Proper 20C

We don't tend to think of being shrewd as one of the spiritual gifts of the Spirit.

Love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, self control, faith, humility,

none of those sound remotely like shrewdness.

But as I thought longer about the idea,

I thought of discernment.

Discernment is a gift of the Spirit.

And discernment is the ability to judge well,

going beyond the simple pros and cons of a situation

and seeking out spiritual guidance to see the nuances

and find the path forward.

The definition of being shrewd

is having sharp powers of judgment, being astute,

being creative in thinking and looking at issues from multiple sides to see the outcomes.

Being shrewd fits into the idea of discernment.

Discernment is important in many different aspects of our lives.

While the parable we heard from the gospel of is offputting

there are a number of lessons we can learn from it. 

Everyone agrees that it is a confusing and hard to figure out parable.

Every commentary in the world says something to that effect. 

It was most certainly a shock to Jesus' followers, hearing this parable for the first time.

It continues to be a shock today.

However, just because it is hard to understand, 

doesn't mean we can ignore it.

Finding the gospel truth in this parable is important.

Jesus was trying to make a point,

as well as Luke was trying to make a point to his community.

The question is, naturally,

what is the point?

Usually this is where all the commentaries disagree.

And priests everywhere start looking at the other readings for today, 

hoping there might be something easier to preach about.

Sadly, the lectionary creators were not that nice. 

So what is the point?

Is the point that money is not the most important thing in our lives?

Is the point to take action in our lives?

Is the point to build up good relationships?

Is the point to be a good steward? Being faithful in what you are given?

Is the point that what is here is only a taste of what is to come?

Or is the point to be shrewd for the kingdom of God?

Yes.

One can never say that a parable has only one meaning.

The way in which Luke shares this parable in the overall context of his gospel story,

makes the points about money and stewardship come to the forefront. 

Luke is trying to call his community to remember that money is not the end of all things,

money should not be our idol.

Jesus calls his followers to let go of their money and possessions,

if not physically, at least, emotionally,

spiritually. 

We should not be hanging onto money as if it 

was going to save us.

Money is something we can use now, 

and if we learn to use it wisely here on earth, 

Luke suggests we will be given far greater treasures in heaven.

Luke is reminding his community that there are things more important than making money.

We know the steward was mismanaging the property. 

Either out of greed or laziness or trying to make more money cheaply.

But with the right pressure, he does manage to change things around.

And he uses the money he does have to make that happen.

He is shrewd with his money,

not to make more money,

but to build up relationships.

Luke is saying, be shrewd with your money

for the kingdom of God.

Don't hold onto your money for it's own sake, 

but use it to build up the kingdom.

Use it to build up relationships 

and use it for the community.

Being shrewd for the kingdom of God is okay.

Being shrewd for the kingdom of God

is part of the discernment which goes along with building up the kingdom of God.

Perhaps if we start learning to be shrewd with our money for the kingdom of God,

we can also learn to be shrewd in other ways for the kingdom of God.

The church is called to a three pronged mission:

to grow in community and relationship with God

to be hands and feet of God in this world in caring for the poor, lonely, hungry, and sick

and to share the Good News with people, so that they will believe in Jesus Christ. 

We are great at the first two of these missions. 

We have formation opportunities. 

We are a community which grows and learns together, in our Bible studies and other programs. 

We are visible signs of Christ's work in the world 

through the food pantry and blessing box and our other outreach programs.

Yet, we are not fulfilling our mission of sharing the Good News with people outside of these walls.

We have not acted shrewdly in building up the kingdom of God in this way.

Actually it might behoove us as Christians to be a little bit more shrewd 

for the kingdom of God than we have been the last fifty years.

We have not been taking the opportunities given to us to share the love of God with others.

We have not been taking the influence the Church has 

and using it to protect the environment or the future.

We have not been taking the financial gifts we have 

and putting them towards caring for God's people, 

instead of ensuring the future of buildings and our institutions.

What we can do

is start being shrewd for the kingdom of God. 

We can take every opportunity to invite others into the community. 

We can take every opportunity to stand up for justice and peace in the Name of God. 

We can use our financial gifts shrewdly,

using them to build up the kingdom of God in this place and time.

Jesus teaches this parable 

to be something that stops us in our tracks 

and starts to get us thinking.

Wait, we are supposed to be like the shrewd steward?

In what ways? How are we like and how are we different?

Being a good steward of the gifts God gives us

takes discernment.

Living into our calling as Christians means learning to judge when and how to use the gifts God gives us

all for the building up of the kingdom of God.

Jesus suggests that if we use the gifts we have already been given wisely,

more gifts will be given to us. 

Being a good steward and using God's gift of discernment 

means thinking through what we have and what we can use

differently than the rest of the world might.

Not only in terms of our money,

but our relationships, our possessions, even our time.

Having a wise and discerning heart

means thinking through what God has given us

and judging the best way to use those gifts

for the building up of the kingdom of God.

Amen.