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Discussion Questions
- What surprises you about how what the Warrens are doing with their
lottery winnings? What doesn’t surprise you?
- How does their story compare with the stories of other people who have
suddenly become rich (and/or famous)?
- Imagine that you are a friend of the Warrens. What advice would offer
about what to do with their lottery winnings?
- In what ways can having money turn someone into a “different person”?
Why do you think that happens?
- Do you find that your friends treat you differently based on how much
money you have or how generous you are?
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Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, September 23, 2007.
(Text links are to
oremus Bible
Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings
for Year C at
Lectionary Readings.)
Amos 8:4-7
Psalm 113
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Luke 16:1-13
For lectionary humor and insight, check
the weekly comic
Agnus
Day.
Gospel Reflection
Jesus teaches by telling stories that have a surprising twist. In this
story, a manager is accused of mismanagement. The manager was accountable for
his employer’s property. He was supposed to manage the assets, investing them
wisely, and protecting them from damage, loss, or theft. He was supposed to be a
good steward of his employer’s riches, putting them to good use for the benefit
of their owner. Instead, he was being charged with “squandering” his employer’s
property. (Note that this is the same verb that Luke’s gospel uses in
15:13 to describe what the
prodigal son did when he demanded his share of the inheritance and went off to a
distant country.)
The rich man demands that his manager come see him and account for his
actions. Knowing that he is about to get fired, the manager talks to himself and
develops a plan of action (16:3-4)
to get him out of the trouble he finds himself in. (Note that the prodigal son
in Luke 15:17-19 also talks
to himself and develops a plan of action to get out of the trouble he finds
himself in.) The manager decides to help himself by helping his employer’s
debtors. Before the manager goes to see his boss, he quickly calls each of the
debtors in and forgives a portion of their debt. He tells the one who used to
owe 100 jugs of oil that now he only owes half of that, and the one who used to
owe 100 bushels of wheat that he now only owes 80% of that.
Although you would think that this would get him into even more trouble with
his boss, instead, the employer commends him for being shrewd. This is the
surprising twist. In the end, the manager is commended for using his employer’s
money to make friends. The manager is already losing his job, so he has nothing
more to lose and everything to gain by this bold action. The result is that the
ones whom the manager had helped are now obligated to help him once he loses his
job and is in need. They will “owe him one” because of the favor he did for them
in forgiving their debts while he had the chance. They will remember what he did
for them, and will be more likely to help him when he needs it. And they may
even come to recognize this as a surprisingly generous act of the rich man to
whom they are indebted. Like the prodigal son in
Luke 15:11-32, who laid a
premature claim to his inheritance, squandered it, and was surprisingly welcomed
back home, this manager is surprisingly commended, and will be welcomed into the
homes of his new friends (16:9).
Ultimately, this story isn’t about business ethics or how to get away with a
crime. This is a story about grace, and it’s a story about what money is “good
for.” We aren’t told what the manager did to squander the money in the first
place. It doesn’t matter whether he embezzled it or simply wasted it. What
matters is what comes after that. He is commended when he uses the resources
entrusted to him to help others and make friends. Perhaps the message here is
for us to lay claim to God’s grace and be bold in sharing it with others.
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Discussion Questions
- In what ways do people use money to influence their relationships with
others? In what ways is that good? In what ways is that bad?
- What surprises you about this story? What troubles you? What puzzles
you?
- What does this story suggest to you about being generous? About being
bold?
- What similarities do you see between this story of the dishonest manager
and the story of the prodigal son? In what ways are the two stories
different?
- Where do you see God in this story? What do you think it means that “you
cannot serve God and wealth” (16:13)?
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Activity Suggestions
Resources for teaching youth about stewardship and responsible use of
money:
-
10-10-80 (Share 10%, Save 10%, Spend 80%)
Closing Prayer
(Prayer for “the proper use of wealth,” Evangelical Lutheran Worship,
page 80)
God of abundance, you have poured out a large measure of earthly
blessings: our table is richly furnished, our cup overflows, and we live in
safety and security. Teach us to set our hearts on you and not these material
blessings. Keep us from becoming captivated by prosperity, and grant us the
wisdom to use your blessings to your glory and the service of humankind; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Contributed by Pastor Julie A. Kanarr
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Port Angeles, Washington
Permission
to reproduce for local use. Copyright © 2007 Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America. ELCA Youth
Ministries. 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2447. To offer your comments or responses to Faith Lens,
e-mail: rod.boriack@elca.org.
Program Resources
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