said? “Into thy hands I commit my spirit.” And anybody who follows somebody like that definitely has a future!
Pastoral Prayer: 2/8/09
The soul of this world is weary. Too many are living in the past, which is half-living. Because of our apprehension about the future, it stymies us in the present. We keep doing the same things, and expecting life to change. There’s no map to show us the way, except what we can glean from Jesus’ teachings. Let it absorb us today so we can serve Thee better tomorrow.
We pray for wisdom to enable us to make sound judgments based on the best we know. Give us clarity amidst the confusion that pulls us is opposite directions at once. Keep our minds and wills fixed on Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith.” We thank Thee for our church, and all that it means in our lives; for the difference its made in our community for a long time, and every individual who makes it their business to further your cause. For sacrifices made on behalf of those in need; for our mission efforts; and every endeavor to make Jesus real in people’s lives today.
The heart of this world is hollow. We see only the outward appearances, but you know our hearts. You see how hard we try. “Your eye is on the sparrow...” As well as the grieving, the indifferent, the suffering; all who are facing difficult decisions, in matters of health, or income, or more appropriate places to live. Be a blessing to all who are far from us today. Be an inspiration to all who are near. Grant us courage. Remind us of the resurrection hope that surrounds the saints, and may we live like we believe it.
The mind of this world is caught up with power and wealth and status and easy-believism, instant gratification. That’s what still turns heads around here. May this worship enlighten our minds, and impact the way we think or don’t think.Give us the “mind of Christ” so we give ourselves more to what we give than what we get. Grant us better understanding because of this worship, to be more sympathetic and less judgmental. May all our attempts to do church in this place be honorable and worthy. Temper our ambition with Thy servant-spirit. Remind us of our salvation and whose we are. In Jesus’ name. Amen. |
