Grace for Giving

How a man lost it all....

Lazarus; poor, in total need...how do we walk by those in need for some many days, how do we feast in front of the needy with out noticing poverty?

Key Images: Pearly gate, or gate of judgement

Context:

Then Pharisees who love money, hate this interpretation, as it makes them squeamish. They share the values of the rich manager, they see themselves as possessors of Gods kingdom and feel fine about using to enrich their lives. They see themselves as perhaps entitled to certain kids of blessings or benefits. In any event, they dont have an issue with the guy being rich.

Rich man who wastes possessions that do not belong to him, they are "his bosses" things and he treats them as his own...

He essentially uses his master reputation to set himself up, and the master allows this to happen.

He is in control, gets accused of bad business practices, then, while he still has access to the books (master has not yet told his business associates that he has sacked his manager, or has not done so publicly.

"he summons" and sack him privately. Perhaps trying to protect his reputation in the public sphere, does not want a scene, as it involves his business interests.

Lexham English Bible Chapter 16

16 And he also said to the disciples, “A certain man was rich, who had a manager. And charges were brought to him that this person was squandering his possessions. 2 And he summoned him and* said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give the account of your management, because you can no longer manage.’ 3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What should I do, because my master is taking away the management from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg. 4 I know what I should do, so that when I am removed from the management they will welcome me into their homes!’ 5 And he summoned each one of his own master’s debtors and* said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 And he said, ‘A hundred measures of olive oil.’ So he said to him, ‘Take your promissory note and sit down quickly and* write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ And he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your promissory note and write eighty.’ 8 And the master praised the dishonest manager, because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are shrewder than the sons of light with regard to their own generation. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it runs out they will welcome you into the eternal dwellings.

10 “The one who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful with unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?* 12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you your own? 13 No domestic slave is able to serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and will despise the other. You are not able to serve God and money.”

A man at a loss