Who's In Charge, Anyway?

Power, Wealth, and the Way of the Kingdom

You likely remember in the Hebrew Old Testament, the books of Samuel and Kings and the books of Chronicles tell mostly the same stories in two different ways. Often the same story is told with conflicting details. The notion is that different writers provide different perspectives on the same stories and events. For instance, 2 Samuel 24 tells us that God incited King David to take a census, while 1 Chronicles 21 tells us that it was Satan who incited King David to do it. There’s a lot to say about this, but suffice for today, humans respond in different ways to the things that happen in life.

We see similar contrasts and understandings in the telling of Jesus story through four gospel books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John). Certainly the character of Jesus is the same throughout. It’s a beautiful thing that the early Church, when recognizing which writings faithfully bore witness to Christ, didn’t narrow it down to “the best one.” Instead, it affirmed four distinct gospels with different voices, styles, and theological emphases, all testifying to the same Christ.

The parable we read today is one that’s told in both Matthew and Luke. It’s most commonly known from Matthew as the Parable of the Talents. You probably know it well from Matthew…which could make today’s telling in Luke rather unsettling. But as you read it, remember Luke’s particular perspective, one that we have settled pretty firmly as a liberation from the things that bind (meaning anything that holds us other than God). Luke has been clear in showing Jesus’ teachings to be intent on the difficult power of money and wealth.

Remember also that this parable is being told in the context of Zacchaeus’ story, and even right within his home. Zacchaeus demonstrated a release from the power of wealth by giving half his money to the poor and repaying those he had previously cheated fourfold. And Jesus, in fulfillment of what he declared in Nazareth, said that as a result, this is how salvation came to Zacchaeus.

In that context, we would be led to understand that the master in the parable might not be a Kingdom of God character.

…right? …or not?

Parables are meant to chew at us. They are not conclusive theological doctrine. Jesus seems intentional in telling these stories to make his disciples think beyond preconceived notions. Let this parable eat at you. Determine what the point at hand is, what the crisis is within the characters and what they do (or don’t do). And measure it against the picture of Jesus you’ve come to know in the whole of the gospels.

Luke 19:11-28

As they listened to this, Jesus told them another parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought God’s kingdom would appear right away. He said, “A certain man who was born into royalty went to a distant land to receive his kingdom and then return. He called together ten servants and gave each of them money worth four months’ wages. He said, ‘Do business with this until I return.’ His citizens hated him, so they sent a representative after him who said, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ After receiving his kingdom, he returned and called the servants to whom he had given the money to find out how much they had earned. The first servant came forward and said, ‘Your money has earned a return of one thousand percent.’ The king replied, ‘Excellent! You are a good servant. Because you have been faithful in a small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.’

“The second servant came and said, ‘Master, your money has made a return of five hundred percent.’ To this one, the king said, ‘You will have authority over five cities.’

“Another servant came and said, ‘Master, here is your money. I wrapped it up in a scarf for safekeeping. I was afraid of you because you are a stern man. You withdraw what you haven’t deposited and you harvest what you haven’t planted.’ The king replied, ‘I will judge you by the words of your own mouth, you worthless servant! You knew, did you, that I’m a stern man, withdrawing what I didn’t deposit, and harvesting what I didn’t plant? Why then didn’t you put my money in the bank? Then when I arrived, at least I could have gotten it back with interest.’

“He said to his attendants, ‘Take his money and give it to the one who has ten times as much.’ ‘But Master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten times as much!’ He replied, ‘I say to you that everyone who has will be given more, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for my enemies who don’t want me as their king, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”

After Jesus said this, he continued on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

Psalm 146:3-9

Don’t trust leaders;
don’t trust any human beings—
there’s no saving help with them!
Their breath leaves them,
then they go back to the ground.
On that very same day, their plans die too.

The person whose help is the God of Jacob—
the person whose hope rests on the Lord their God—
is truly happy!
God: the maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
God: who is faithful forever,
who gives justice to people who are oppressed,
who gives bread to people who are starving!
The Lord: who frees prisoners.
The Lord: who makes the blind see.
The Lord: who straightens up those who are bent low.
The Lord: who loves the righteous.
The Lord: who protects immigrants,
who helps orphans and widows,
but who makes the way of the wicked twist and turn!

Prayer

God,

Thank you for the beauty of a crisp, autumn day. As I sit here watching the leaves fall off the tree outside my window with almost no wind at all, I’m mindful of the work you’re constantly doing. I’m both encouraged and challenged by the sanctifying hand you reach out to me each and every day to change my heart, renew my mind, and soften my words and actions.

I want to live into it all, Lord. Like a little leaf letting go of the only branch it’s ever known, set me free from the things that would bind me, to fall into the work of your Kingdom.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.