tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post2046824475826064548..comments2023-11-05T02:55:10.230-06:00Comments on Gottesdienst Online: The Parable of the Prodigal Steward: Thoughts on Trinity 9Pr. H. R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16756503062523543708noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-11229538185925261292012-08-06T14:36:12.965-05:002012-08-06T14:36:12.965-05:00Thank you, gentlemen, for spending some time medit...Thank you, gentlemen, for spending some time meditating and writing on this. It seems to me that the words of Jesus that are the most confusing and counterintuitive are the ones where I'm most likely to learn something important.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12866782929731975629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-53369516224260075462012-08-04T15:35:57.951-05:002012-08-04T15:35:57.951-05:00Of course, all of you are wrong. :)
The first mis...Of course, all of you are wrong. :)<br /><br />The first mistake in understanding this parable is ending the parable at verse 9. Yes, I realize the historic reading ends at verse 9. So be smart about it, and finish the parable all the way to verse 13, because Jesus Himself gives the interpretation. I have never understood why so many commentators ignore Jesus' own interpretation of the parable.<br /><br />The unrighteous mammon is the "least thing". The true riches is the greater. We strive for the true riches, but in the process covet the least thing instead. How foolish. True, the unrighteous mammon is always tainted by sin, and the sin of covetousness causes many a sinner to act against his own long-term best interests. Witness the scourge of credit card debt. Yet for all that, the children of this world are wise than we ar, and often act with great shrewdness in using money for their long-term benefit, winning friends and influencing people. Witness the large number of rich atheists.<br /><br />The love of money is also a snare to Christians, who, coveting after it, make it their god, err from the faith, and thus lose the true riches. In this, they are not even as wise as the children of this world. In seeking to serve their money, they abandon the service of God, that is, that in which God serves them. In seeking earthly wealth, they no longer count the greater wealth dear: the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. So in the end they have neither, though both were given them freely by God, the former as a stewardship (another man's goods), the later as an inheritance (in is your own).<br /><br />So what should we then learn? Covet the best gifts, and use the unrighteous mammon for its intended purpose: to serve our neighbor, and thus make friends for the kingdom of heaven. That is its proper stewardship.<br /><br />Your true treasure is not in unrighteous mammon, but in the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Even should you fail in all things of this world, and even should you forget the heavenly riches, your true friends, the members of the Holy Christian Church, will administer to you the everlasting gift of the grace of God, through the Word and Sacraments, a gift and riches which cannot fail. And these, to whom you ministered in earthly things, will minister to you the heavenly gifts, and receive you into an eternal habitation.<br /><br />Unlike the unrighteous mammon of which you are only a steward, the true riches are given to you as a gift, the righteousness of Christ is your own righteousness. Eternal life, is your own inheritance as children of God.Martin Diershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14455045241461983409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-50325362306013506512012-07-31T09:43:33.010-05:002012-07-31T09:43:33.010-05:00These thoughts sound very much in line with Stöckh...These thoughts sound very much in line with Stöckhardt says about this text. It's available to peruse over on Historic Lectionary.Weslie Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12152688007414681910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-49110200300948735272012-07-31T09:14:55.739-05:002012-07-31T09:14:55.739-05:00Jason--I concur with your interpretation. I think ...Jason--I concur with your interpretation. I think this is exactly right. The reason the "sons of this world are more shrewd" is that when it comes to their worldly pursuits, they are extremely motivated. But the sons of light seem almost uncaring in their approach to their eternal welfare. How many of us recognize the desperate situation our souls are in on account of Sin? How many of us take every possible precaution against suffering eternal damnation?<br /><br />I thought of this the other day as I was driving home from Best Buy, practically on cloud 9 after buying a new stereo system for my basement, and then thinking how I get more of a charge from this than I do going to the altar for the Lord's Body and Blood, which I did not have to purchase. Crazy.Rev. Paul L. Beiselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16165560935974759610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-35389903530692646422012-07-31T08:41:02.923-05:002012-07-31T08:41:02.923-05:00The beauty of our economic system is that it links...The beauty of our economic system is that it links self-interest to what is best for your neighbor. The Steward's wastefulness has brought shame and dishonor to his master. How can a master be of good repute when he is being taken advantage of by his own steward. Thus, the steward must restore honor to his master, he must do what's best for his master, if he wants to do what is best for himself.Jason Braatenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05972415198647411045noreply@blogger.com