Kid's Ministry Coffee Break | A Few Minutes of Spiritual Refreshment for Children & Youth Ministers.
Religion & Spirituality:Christianity
"LUKE 16:1-13 REFLECTION (part 1) - Act Cleverly" Kids Ministry Coffee Break 70: In the serious moments of our lives we focus in on what is more important--a practice we should always take seriously.
"LUKE 16:1-13 REFLECTION 'Act Cleverly'" Kids Ministry Coffee Break 70: In the serious moments of our lives we often can focus in on what is more important--a practice we should take seriously now. The parable of the shrewd manager is one of the more puzzling of our 3rd Gospel account. Understanding it as a parable helps us let go of this being solely about money. While the following passages are about money, this is about something deeper. Essentially, we could treat this as an example of someone in a desperate situation having a willingness to act in a way that they wouldn’t otherwise. It’s commonly understood that accruing debt in olive oil and wheat was a tactic used by the rich man to accrue interest without breaking the biblical which forbade accruing interest from loaning money. The law referred to money, not goods…so accruing interest in goods was a loophole. The common thought is that the manager reduced the interest amount of the goods…which is why the reduction is a different amount. The rich man commends the manager because he knows he reduced an amount which the rich man will not add back because the debtors could accuse him of breaking the interest law. It’s strange…but it helps it make sense. Why wouldn’t the manager have reduced the amount before now? Because he earned off of the interest. But if he’s losing his job, what does it matter anymore? Actually, reducing it would earn him favor in the eyes of the debtors who would feel obligated to take care of him if he approached them with a request for help. It was a brilliant move. The rich man even acknowledge that much. So…it’s a parable. We presume the rich man represents God and the manager is Israel. Israel has been squandering the property of God (notice this is the same phrase used in the previous parable of the lost sons). Israel has not been faithful and now things are getting dire. This Gospel account was written in the context of the world post-Jewish Revolt where Rome eventually destroyed everything including the Temple. Jesus was always trying to get Israel to STOP picking a fight with Rome—he knew that wouldn’t end well. When things are dire…focus on what really matters and ACT CLEVERLY!! —people not of the faith are clever…so people of faith should be that much more clever!! So what are we facing today that is dire? Where are things headed in the wrong direction in our ministry? Where are things headed in the wrong direction in our relationships? It’s not too late to re-focus our priorities and make sure that we seek to heal relationships over whatever else often steals our focus. It’s relationships that matter, for Jesus. Make peace with your accuser on the way to the judge, he says… Don’t offer a sacrifice until you’ve made peace with your sister or brother with whom you have a quarrel, he says another time… ACT CLEVERLY. Be commended. Be trustworthy with what really matters in our lives. Do it now…before things get worse. This is a strange parable, but when we are in a time when this message is needed, it makes all the sense in the world. I hope you’re not in a situation where there is a dire need to heed this call, but if you are…ACT CLEVERLY my friends. Message brought to you by Rev. Joseph Sanford of Sanford Curriculum (Student ministry resources available on The Sunday School Store written by he and Lauren Sanford). Music by The Muse Maker https://sundayschool.store/products/true-contentment-lesson
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