#prodial

Record fine for company behind ‘staggering’ 46 million nuisance calls

When Jesus first told this parable, his proper hearers must have popped a vein. Jesus seems at first to be advocating criminal behavior. Actually he is doing nothing of the sort. Once you get his point, you will never forget it. The outrageous analogy between a crooked manager and the Christian life is a great illustration of how to invest God's money knowing that time is short.

An Outrageous Request

If you know that you are in someone's will, it is considered very bad form if you appear to wish that the testator would hurry up and die. Even worse would be to ask for your inheritance before the loved one has actually expired. Jesus' opening proposition in this amazing story certainly made all of his hearers sit bolt upright.

  "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them" (Luke 15:11,12).

  I don't know which is more outrageous-the insolent cheek of the younger son or the incredible decision by the father to grant the request. I'll tell you what-if any of my kids would ask to cash out his or her part of my estate before I was dead, the strain on our relationship would be severe.