Contents
Preamble
After addressing and reminding the Pharisees and the Scribes that people should not be judged based on the fact that they are different, and especially after the powerful lesson on the necessity of repentance (cf. Luke 15:1–32), Jesus continues his practical teachings specifically to the disciples and to all believers (cf. “And he also said to the disciples” in Luke 16:1). There is a close link between the parable of the wasteful administrator and the chief actor (the younger son) of the parable in Luke 15:11–32. Both had a considerable share of the worldly wealth entrusted unto them. Unfortunately, these goods were misused, squandered, and wasted. In fact, the same Greek term (diaskorpizō) is used to indicate wastefulness (cf. Luke 15:13; 16:1). The world has developed a culture of waste that so many things are continuously wasted with impunity. For instance, how many lives and property are wasted here in Nigeria? What about the universal scene? It is the same music – waste and continuous waste of lives, properties, values, and morals. The “and he also said to his disciples” in Luke 16:1 indicates.…
The virtue of accountability
In our context, accountability means giving an account of a person’s activities. In the Gospel according to Mark (6:7–13), the author records that Jesus sent his Twelve disciples two by two on a mission. More interesting is what Mark reports in verse 30 of the same sixth chapter of the Gospel. Mark observes with keen interest that the “apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.” In other words, they gave Jesus an account of their mission. In the same way, leaders (religious and civil) must always give an objective account of their operations to the people for whom and to whom they are working. The problem of non-accountability is a serious problem both among civil leaders and especially among religious leaders. While the apostles of Jesus are pure examples of accountability and responsibility, the manager of the parable in Luke 16:1–13, is a typical example of non-accountability and irresponsibility. While the synonym of accountability is answerability or answerableness, the hypernym is responsibility or responsiveness. That means to be accountable is to be answerable and responsible. The inability to give account is a sign of gross irresponsibility. Every righteous administrator must avoid this.
Postscript – God and mamōnas
As indicated above, mamōnas is a Semitic word for wealth or possession. While in Luke 16:9.11, it means wealth or riches, in verse 13, it is a personification of wealth (cf. also Matt 6:24). Often, we speak of secularization. Today, globalization is another term that is associated with secularization. We are all aware of the amount of time, energy, effort, talent, and passion we dedicate to these. We act shrewdly towards them. But what about the things of God? What about eternal wealth and eternal technology? Do we show the same passion, time, effort, and zeal? Do we also act shrewdly towards God? Secularization-Globalization (Mammon) and God cannot be served contemporarily. You must choose one. Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God (cf. Mark 12:17). This is wisdom and it is a shrewd action. In other words, Secularization-Globalization must be oriented toward God and preservation of the created order.
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