Luke 16:1-9

“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.” vs. 8

In this strange parable from Jesus the dishonest manager is commended for his shrewdness–he had adjusted the accounts of debtors to insure their kindness when he was fired from his job. It’s not an easy parable to understand–we can wonder why Jesus even told it! He seems to be telling his disciples that sometimes they can learn from the ways people use money in the world. Even dishonest folks can teach important lessons. In fact, when it comes to making wise decisions in this world, people of faith can be woefully ignorant. Just because we know Jesus doesn’t mean we’re going to understand how money works. This could even mean that choosing a financial advisor because they’re Christian may not necessarily be the best idea. We can know a lot about a person if we know the level of their spiritual connections, but we won’t necessarily know their competencies. One of the great blessings that we have as followers of Jesus is the opportunity we have to associate with people of all stripes. Like Jesus we’ll be hanging out with saints and sinners, and many times it’ll be the sinners who have the most to teach us. Indeed, we regularly learn more from unbelievers about the pitfalls of wealth than we do from anyone else. Often they’re the ones with hands-on experience–and we’d be fools if we didn’t listen to them!

Thought for the Day: Who taught me the most about financial matters?

1 Timothy 2:5-7

“For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human…” vs. 5

As time passed the early Christians continued to reflect on the person of Jesus and his connection to God. By the time this letter was written probably in the late first century, (and most likely not by Paul), there was some agreement that there was but one God, but that the man Jesus, who was called the Christ, served as a mediator between God and humanity. Since then there has been considerable debate about the relationship of the human and the divine in Jesus, and arguments have at times been tendentious to the extreme. In reality there has been little gained from our constant wrangling. And having a proper understanding of Christology does not make one a follower of Jesus! It is enough to know that we encounter the enfleshed Christ in Jesus–he is the incarnation of God’s steadfast love and mercy. By focusing on the words and deeds of Jesus we learn as much about God as we need to know–and we learn how to live as God’s children in this world. And as we imitate the Christ revealed in Jesus, we actually become the presence of the Christ for our time and place. Those early Christians didn’t get everything right, e.g. they were dead wrong about the place of women in the Church, but they were right about Jesus. Jesus Christ is the core of the gospel message!

Thought for the Day: How much effort do I devote to following Jesus?

1 Timothy 2:1-4

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.” vss. 1-2

It only took about 3 centuries for the Roman Emperor to discover that the Church could be a powerful ally in maintaining control throughout the Empire. When the Church was offered legal status and bishops began to rule like princes believers were told to offer supplication and prayers for rulers and all in high positions. With the support of the Church the Empire promised a quiet and peaceable life to all citizens. This powerful alliance between Church and State operated for many centuries in one form or another and wasn’t really challenged until the Age of Enlightenment and the move toward a more secular society. There are some who still yearn for those “good old days” and who would love to see a return to that close connection between Christianity and political rule. Now it’s certainly proper for us to offer prayer for government officials and assemblies in our congregation. They have important decisions to make and need support and guidance. But that doesn’t mean giving up our prophetic role of speaking truth to power. There’ll always be tension in the relationship of Church and State, but both operate most effectively when there is as complete a separation as is possible.

Thought for the Day: What’s dangerous about having a State Church?

 Psalm 113:5-9

“He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap,to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.” vss. 7-8

The psalmist believed that the Lord sat on high and looked down on the heavens and the earth. In a word, the Lord was high and lifted up. We might not describe the presence of the Lord in the universe in the same fashion as the psalmist, but we do share his conviction that the Divine Presence is greater than all creation. And with him we also believe that the Lord is intensely interested in our human interactions. More particularly, like him, we believe that the Lord cares about the condition of the poor and the needy–or at least that’s what we say we believe! Granted, there are millions of Christ-followers who are committed to lifting up the down-trodden–we know it by the work they do, the generous outpouring of funds provided for humanitarian efforts. But so many in all of our religions pay only lip-service to such concerns. What they really care about are the wealthy folks! Every advantage is given to those who already have more than they could possibly need. A few people control the vast majority of the earth’s resources, and their share is getting even greater. Now the rich aren’t likely to get punished for their greed and acquisitive nature–but imagine what could happen if they had a change of heart? One day it will happen–God will not be denied–and there truly will be heaven on earth.

Thought for the Day: Why should I care about the poor and needy?

Psalm 113:1-4

“From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised.” vs. 3

Now that we’ve figured out how to overcome darkness with artificial illumination we’re in danger of falling out of sync with the natural rhythms of the earth. There was a time when we marked our days by the rising and the setting of the sun, and they varied in length with the seasons of the year. That was the world of the psalmist and he recommended that those hours of daylight be lived to the glory of God. Such days begin with rejoicing as the predawn rays of the sun begin to erode the darkness and the stars disappear from sight. This is a good time–and it’s fitting in these moments to offer the Lord a greeting. Every day is precious and a special gift from God! And though our days often seem routine we can be sure they’ll be full of Christ’s presence. We’ll be guided and supported every step of the way–of course there’ll be challenges–there always are, such is the nature of our call. But when we’re walking in the name of the Lord those missteps become part of the adventure–and all is good! And then comes the evening, a time for sharing at the table and checking in with loved ones. We’re tired, and welcome the encroaching darkness and the return of the stars. We’re ready for sleep and offer our prayers of praise and supplication. And then we rest, a precious foretaste of the peace that is to come.

Thought for the Day: What’s the rhythm of my day?

Amos 8:4-7

“Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, saying, ‘When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practice deceit with false balances…’” vss. 4-5

When Amos wandered out of Judah into the kingdom of Israel bring with him a word from the Lord, he was likely blown away by the wealth and prosperity he encountered. These were the golden years of King Jeroboam II, the glory years of Israel. Amos was not impressed with Israel’s riches and believed that they had been gained at the expense of the poor. Clever business leaders were exploiting the masses by manipulating the exchange rates and operating a multitude of scams. It was the rich who had prospered and their greed knew no bounds. This sad story hasn’t changed much through the centuries. Today we’re regularly reminded of oligarchs, hedge fund managers, and corporate raiders who use politicians and lobbyists to tilt the economic playing field in their favor. Always it’s the poor who pay the price–lacking a voice and without political capital there’s little they can do to avoid exploitation. Thankfully Amos-like prophets regularly show up to speak on their behalf. It’s good to know that at least some still share that biblical vision of an equitable distribution of wealth. We pray that their warnings will be heard!

Thought for the Day: How much am I willing to share with the poor?

Luke 15:8-10

“Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” vs. 10

Jesus found great joy in his associations with sinners and so do we! In fact, it’s a well-known fact that sinners are a lot more fun than righteous folk. With the righteous we always have to be on our toes with regard to what we say or do. But sinners really don’t care–we can be ourselves and find total acceptance. There’s nothing to hide or fear. And as we let down our guards in conversation we’ll hear the most amazing tales of depravity and redemption, of being lost and found. In our little Sinners Anonymous groups (because that’s what they are) we learn to tell the truth and to listen without judgement, and in the process we are bound together in unbelievable ways. The very best stories will be the ones that describe the joy of being found, of finally discovering that the authentic person who lives deep inside each of us doesn’t need to stay hidden. As our true selves emerge in that context of love they are reunited with the Divine Presence and restored by the promises of forgiveness and hope. Some of us are blessed to belong to congregations that fit this 12 Step description, and we cherish our weekly experiences with fellow Non-Pretenders. Joy abounds and hugs are genuine as we gather with Jesus at his Table–and there’s never a question about whether we belong. 

Thought for the Day: Why do people leave congregations when their lives get messed up?

Luke 15:1-7

“Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’” vss. 1-2

Jesus had grown up in a rigidly dualistic religious system, one that carefully pointed out differences between good and evil behavior, and that also labelled people as being either righteous or sinners. As his activities became known to religious leaders many were interested in what he had to say–according to their categories he quite obviously was a righteous man. But they couldn’t figure out why he wasn’t more careful in his associations–he rejected their dualistic religious system and welcomed sinners into his table fellowship. Later on as followers of Jesus continued his ministry they had a hard time not falling back into the old ways. It’s just so comfortable to see the world from a Pharisaic point of view–we love to label ourselves and others as good or bad and making judgments about whether people are in or out. It can even make sense to see what’s happening in the world as a massive struggle between the forces of good and the forces of evil. In our day politicians are exploiting that tendency bigtime and have succeeded in creating a huge divide in our society. From the Jesus perspective such divisions are appalling. We are called instead to embrace the other and see ourselves as a singular force for good in the world. In Christ there is neither sinner nor righteous; all are one body!

Thought for the Day: How do I embrace the other in my daily living? 

1 Timothy 1:15-17 

“The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.” vs. 15

During his ministry the gospels report that Jesus had a passion for sinners, those people who had been systematically excluded from full participation in religious activities. He regularly ate with them and didn’t hesitate to offer them healing and hope. Sometimes he told them directly that their sins had been forgiven. In his early years Paul would not have identified with sinners–he would have been quite at home with the righteous. But now that he had been personally exposed to the Light of Christ, he embraced a new identity–not only was he a sinner, he was the foremost of sinners! There are many who aren’t comfortable with such expressions of sinfulness–they’d rather think of themselves in more positive terms. In their minds, identifying as a sinner breeds self-loathing and generates poor self-esteem. But that certainly wasn’t the case for Paul and it needn’t be so for us either. Indeed, acknowledging our sinfulness opens the way for healing and a saving relationship with Jesus. We needn’t gloat about the awful things we’ve done, but neither should we be reluctant to admit that we’ve wandered away from goodness. As Paul says in Romans 3, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The good news is that in Christ such a confession includes us in the community of saints–and never excludes us!

Thought for the Day: Where do I rank in the hierarchy of sinners?

1 Timothy 1:12-14

“But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” vss. 13b-14

While some question whether Paul actually wrote the letters to Timothy that are attributed to him, there’s little doubt that they give us valuable information about his background and call. Because of his strong religious convictions he had been an active persecutor of Christians and had participated in the stoning death of Stephen, the first martyr. Later, he doesn’t excuse or deny his behavior, nor is he paralyzed by guilt–he says he had acted in ignorance and unbelief. Change came for him through an encounter, not with an angry God, but with the loving and merciful Christ. He experienced transforming grace and became an active servant of the gospel. Some of us have had similar experiences. Like Paul we’ve grown up with a narrow interpretation of scripture that reeks of legalism. We’re quick to condemn and zealous in pointing out the errors of others–and then one day the living Christ emerges and the scales fall from our eyes. Our hearts are opened to others and grace overflows in our daily living as we reach out in love to everyone we meet. As we grow older it’s almost embarrassing to consider the rigidity and ignorance of our youthful days. We were so confident and certain–we had all the answers. What a relief it is to put those certainties aside and learn to trust totally in our merciful Lord!

Thought for the Day: When have I acted in ignorance?