When time is short...

In this morning’s Gospel passage, Jesus shares a parable about a dishonest worker who squanders his employer’s property. The employer hears about it and gives him notice and says he wants an account of how the man has managed his property.

Realising that his cushy job is coming to an end, the man knows that he has to prepare for his future. So he comes up with a cunning plan. He decides to reduce the debts of everyone who owes something to his boss. He hopes that by helping them out now they will be his friends later after he loses his job and will help him out financially.

His plan is so successful that even though his boss loses out on some of what is owed to him, he has to admire his employee for being so crafty.

This parable can be a bit confusing, is Jesus saying we should be like this dishonest man? That we should cheat our bosses and mismanage their resources? No. But he is saying that we can learn a lesson from the story.

Two things struck me about the man in the parable that I believe we, as Christians, can learn from.

1. The man realised that his time in his current position was short and that he would have to give an account for how he had mismanaged his boss’s property.

2. He realised that his future would be bleak so he took actions to secure his future.

While we live in this material world, dealing with all of the day to day issues and concerns that affect us, it’s very easy to forget the temporary nature of everything around us.

John Lennon sang: “Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy if you try.

No hell below us, above us only sky.

Imagine all the people living for today.”

And in many ways the lyrics of this song reflect the attitudes of our society. The focus is on today, on the present, on this earth. The belief is that this life is all we have. This is it. There is nothing after this world and there is no judgement after we die. However, the Bible tells us that this life isn’t it. That eternity exists: that our time in this earth, in our current position, is short but our souls are eternal and we will have to give account for how we have spent our time here.

Do we believe this? Or have we been influenced by the attitudes and opinions of our culture?

The man in the parable realised that his time was short and that he would have to give an account of how he had managed (or mismanaged) his employer’s property. Knowing that he had been a dishonest employee, he knew that his future wouldn’t be a good one. He wouldn’t be able to find another job as an estate manager because he wouldn’t have a good reference. He wasn’t strong enough to do heavy unskilled labour and his only other option would be to beg on the streets.

The man recognised that his future would be bleak if he didn’t take action during the short time he had left in employment.

And perhaps we can take this as a lesson. Remembering that our time here is short and that we will have to give an account of how we have spent this life we have been given, should make us think carefully about our actions. About the choices we make during our time here. The way we live our lives. Will we squander the life and time that God has given us on earth? Will we spend our time focused on enriching ourselves and focusing on our own interests? Or will we use the gifts, time and talents that God has given to us to lighten the burdens of others? To point them towards the Saviour of all?

Our country is currently divided over Brexit – an issue that has divided opinions, communities, and political parties. Many people are worried about their future. What will leaving the EU mean for businesses and jobs, for the economy? Will we be poorer? Will the promised money for the NHS materialise or did our politicians lie to us? Experts on both sides of the debate tell us conflicting information. Some say our future will be brighter outside of Europe. Others say our future looks bleak.

This increasing uncertainty about the future leads to increased fear, increased scapegoating of the poor and the immigrant. It creates an angry, anxious and divided society. And some politicians and media outlets seem to be adding to the tensions and division in order to promote their own careers rather than truly working together for the good of all the people.

In this time, in this difficult climate, what are followers of Christ called to do?

Well, our readings today remind us that what is happening in our world matters to God. God is watching what is going on in our society. Nothing goes unnoticed. Psalm 113 tells us that God humbles himself to behold the things of heaven and earth. And Amos warns all of those in society who are exploiting the people and the economy, that God will never forget their deeds. That they will have to give account.

What is happening in our society matters to God and He calls us to pray for those in high positions, our political and business leaders. To intercede for them, whether we like them or not, whether we voted for them or not. We need to pray that God will guide them towards justice and away from corruption, towards the desire to serve the greater good and not their own selfish career interests. And we are called to do this, not just to secure our country’s future, but we are called to do this because these politicians, these people in high positions, will have to give an account for how they have treated the needy and the poor. How they have governed the citizens.

Our focus must be on the future beyond this age. Our focus must be on sharing the Good News that, yes, there is a God who notices how we live our lives in this short time on our planet. That we are accountable for what we have done with the time, life, resources and gifts he has given to us. But that there is also one mediator between God and humanity. That Jesus, our Saviour, desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. And to accept the ransom that has been paid for us. The ransom that wipes clean our blemished accounts. A precious gift that offers us a new life, a new way of living, while we are on this earth, and also abundant life in eternity.

Let’s learn the lessons of the dishonest manager. Our time is short. We will have to give an account for what we do while we are here. So let’s take action and share the Good News that offers us all new life in this world and a secure eternal future.