Luke 16:1-13
Lead in: In Luke 16:1-13, Jesus tells us of a man who cheated his employer. Not just once but twice. First, he’s caught squandering his property. Then he writes off the debts of those who owed the employer money. And Jesus praises the man. This doesn’t seem to make sense, but we must understand that Jesus is praising not dishonesty but ingenuity. So, rather than complain about things, be resourceful, take action, and see what can be done to change a situation.
Prompt: Most of us have at least one pet peeve that we like to complain about. What would yours be?
Prompt: Rather than complain about things, where is it that you are being called to take action and do something about it?
Lead in: The parable in Luke 16:1-13 is about a manager of a business who takes advantage of his position by running up a huge tab, leaving the company to pay for it. While we’re turned off by his manipulation, well intended people can slip into a sense of entitlement where they believe that they are deserving of things that others are not.
Prompt: If there were any area of your life where you are prone to a sense of entitlement, where would that be?
Lead in: Jesus tells us, “No servant can serve two masters (for) you cannot serve both God and mammon.” Luke 16:13 “Mammon” means anything that becomes so important to us that we worship it as a false god.
Prompt: Knowing yourself as you do, what is it in your life that you need to be attentive to lest it become the idol that you worship?
Lead in: The prophet Amos is said to be the prophet of social justice. He lived at a time of economic prosperity, but people’s faith had grown slack. The prophet has no problem exposing the exploitive practices of those who take advantage of the poor.
Prompt: With the lifestyle you live, if you were to change one thing in how you spend money, what might that be?
Prompt: What might you do to live more aware of the needs of those who have less than you?
Lead in: In I Timothy 2, Paul urges us to offer prayers for everyone, including “kings” and for all in authority. We do this so that we may “lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity”. As we do this, it could include praying for people you’re not particularly fond of. It could be hard to get along with a boss at work, the pastor of the congregation you belong to, or an elected official.
Prompt: Who is it that you find it hard to pray for? Talk to God about that and listen to what He has to say.