Wednesday 07 November 2007
- Bible Book:
- Luke
"I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away." (v.26)
Background
Most biblical scholars think that Luke here has turned twostories into one. One story concerns a nobleman who left histerritory to receive even greater authority. On his return he tookrevenge on those who had opposed him.
The other story is about some slaves who were each given a sum ofmoney and told to do business with them during their master'sabsence. On his return he found that two of them had madesubstantial profits and they were duly rewarded. The third slave,who had merely kept the money safe was not rewarded but, on thecontrary, deprived of what he had. (Matthew's Gospel has this storyas the Parable of the Talents -
There are clues in this passage to tell us that this story was notintended to be about something which might actually happen (forexample, the slave who is put in charge of ten cities is then givenan extra pound and the bystanders express surprise). Rather, it istold in an exaggerated manner in order to make a pointstrongly.
Jesus is not talking here about economics or social policy! Thepoint of the story is about the need to take risks and the rewardsof doing so. Jesus and the disciples are getting close to Jerusalemwhere he will be crucified. On the journey, Jesus gave hisfollowers a lot of teaching about what it might mean to live inGod's way. What were they going to do with what they had receivedfrom him? Would they keep it to themselves or put it to work?
Successful business people always have to take some risks. Thisstory suggests that successful sharing of the mission of Jesusrequires the same qualities.
To Ponder
If the task of the Christian Church is tocontinue the mission of Jesus, what risks might this involve?
How might continuing the mission of Jesus todaypose a threat to powerful and influential people orinstitutions?