Sunday 09/18/22 - Sidney UMC
Sermon Title: “Dealing Fairly!”
Old Testament Scripture: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1
New Testament Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-7
Gospel Lesson: Luke 16:1-13
I still remember late August, 2005.
What happened in late August, 2005? Well probably various things, but the thing
that comes to my mind is Hurricane Katrina. I remember watching in horror as
New Orleans and other places were just devastated. Over 1,800 people died,
homes were destroyed, and overall destruction and damage was in the billions of
dollars (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina).
As I watched the drama of the hurricane play out on television,
I saw some great and some not great things. I saw emergency workers do amazing
things. I saw the churches and the giving that provided for the victims of the
hurricane. I even saw our own United Methodist Church relief agency, UMCOR show
up in force. United Methodist Church groups were working side by side with
other churches and other organizations to help the people that lived through
the hurricane. They brought food, water, and relief.
While I saw some great things, I also some sad things. I
saw a lot of looting and robbing. Perhaps the people were hungry and in need,
or maybe it was more of an opportunity for some folks to get away with something
that they normally could not get away with. The one that really got to me
though was the price gouging. I remember hearing stories of people who went
into a gas station, or a store, and the things that they wanted to purchase
dramatically increased in price. I am not talking about the inflation that we are
living through right now. Instead, I mean the $1.00 can of tuna fish, was now $10.00
- $15.00 dollars. Is there a logical reason in a natural disaster to raise
prices this high? None I can think of that are reasonable. I mean if your
family needed the food for themselves, then there is no reason to sell if for outrageous
prices. You would just keep it.
What would possess someone to raise their prices as much as
1000% percent or more during a crisis? In my opinion, it is generally greed and
selfishness. Many of us have learned at least a little bit about economics in
school, and we therefore probably learned about the concepts of supply and
demand. If something is in demand and there is not much of it, the prices go
up. If there is to much of something, or supply, then the prices go down. Since
there were less automobiles being produced during the pandemic for example,
when people starting buying cars again, the prices went up. There were too few
cars, but demand was high. I have even heard of stories of some people selling their
cars for the price they paid for it new or used, or even selling it for more.
Supply and demand, it effects prices, but do we deal with people fairly? I didn’t
hear of any cars costing ten times their original price in recent months.
Sometimes people have the opportunity to capitalize on the
fact that they have something that others want. They can charge a fair price
for the $1.00 can of tuna, or they can charge $10.00 - $15.00 dollars for the
can of tuna. If they charged maybe like $2.00 for the can I tuna, I get it, but
$10.00 - $15.00 dollars! Further, when Hurricane Katrina ended, and when things
began to normalize, I bet everyone in the area remembered that gas station or that
store owner that made out big at the expense of others during the hurricane.
The way that we deal with others and the integrity that we
have in doing so matters as Christians. This is why my sermon for this morning
is called, “Dealing Fairly!” Don’t get me wrong, when many of us sell
something, a car, a house, etc., we want to get as much as we can for it, but 1,000%
more? Many houses during the pandemic sold in a one day, or in a few days. Some
people got there full asking price for there house, or even more, but 1,000%
more?
How do we “Deal Fairly” with each other, and with people in
general? What is fair, and what is not fair? Further, how does it feel to be dealt
with unfairly? How does it feel to be cheated or taken advantage of?
In our reading from Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 for this morning, the
prophet Jeremiah is disturbed and lamenting the judgement that is coming to the
people of Israel. Jeremiah says indirectly that the people of Israel are not
dealing fairly with God, because they are not following what they told God them
to follow. In fact, the prophet Jeremiah laments the people of Israel in
8:20-22 once again, saying:
20 “The
harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”
21 For
the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken
hold of me. 22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?
Why then has the health of my poor people
not been restored? (Jer. 8:20-22, NRSV).
Sometimes when people are not dealt
with fairly, they can feel this way. Getting cheated, mistreated, or not
treated well can sometimes make us feel the way that the prophet Jeremiah
feels. Or this can happen in reverse.
Since we are talking about “Dealing
Fairly” with people this morning, we have our scripture from 1 Timothy 2:1-7
once again, that tells us to treat and deal with everyone equally, or the same.
In looking at this scripture it begins once again in 2:1 saying:
2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:1-4, NRSV).
The
Apostle Paul is telling Timothy and us that “supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone”. Not just some people,
but everyone. We should love and “Deal Fairly” with everyone. The Apostle Paul tells
us to do the same thing for kings and all in high positions, so “that we may
lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity”. This is right
and acceptable to God Paul says, and God desires everyone to be saved and to
come to the knowledge of the truth of Jesus Christ.
The
Apostle Paul then concludes this reading from 1 Timothy 2:1-7 with 2:5-7,
saying once again:
5 For there is one God;
there is also one mediator between God and humankind,
Christ Jesus, himself human, 6 who gave himself a ransom for all
—this was attested at the right time. 7 For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth (1 Tim. 5-7, NRSV).
The
Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus died for us all, therefore, Jesus loves us all
the same and “Deals Fairly” with us all. Jesus even forgave Paul when he was
Saul and persecuted the church, and still “Dealt Fairly” with Paul.
In
looking again at our gospel of Luke 16:1-13 reading for this morning, where I
got my sermon title from, Jesus gives us the parable or story, of “The Unjust
Steward” or “The Dishonest Manager”. In this parable or story Jesus tells us
how to “Deal Fairly” with each other, and how to not deal fairly with each other.
Starting in Luke 16:1 it says, once again:
16 Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. 2 So he summoned him and said to him, “What is this that I hear about you? Give me an account of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.” 3 Then the manager said to himself, “What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes” (Lk. 16:1-4, NRSV).
So, this “Dishonest Manager” or “Unjust Steward” is fired by
the rich man for squandering the rich man’s property. The manager or steward is
not able to do physical labor to make a living, and is ashamed to beg. So, if
the now fired manager or steward makes a deal with the rich man’s debtors, then
the fired manager or steward can live with or be welcomed into the homes of some
of the rich man’s debtors. Potentially then, it is the “The
Unjust Steward’s” or “The Dishonest Manager’s” last day of work, and he summons all of the
debtors of the rich man he works for.
After summoning all of the rich man’s debtors, the
scripture picks up with Luke 16:5 saying:
5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, “How much do you owe my master?” 6 He answered, “A hundred jugs of olive oil.” He said to him, “Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.” 7 Then he asked another, “And how much do you owe?” He replied, “A hundred containers of wheat.” He said to him, “Take your bill and make it eighty.” 8 And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes (Lk. 16:5-9, NRSV).
This parable or story from Jesus is one of the most
confusing of all of his parables or stories in the gospels. Why? Well, the “Dishonest
Manager” or “Unjust Steward” squanders some of the rich man’s property. So,
this is obviously not a good thing. Knowing that he is not able to do physical
labor and is too proud to beg, the “Dishonest Manager” or “Unjust Steward”
summons all of his former boss’s debtors. We can maybe assume the firing of the
“Dishonest Manager” or “Unjust Steward” by the rich man, and the summoning of
the rich man’s debtors from the “Dishonest Manager” or “Unjust Steward” might
have all occurred in the same day. We do not know.
This then is not the confusing part of this parable or
story though. What is, is that the now fired “Dishonest Manager” or “Unjust Steward,”
summons the rich’s man debtors and forgives some of there debt. Further, the
rich man commends the “Dishonest Manager” or “Unjust Steward” for forgiving
some of the debt of the rich man’s debtors. Well, why would the rich man commend
the fired “Dishonest Manager” or “Unjust Steward” for forgiving some of the
debt of his debtors.
One of favorite Bible commentaries, the Africa Bible
Commentary compares the “Dishonest Manager” or “Unjust Steward” to the parable
of “The Prodigal Son”. In each parable or story, they both squandered wealth
and property that they did not earn. Yet, in both stories they changed. The “Dishonest
Manager” or “Unjust Steward” forgives some of the debt of the rich man’s
debtors, and the prodigal son humbles himself and returns to his father (Africa
Bible Commentary, pg. 1262).
Remember as well, that the “Dishonest Manager” or “Unjust
Steward” forgave some of the debt of the debtors of the rich man, so that he
could bribe them to then allow him to live with them. Yet, the rich man,
realized that the “Dishonest Manager” or “Unjust Steward,” and we do not know
what property or wealth he squandered from the rich man, was fair and generous.
Perhaps the lessening of the debt by the “Dishonest Manager” or “Unjust Steward,”
was removing the interest, or just being kind. “The Prodigal Son” and the “Dishonest
Manager” or “Unjust Steward” were selfish and greedy, but they changed. Well
maybe, did the “Dishonest Manager” or “Unjust Steward” really change, as he was
motivated by bribing the rich man’s debtors to get a free place to live.
Perhaps the rich man did not realize the deception here of
the “Dishonest Manager” or “Unjust Steward,” but what the rich man did do was
commend him for acting shrewdly. The “Dishonest Manager” or “Unjust Steward”
went from being greedy and selfish, to on the surface anyway, “Dealing Fairly”
with the rich man’s debtors. Did the “Dishonest Manager” or “Unjust Steward”
then get his job back? We don’t know, but the rich man was impressed that on
the surface anyway that the “Dishonest Manager” or “Unjust Steward” acted generously,
unselfish, and dealt fairly with his debtors.
Jesus then concluded this gospel of Luke 16:1-13 lesson
saying in 16:10-13 this:
10 ‘Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? 13 No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth’ (Lk. 16:10-13, NRSV).
Jesus is telling us that we need to be faithful, have integrity,
and do what is right. If we have diligence with a little, then we are more
likely to have diligence with more. If we are dishonest or deceitful with a
little, we are more likely to be dishonest and deceitful in a lot. Jesus speaks
of true riches, which is not necessarily money, property, or possessions. “True
riches” are the blessings of God in Jesus Christ, and the faith we share.
Anything material that God does allow us to have, we are but caretakers for, as
everything is God’s. Jesus also says that if we do not do the right thing with
others possessions and wealth, who will give us what is our own?
Essentially then, Jesus is saying either we are faithful to
him, his teachings, to goodness, faithfulness, and righteousness, or we are
not. Do we all still have some areas of our lives that need work and maybe need
repentance? Sure, but Jesus is saying that you cannot fully serve him and at
the same time fully serve someone or something else. We need to “Deal Fairly”
with each other, and most importantly with God. We cannot have two masters
Jesus said, and we cannot serve God and wealth. Amen.
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