Luke 16: God and money

Jesus follows up perhaps the most puzzling parable in all the Gospels -- that of the dishonest manager (if you have any insight into that one, please let me know) -- with a perfectly straightforward teaching: "No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money" (16:13).

Straightforward but hard -- especially in a society that says wealth, pleasure, power, and esteem are the ultimate goods.

These are, of course, the false gods which Christians in every age are tempted to seek first, rather than the kingdom of God. There's nothing wrong with them in themselves, but they can so easily become tyrannical masters. They are addictive: If we're not solidly grounded in God, they will consume us, until our lives are nothing but a frustrating, fruitless, never-ending pursuit of the fleeting highs they afford.

Money is fine, but it's dangerous, and Jesus' prescription with respect to money -- repeated again and again -- is an attitude of (at least) profound detachment.

That's why I've never been sympathetic to "prosperity gospel" preachers like Texas mega-pastor Joel Osteen, who writes things like, "God wants to increase you financially, by giving you promotions, fresh ideas, and creativity."

Not only ought you to serve money, but God will help you? "God is my financial adviser"? There is pretty much nothing in the Bible that could even be twisted to suggest that. It's a recipe for spiritual ruin.

(Image: Evelyn de Morgan, "The Worship of Mammon," 1909)