AMOS 8:4-7
THE BACKGROUND
Under the long and peaceful reign of king Jeroboam II, the northern kingdom of Israel prospered. Peace and prosperity seemed to be everywhere. Those at the top were careful to observe good worship practices, but in daily living they were cheating the poor to line their pockets. Sometime in the 750’s B.C., Amos is called by God to speak His mind to those in control, calling for justice.
THE DETAIL
- These abusers of the needy and poor are called to listen to God’s decree. (v. 4)
- Some of details of their actions are listed. First, they are anxiously waiting for religious festivals and the Sabbath to be over, so they can resume their dishonest trading. (v. 5a)
- Second, they cheat the consumers by using bushel baskets of grain (ephahs) small, inflating the price (shekel) and using false balances to weigh goods. The poor are being sold less of the grain they need to eat, just so the merchants can line their pockets. (V. 5b)
- Once the poor are bankrupt, they will be sold into slavery for a pittance. (v. 6)
- The Lord promises that He will never forget their actions. (v. 7)
THE TAKEAWAY
Throughout the Bible, both in the Old Testament and the New,
God’s will is crystal clear. He yearns for justice and for His people to have compassion on the underprivileged. Are things any better today?
1 TIMOTHY 2:1-7
THE BACKGROUND
Timothy was one of Paul’s closest disciples. Paul entrusted him to the care of several of the churches they had established in Asia Minor. This letter, as stated in 1:18, is a list of instructions for Timothy to use as a guide as a church leader.
THE DETAIL
- The instructions start out by urging Timothy and his churches to pray for everyone, including kings and those in high positions.
We’ll discuss this in the Takeaway. (vv. 1-2) - This is a good thing, states the writer. God wants everyone to be saved, including the political leaders. (vv. 3-4)
- Now, it is made clear that there is only one God and one Mediator; they are God the Father and God the Son. (v. 5)
- We are reminded that Jesus gave his live as a ransom for everyone. (v. 6)
- The Paul concludes that he was appointed by God to proclaim this gospel, especially to the Gentiles. (v. 7)
THE TAKEAWAY
During the time of the New Testament, the Roman emperor was their savior and their lord. Granted, the Roman Peace saved them from petty political uprisings. In later years, the Caesars were deified (glorified as gods). There was only one lord, and that was Caesar. Paul asks us to pray for Caesar and all our leaders. In his day, there was no religious freedom, unless it was allowed by Caesar. By praying for those in power, the hope was that they could live “a quiet and peaceable life”. If Caesar became a Christian, so much the better. (This would finally happen in 325). Paul makes it clear that even Caesar is lower that God and Jesus. 1 Timothy 6:15 spells this out, stating that “…Jesus Christ … is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.”
LUKE 16:1-13
THE BACKGROUND
Jesus is on the road, teaching in parables. Keep in mind that each parable is a lesson to its listeners. Each parable has the purpose of teaching one lesson. The more you get into the details of the story, the more you run the risk of missing the one single point. In this story, the parable is in verses 1-8a. Jesus explains the meaning in 8b-13.
This parable is perhaps one of his most puzzling ones. It helps to know something about lending money in a Jewish community during Jesus’s time. By Jewish law, lenders were not allowed to charge interest on loans. Consequently, when someone wanted to buy a piece of property on credit, the property would be sold at 25-50% more than its true worth. This is how they got around the law.
Also, it helps to understand one word and its alternate meanings. The word “wealth” used in most modern translations was translated as “Mammon” in the King James. Mammon is a personified god of money. The use of Mammon here seems to be more appropriate.
THE DETAIL
- A rich man employs a steward to manage his money. The steward did a poor job of it, and squandered the boss’ money. (v. 1)
- The boss calls in the steward, demands an accounting of the money lost, and pledges to fire. (v. 2)
- The steward, worried about his future, concocts a strange plan. He reduces the customers’ debts, most likely reducing the loan to its true price. This wins him a new round of friends, and a promising future. His boss’ esteem in the community also gets a boost, because of his supposed generosity. Oddly enough, his master is impressed by this shrewdness, even though it cost him his profit. (vv. 3-8a)
- Jesus tells us the “moral of the story”. First, the people “of this age” are more shrewd that “children of light”. This is the key to understanding the sayings that follow. He is contrasting his followers’ outlook on life to those around them. (v. 8b)
- Skipping to verse 13, Jesus states that we cannot serve two masters; we can either be shrewd and dishonest or be faithful to God by doing business in a compassionate way.
- In between verse 8 and 13 are a bunch of Jesus’ sayings which are quite confusing. We can easily jump to the wrong conclusion. I’m going to gloss over them. If you choose to try to understand them, do so knowing what Jesus says in verses 8 and 13.
THE TAKEAWAY
Martin Luther once said “Many a person thinks he has God and everything he needs when he has money and property. In them he trusts and of them he boasts so stubbornly and securely that he cares for no one. Surely such a man also has a god—mammon by name, that is, money and possessions—on which he fixes his whole heart. It is the most common idol on earth”.
The point is that in our economic relationships with others we should practice neighbor love.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
There is no doubting it. We are enchanted by mammon. We idolize the rich. Here’s a question for you. Of these wealthy people, which practice neighbor love and which worship mammon? Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Warren Buffet, Elon Musk, Taylor Swift.