Every generation goes through a time when the elders of that generation are deemed “hopelessly out of touch” by the younger.  Especially when the elders continue to enjoy living more simply, realizing what is important and uppermost and what is not—all because of the lessons through experiences they have learned.  What was once monumental to achieve in life is not as important as staying close to the Master.  What is more important is continuing to love God back with all their hearts, minds, and souls, while listening for His direction with obedient desires—all because of the love He has graciously and mercifully given beyond measure to all of us. 

I suppose I am “hopelessly out of touch” as I not only think but know that God is still the One and Only God who sees inside our hearts, knows what’s on our minds even before we think it, and loves us so much that He sent Jesus to save us from ourselves—our lack of self-discipline, self-control, self-managing, and just plain selfishness.  I am hopelessly out of touch to think I must lean into God’s understanding and wisdom as the world around me thinks there is no God. 

My “out of touchness” lately has caused more attacks on my belief in Jesus as I proclaim daily who God is by telling others what His Word says.  I’m only relaying what God says in His Word—word for word. So, I am told I’m super “out of touch” to think that God’s Word is still relevant for today’s way of living.  I actually believe that what was wrong in relationships and in doing life then is still wrong today.  Yes, I am “hopeless” by world standards.  But little do they know, I have real Hope—Hope of eternal proportions—within me Who is always on my side, in front of me, and beside me, guiding me!  You take the world but give me Jesus!  (Yes, there is a song,,.)

In today’s passage I learn that I am in good company!  Jesus was also deemed “hopelessly out of touch” as he told another parable explaining who God is and who the Pharisees and others who put God aside were not.  So, when we are led to say or do what is right in the eyes of God—expect the eyerolls of the unbelieving world.  Be assured and know, without a doubt, you are in good company.

 Luke 16, The Message

The Story of the Crooked Manager

16 ^1-2 Jesus said to his disciples, “There was once a rich man who had a manager. He got reports that the manager had been taking advantage of his position by running up huge personal expenses. So he called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? You’re fired. And I want a complete audit of your books.’

^3-4 “The manager said to himself, ‘What am I going to do? I’ve lost my job as manager. I’m not strong enough for a laboring job, and I’m too proud to beg. . . . Ah, I’ve got a plan. Here’s what I’ll do . . . then when I’m turned out into the street, people will take me into their houses.’

⁵ “Then he went at it. One after another, he called in the people who were in debt to his master. He said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

⁶ “He replied, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’

“The manager said, ‘Here, take your bill, sit down here—quick now—write fifty.’

⁷ “To the next he said, ‘And you, what do you owe?’

“He answered, ‘A hundred sacks of wheat.’

“He said, ‘Take your bill, write in eighty.’

^8-9 “Now here’s a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.”

God Sees Behind Appearances

^10-13 Jesus went on to make these comments:

If you’re honest in small things,
    you’ll be honest in big things;
If you’re a crook in small things,
    you’ll be a crook in big things.
If you’re not honest in small jobs,
    who will put you in charge of the store?
No worker can serve two bosses:
    He’ll either hate the first and love the second
Or adore the first and despise the second.
    You can’t serve both God and the Bank.

^14-18 When the Pharisees, a money-obsessed bunch, heard him say these things, they rolled their eyes, dismissing him as hopelessly out of touch. So Jesus spoke to them: “You are masters at making yourselves look good in front of others, but God knows what’s behind the appearance.

What society sees and calls monumental,
    God sees through and calls monstrous.
God’s Law and the Prophets climaxed in John;
Now it’s all kingdom of God—the glad news
    and compelling invitation to every man and woman.
The sky will disintegrate and the earth dissolve
    before a single letter of God’s Law wears out.
Using the legalities of divorce
    as a cover for lust is adultery;
Using the legalities of marriage
    as a cover for lust is adultery.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

This particular manager forgot that he was a steward and began to act as if he were the owner. He became a “prodigal steward” who wasted his master’s wealth.  Jesus did not commend the steward for robbing his master or for encouraging others to be dishonest. Jesus commended the man for his wise use of opportunity. “The sons of this world” are experts at seizing opportunities for making money and friends and getting ahead. God’s people should take heed and be just as wise when it comes to managing the spiritual affairs of life.  God sees and knows the motivations of our hearts.  God intervenes in our lives with what is right.  We have a choice to turn back to what is right or not.  Our behaviors reflect our true hearts. 

Let’s lean into the wisdom (skills of being smarter than the world) of Jesus…

“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” –Jesus, Matthew 24:1-14 (Read the whole chapter!)

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” –Jesus, Matthew 24:35

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”           —Jesus, John 16:33

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” –Jesus, 1 John 4:4

Be smart, live smart.  Look for all the angles in the world to survive the world.  “I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.”—Jesus, Luke 16

Seek what God first and do what HE says is right…blessed is the one who does!

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.^” –Jesus, Matthew 6:31-33

Jesus came to “seek and to save the lost.”  All have sinned so all are lost without God.  Be found by the Seeker who desires to save us from our own selfishness and foolishness.  Begin to live, really live, with the Living Hope of eternity.  Be one who is hopelessly out of touch with the world but in touch with Jesus, our Savior and Lord.  I was lost but now I’m found—and I’m glad to be found!

Lord,

Thank you for the contentment you give from being hopelessly out of touch with the world.  We live in the world but we are not of this world.  Guide us.  Lead us.  Cleanse our hearts of all that is not you.  Renew our minds.  Refresh our souls with your new mercies that bring peace.  Restore the joy of your salvation at work within us to keep us hopelessly out of touch with the deceiver, our enemy, but wise enough to dismiss him.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen