After experiencing a banking crisis as a banker, I opted to work for a federal banking agency. People all over the country were struggling with what to do when their local bank closed its doors ... often, forever. I decided I would rather resolve banking crises than be pummeled by them.
Times of crisis, particularly those related to money, give rise to many interesting things, one of which is “debt forgiveness.” Now, perhaps you’re thinking, “Why would anyone who is owed money want to forgive that debt? Wouldn’t they want it all paid back?” Yes, surprising no one (I hope), people who lend money would like to have their money back. But, in tough times, even the well intentioned may lack the resources to repay all of what they, in good faith, borrowed. My employer’s view: half a loaf is better than none. Better, in our thinking, to forgive some of the debt than to collect none of it. And so, we sometimes allowed people to “write down” their indebtedness to a lower amount.
We forgave some of their debt.
That brings me to the streetwise manager in the parable Jesus tells in Luke. Upon getting caught squandering his employer’s money, he is fired. To soften the impact of this abrupt change in his soft life, he forgives a portion of the debt owed his employer by some major debtors. He allowed them to reduce their debt for his own benefit, not his employer’s. His hope was to be welcomed into their homes once his employer cut him loose.
It was a shrewd move.
Shockingly, Jesus wants us to imitate the guy!
Read what Jesus told his disciples (from THE MESSAGE): ““Now here’s a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way —but for what is right— using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.””
(Luke 16:8-9 MSG - https://www.bible.com/bible/97/luk.16.8-9.msg)
To be clear, Jesus is not advocating we be dishonest like the self-centered manager, but rather to be smart and alert as we traverse this life. Jesus doesn’t call us to a life of passivity. We are to be actively seeking, every day, opportunities to do good, to do right.
Creative survival: it’s just another way of saying, “Be wise as serpents, harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16)
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PHOTO: Steve Orr
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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Proper 20 (25) (September 22, 2019)
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//texts.php?id=280
Jeremiah 8:18-9:1
Psalm 79:1-9
Amos 8:4-7
Psalm 113
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Luke 16:1-13
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Friday mornings at DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast are special. Starting at 8:00, we take an hour to eat, pray, read scripture, and engage us some fascinating discussions. We meet at Our Breakfast Place (formerly Egg and I). You should join us.
Blessings,
Steve
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