8. . V Over-absorption into system

16:1-13

Disciples

"render account, shrewd steward"

16:1-13 He also said to the disciples. "There was a certain rich man who had a steward. And the complaint was made to him that (the steward) was wasting his possessions. So calling the latter to him (the rich man) said "What is this I hear about you? You will have to show me your accounts for you cannot be my steward any longer." And the steward said to himself. "What can I do. My employer is taking away my stewardship from me? I am not able to dig. I am too ashamed to beg. I know what I can do so that when I am removed out of the stewardship (job) people will receive me into their houses." And so calling to himself each one of the employer's debtors he said to the first one. "How much do you owe my employer?" And he said "A hundred barrels of oil." And he told him. "Here take the bill and sit down quickly and write fifty." Then to another he said "As for

you, how much do you owe?" He said "A hundred measures of wheat." He tells him "Take your bill and write eighty." And the employer of the steward (actually) praised the crooked dealings of the steward because he had acted realistically. (Then Jesus went on.) The sons of the times are more 'street smart' than the sons of the light. And I tell you. Make friends on a worldly level so when this fails you can be received into the eternal tabernacles. The man who is faithful in the least things (c/f worldly details) is also faithful in more important things. The man who is unrighteousness in the least things (c/f worldly things) is also unrighteous in more important things. If therefore you are not faithful in worldly details, who will entrust the (more important) truth to you. And if you are not faithful about what belongs to another, who will give anything into your care? No household slave can have two lords. Either he will hate the one and love the other or he will hold fast to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon."

There is a need for realism. The steward thought ahead. So also the 'sons of light' need to think ahead as well. If one is careful about the details of a job now, then a basis for the future is being prepared. But one also needs to work in terms of what could happen.

9. . V . Material obsession

16:14-31

Pharisees

"rich man and Lazarus"

11:14- 31 Now when the Pharisees heard these things they scoffed at him as they were money lovers. And he said to them. "You are the ones who justify yourselves before people. But God knows your hearts. What is exalted before people is in fact an abomination before God. The law and the prophets were the priority until the time of John. From then on the kingdom of God has been preached and everyone is pressing towards it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one little part of the law to become void. Everyone who dismisses his wife and marries another commits adultery. The one who marries a woman who has been dismissed from another commits adultery. Now there was a certain man who was rich. He used to put on a purple robe and fine linen

and spent every day in splendour being merry. And a certain poor man by the name of Lazarus had been placed at his gate. He was covered with sores and he wanted to be fed from what was falling from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. And it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels into the bosom of Abraham. Then the rich man also died and was buried. And when in Hades, the latter lifted up his eyes in torment. He saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. He called out and said "Father Abraham. Pity me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger into water and cool my tongue because I am suffering in this flame. But Abraham said "Child. remember that you received

good things in your life. Lazarus received the bad. But now, here he is, comforted. But you are suffering. And amongst all these things there is between us and you, a great chasm that has been firmly fixed so that those wanting to pass from here to yourself cannot do so. Neither can they cross over to us. And (the previously rich man said) "I ask you therefore father that you could send him to my father's house. For I have five brothers, so that he may warn them in case they also come to this place of torment. But Abraham says. "They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them." But he said "No father Abraham. But if someone from the dead should go to them, they will repent. " But he said to him. "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither if someone rises out of the dead, will they be persuaded."