By Linda Farmer | Special to the Index
The Mineral Wells Bible Study Club met Nov. 9 at the Black Horse Restaurant with 17 members present. Judy Myers was our lesson leader and hostess. After refreshments were enjoyed, Judy opened with prayer and led the study of Luke 16.
Chapter 16 – The Parable of the Unjust Steward
(A steward was a servant who supervised and administered an estate). The charge brought against this steward is incompetence. Judy begins her study with the statement that the chapter seems to be mainly dedicated to our attitudes toward possessions.
The story is a bit difficult to understand because the master seems to be commending the steward for successfully stealing from him. It is debatable whether the steward was dishonest and robbed the master by reducing the amount the debtors owed the master, or he was shrewd in using his authority to discount the goods.
Verse 9 reveals to us that material possessions should be used to do the Lord’s work in ways that will contribute to real and permanent increases in the value of life. Mammon should be used generously to build works that last. Money is called unrighteous because it often manifests unrighteousness and selfishness in people. No one can serve two masters. God is the most exclusive of masters. We either belong to Him totally or not at all. The Pharisees ridiculed Jesus’ teachings about money because they were lovers of money and worldly minded.
In verse 19, what was the rich man’s sin that sent him to Hades? He did not order Lazarus to be removed from his gate, neither did he make objections to Lazarus receiving the scraps from his table. He didn’t kick Lazarus as he walked past him. The rich man’s sin was that he could look on Lazarus’ suffering and need and do absolutely nothing about it.
A person who rejects God’s message will not be persuaded by resurrection. Though the rich man’s request for a heavenly messenger is denied within the parable, it is honored in the telling of the account because the parable is part of a Gospel that announces Christ’s resurrection.
After prayer requests were shared, the meeting was closed with members reciting the club prayer. The group also met Nov. 16 at the Black Horse with Myrna Hendrick as hostess and lesson leader. An article will appear in the Nov. 25 issue of the Index.
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