Sometimes during my bible study time I have questions. My thing for words, their meaning and proper usage sometimes get me in trouble. Like most people I many times think I know the correct definition of a word and all it's shades of meaning. I don't. So, I and Mr. Webster have to confer with each other.
Now, where the trouble comes in is that when we get together my mind goes ballistic. I want to know the meaning of the words used to define the original word I looked up. There is a method to my madness. See, I was taught never to define a word using the word. Dictionaries today do just that.
Today was no different. Luke 16 Jesus tells of a steward accused of mishandling his employer's wealth.
He's called in for an audit and told that he is about to lose his job.. Now in verse 4, he resolves to speak with his employer's debtors. He makes a deal with them to change their invoices to look like they owe less then they do.
Now when his employer checks the accounts he praises him. The employer calls him shrewd (NKJV). that sounds like he may have been impressed with the way his employee handled business. Jesus comments that the sons of the world are more shrewd in their generation that the sons of light. then in Vs.9 he says "and I say to you. Make friends for your selves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations." Vs 10 How you do anything is how you do everything (Me) Vs11 he says that if you can't be trusted with what the world values how can you be trusted with what is of great true value. (Me) and if you are unfaithful in the business of your employer, who will back you in a business of your own. also (Me)
Verse 13 is a popular verse of many preachers. Its a saying that the churched and unchurched alike know well. "No servant can serve two masters; for he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."( NKJ)
This seems cut and dried. So, what had me in deep study and what was the out come of it? Glad you asked.
First for a little vocabulary:
Shrewd: Keen, astute
Keen: sharp, excellent ,mentally alert, acute eyesight.
Astute: discerning, revealing insight and understanding, prudent
Prudent: Shrewd in the management of practical affairs, discreet, provident,frugal, judicial, foresighted, sensible, sane
Discrete: non-contineous
Discreet :showing good judgement, capable
Mammon: Wealth (out side of the influence of the bible wealth is not influential, good or bad, of it self and in other languages and translations the word unrighteous is not found before it.)
Man: human being, adult male, possessing in high degree the qualities considered distinctive of manhood, adult mail servant, (often cap) White society or people (freebie has nothing to do with this thought)
Here is what I,( remember I'm thinking out loud), got out of this parable.
The sons of the world know better how to maneuver and prosper in their world. They recognize and are keenly aware of how their systems work. they use that knowledge. They have vision, insight and good judgement in applying this knowledge to manage their affairs. Not so with the children of light.
The employee knowing that the men his employer dealt with would be indebted to him for the favor,
used their propensity (bent, leaning toward) for greed to influence them to do evil. I'm sure he was counting on the knowledge of what they had done to give him leverage should he need a job and they want to refuse him.
About the sons of the world being more shrewd than the children of light?
Well, We have a kingdom system to work and prosper in. Yet we don't appear to know how to use it. We seem IMO to lack understanding or maybe just not use what we have.
Vs 9 really seems strange." Make friends for yourselves ( with, no,no,no) BY unrighteous mammon." The translations that leave out the unrighteous part actually make sense to me. Because I don't see money or wealth as being a personality or as having influence. So, if I understand correctly " make friends by wealth" than to me that says wealth can be used to make friends and influence people. ( I may read too much) I think that is what the employee did. He used the debtors love of wealth to influence them to do wrong. Now Jesus did not say to influence anyone to do wrong he simply pointed what had been pointed out before. " though a poor man be wise ,no one listens because he is poor" The everlasting habitations of the unrighteous is in hell. Jesus was not, w. a. s. n. o. t. saying this was the thing to do
He is saying be astute, be keen be aware have understanding in the things of the kingdom. Be faithful in applying ones self in kingdom business. To he who can give a good accounting he will trust with even more.
finally, Vs13 "No servant can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon.
I (its personal y'all) am to and I will serve God and God alone. Wealth is my servant. As my servant wealth is only allowed to answer; Yes, Ms Staci. :-) just thinking out loud.
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