Lent 2023 – Day 25 – Luke 16 v 1-15

Welcome to our Daily reflections for Lent.

We have provided a number of ways of using these reflections.

• You can listen to it in podcast style by clicking on the first audio file. (approx 18 minutes);
• You can listen to the reflection and the prayers with a shortened length for personal prayer (approx 6 minutes);
• You can read your own version of the Bible and then listen to the reflection, play the hymn in the embedded YouTube clip and then listen to the prayer section;
• You can choose to just read through it and ignore the audio files; or
• any combination of the above.

However you choose to use them we hope you will find them helpful and thought provoking.

Full Audio of today’s reflection.

Read Luke Chapter 16 verses 1-15. In your own preferred version. The audio uses the NIV.

Link to the Bible Gateway NIV version (Opens in a new tab)

Audio of reflection

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.”

This is a complex passage. Jesus is not encouraging us to become dishonest and shrewd managers but rather to become good managers. The commentaries tell us that it was common for lenders to get around the rules of charging no interest on loans by using commodities, oil and wheat, and to add the forbidden “interest” by increasing the amount of the commodity to be repaid. Thus the steward is probably just removing this interest from the debts. The master cannot chastise his steward without exposing his own sharp practices and so he commends him for his cleverness.

Stories about masters and stewards in the Bible are also always about God and the Israelites.

Everything we have and are comes from God, so we should use our material and spiritual wealth, our time and our talents to serve the will of our master. It is not how much we have but rather what we are able to achieve with what we have. It is, as is often the case in the parables Jesus tells, the heart with which we approach the use of the gifts God has given us. Be that the rich young ruler with his reluctance because of his wealth or the widow in the temple with her tiny gift but which is all she has.

I don’t often speak about our financial giving and perhaps speak too much about our giving of our time and talents. There needs to be a balance. I remember a previous minister who had an exchange visit with a minister in the USA commented that the church he was in was huge and very successful but members were reluctant to commit their time to the work of the church. When a job needed doing donations were made so that someone could be employed to do it. He felt that this was to the detriment of the church which although huge felt lifeless as a result.

Perhaps this Lent we can take the opportunity to review what and how we give of our money, time and talents in God’s service.

Hymn: Singing the Faith –  595 “Lord we have come at your own invitation”

Contemplation Words

“ Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much”

Let us pray together.

Contemplative Prayer

Think of the words in order to understand context and meaning, Feel the meaning of the words with and in your heart, Pray, using the words, for yourself or others. With only a name and without explaining the reasons or pre-defining any answers. Listen for God’s voice in the quiet of your prayers. Pray using your own prayers or one of those which have been prepared below.

Twitter Prayer

Lord help me to be wise in my discipleship that I may use my gifts and talents in an effective way. Amen

Full Prayer

Lord, help us to be smart in our mission. Employing the things that will resonate with those we seek to draw to you. Help us not to think that we should plug away at the things we have always done hoping that there will be results. Rather let us examine the world around us and draw from them the good things that we can use in your service. The wonder of technology which reveals to the world the message of your love and salvation. The joy of new hymns and worship songs which engage people in different ways. Connecting with them in the styles of music they are used to listening to.