When I was younger I would get in trouble with my parents every now and again while being disciplined my Dad would always ask me one particular question over all others and that question was, “Why?” I it used to confuse me as my Dad would be persistent with his questioning to the extent that the reason I did what I did became more important than what I had actually done. My Dad was keen to get me to think about what I had done and its consequences but most importantly he would always impress on me the attitude behind my action. This was always the most painful part of the process as the attitude behind an action revealed thought process I would rather was not revealed.
When I was younger I could not articulate the answer to this question very well and when my Dad would point it out it was difficult to accept. As I grew and matured I was better able to make the link and the revealing of the attitude behind my actions and my acceptance of its truth was a humbling process.
Jesus often links the external actions with their underlining attitudes. The basis of Jesus' challenging was in the revealing of the attitudes behind each action. Many passages reveal Jesus teaching on this very issue like this passage in Matthew.
“...what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” Matthew 15:17-19
It clear here Jesus is teaching that the attitude of the heart overflows in the action of the body.
These challenges of Jesus were particularly directed towards his followers as discipleship training but also to the Pharisees and teachers of the law condemning the actions of the nations religious leaders.
Today's passage is no different. Jesus looks to challenge the attitude of the disciples in knowing that their heavenly future has implications for today in their attitude towards money and stewardship of possessions. Ultimately their service towards God.
At first glance this passage is confusing. Is Jesus really condoning the actions of a dishonest manager? The key to this passage lies in the attitude of the steward and how that produces his actions. This steward is most likely a freeman who is responsible for managing the estate of his master. The steward would have the responsibility for administering the goods of the estate. He would have been given full authority to perform business deals on his master behalf. Reports however reach the master that his manager is incompetent. These charges brought against the steward were not friendly and have significant hostility attributed to them. The manager is accused of wasting the masters possessions. The accusation here is focused at the managers ability to disperse the resources under his control. He is being accused of being a poor manager. As the accusations of the managers inability to properly control the estate reaches the owner he acts quickly. The master calls the manager to himself. There is no hint of a questioning of the accusation but simply a pronouncement of the stewards lack of management ability. He is just asked one last thing before he is laid off and that is to wrap up the accounts. The steward was obviously aware of his failed management of the estate as he never even attempted to defend himself.
What is a manager to do if he has been fired for badly managing. His prospects are slim and he knows it. He is not keen on the idea of becoming manual labourer. After rising to the position of the white collar job to be reduced to the less honourable position of a menial job does not excite him. The only other option would be to beg, a shameful option at that. No he must think of another way. Because of his pride he resorts to dishonesty in order to secure his future. He suddenly becomes very shrewd about his future. An ability he failed to apply to the management of his masters estate. Suddenly the realisation of a bleak future changes the attitude of the manager. His previously lax attitude caused his action of poor management. He had no consideration of the future. His complacency cost him his job. But he comes to himself and his attitude has a complete turn around. Suddenly he has a very clear realisation about what his future holds. He realises that without an attitude change from no consideration of the future to an attitude dominated to the consideration of the future. His present attitude will end up in a place he doesn't want to be. He acts shrewdly out of his new change of heart and works to win favour of his masters debtors.
Here is the twist. The master discovers his scheming and commends him for it. Surely he is not commending his dishonesty? No, it is clear the steward is referred to as the “dishonest manager.” So what is the master commending him for? Well he commends him for his attitude change. No longer is the steward lax in his work with no consideration for how his actions will affect the future. Now the steward has a clear view of the future and is working in response to it.
It is this attitude that Jesus explains in 8b. As Christians what is our response to our heavenly future? What is the driving force behind the decision making that we do every day? Is it the future we have in heaven or is it the daily comforts of everyday life?
“And I tell you” Jesus said. “make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” These riches, this wealth that we find ourselves stewards of, this is not to be hoarded and used selfishly but instead it is to be used to make friends. Our possessions are to be used relationally. This is ultimately a worship issue. Jesus when talking to the Samaritan woman at the well pronounced that worship would no longer be restricted to the temple but would be a worship in spirit and truth. A worship in spirit is a worship that is eternity focused. We are to worship knowing where we are headed. A worship in truth is a relational worship. God is truth and the core of the trinity is relational. We are to worship relationally to God and to one another. To use our wealth and possessions unrighteously is to go against the worship God the Father calls us to. Instead of a worship in spirit with an eternal focus its a worship in the flesh with a worldly focus hoarding wealth for temporary treasure. Instead of a worship in truth focused relationally its a worship in self with a selfish focus hoarding wealth for self.
Our attitude directs our action. If in our attitude we are faithful in little then our attitude will cause us to be faithful in much. If in our attitude we are dishonest in little then our attitude will cause us to be dishonest in much. If our attitude causes us to be unfaithful with our worldly wealth how can our attitude be trusted with true eternal riches. If our attitude causes us to be unfaithful in that which is another's how can that attitude be trusted with that which is given to us as our own.
Our attitude reveals our heart and with our heart we worship. Will we worship in spirit and truth serving God or will we worship in flesh and in self, serving the idols of wealth and possessions.
Jesus is the most amazing example of worshipping in spirit and truth. He was completely eternally and relationally focused. All that he had physically, emotionally and spiritually he gave for our sake knowing what lay in eternity for us without his sacrifice on the cross. Jesus has bought us a future that we could not have achieved without him. Through what Jesus has done we can now worship in spirit and in truth and this is the attitude that Jesus was challenging his disciples to. He also challenges us as Christians. Knowing that our future is secure let us choose attitudes that lives in light of that future. Let all our actions be attuned to a life lived with an eternal and relational focus. Everything from our relationship with God the Father and with family and friends, work colleagues and those we even just bump into. Our spending habits and our time management and with everything that we are.
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