Kelly - Luke 16

16:9 - "And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth, so that when it is gone they may welcome you into the eternal homes." It took quite a while for me to wrap my head around this verse and figure out what Jesus is trying to say.....read all the little footnotes on this verse to figure it out.

As best I can tell, Jesus is asserting that all monetary/financial wealth is "dishonest wealth" and he places it in contrast to "true wealth" - which is later referred to as "treasures in heaven". I've always accepted the dichotomy Jesus places between "financial wealth" and "true wealth" and that makes perfect sense in my life. But to call all "financial wealth" "dishonest wealth" is striking.

In the past few years, it's certainly been easier to become cynical about financial wealth and the ways it is gained. But on the flip side, there are some very wealthy individuals - such as Bill Gates - who are extremely wealthy based on their merits and who act relatively nobly with their money.

And what about relative wealth? I am relatively wealthy on a global standard. And while I endeavor to use my finances in a Godly way....the truth is that I buy rather cheap clothing at the expense of the cheap labor of someone around the globe. Most of the food I buy is bought so cheaply that it cannot support a local farmer. And I haven't even addressed the impact of my economic choices on climate.

The truth is that despite my best intentions, much of my wealth is dishonest. And Jesus seems to accept that as a reality - even in this story from an infinitely simpler economic model. But the story does not spend its time condemning the reality - - it approaches the matter practically. The wealth is dishonest - but what are you going to do about it? How will I use it? Will I use it to show mercy - lessening the burdens of others and feeding the Lazarus's around me?