Learning From a Liar

[Evacuated]

15 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

It takes a thief to catch a thief?

No. Not that proverb. Actually the one stating that "faithful in what is least is faithful also in much". If we forget trying to judge the steward as there isn't enough information, "unrighteous" can just mean a person without faith. There is no evidence in the illustration that the steward was anything other than shrewd. That's enough to buy slanderous innuendo from those who are not. The sneering Pharisees in Jesus audience at the time thought they were far more righteous than that common steward, but their conduct regarding material assets proved them to be money-lovers, slaves to Riches, and actually disgusting in God's sight. (Luke 16:14-15). There was no way they could be entrusted with spiritual treasures, such as the preaching and disciple making work. (2Cor.4:7).

I always thought of that proverb like a reference for a job. If you could be trusted with little things, you could be trusted with greater things. This may well be true, but because Jesus contrasts the lesser value of material assets regardless of their quantity or amount, ("least"), with the excelling value of spritual treasures, ("much"), there is an much better lesson here.

The more useful lesson here is the idea that  practical wisdom in the use of what is "least", (material assets), to maximise their effect in enabling spiritual activity, is counted as "faithful". It is then counted simultaneously as being "faithful in much" because those assets are being used in harmony with ones dedication to God rather than Riches. The use of the experiences in the WT article bears this out.

I can add one in that I know a young brother who has built a very successful international business that employs 50 people. It is so well managed that he only needs to work 1 day per week, yet still is able support a comfortable life style that many work all the hours of the day to achieve. However, he uses the opportunity to finance himself and his family in the pioneer ministry, serving where there is greater need, and assists in circuit work and assembly organisation, all at his own expense.  Paul deals with this attitude further at 1 Cor 7:31. So we can "get out of Babylon" (false religion), we can be "no part of the world", (the political system), but as for that sticky old honeytrap, commerce? Just "make use" of it, to further spiritual interests, and simultaneously prove yourself "faithful in much".

As for the notion of drug money being included in the "unrighteous riches", it's interesting that the (British) Daily Mail noted regarding the UK, that "a senior analyst at the FSS, the largest provider of forensic services in the UK on behalf of police forces, says traces of the drug [cocaine] can be found on any bank note, regardless of its geographical location".  Wikipedia notes this to be a worldwide phenomenon.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contaminated_currency

[TrueTomHarley]

5 hours ago, Gone Fishing said:

So we can "get out of Babylon" (false religion), we can be "no part of the world", (the political system), but as for that sticky old honeytrap, commerce? Just "make use" of it, to further spiritual interests, and simultaneously prove yourself "faithful in much".

Make your footprint small. I like it.

[Otto]

Good point made when comparing all the aspects of the world we live in.

[Ann O'Maly]

12 hours ago, Gone Fishing said:

... there isn't enough information, "unrighteous" can just mean a person without faith.

It could. But the original accusation was that he was 'wasteful' (compare Luke 15:13). Mismanaging your master's assets is also 'unrighteous' and there are a few parables in the Gospels about negligent servants.