The parable in Luke 16 is confounding. If we think Jesus is saying something different from what he normally says.

We read a parable about a rich guy wanting to fire somebody.

And that guy, who is about to get canned, goes out and cuts some deals, looking for a way to land on his feet.

Then, when the rich guy commends him for his shrewdness, we think Jesus is encouraging us to be shrewd.

So we get whiplash when Jesus goes on to say we can’t serve two masters: God and wealth.

We’ve already forgotten that Jesus discourages us from thinking money is good. Or even neutral.

Not shrewd, generous

Reve Alyssa said it well on Twitter this week:

It all leads back to the dangers of money, wealth, and our attachment to it. What do you serve and what owns you? Forgive debt, be radically generous, give it all away, is to live in the abundance of the Way of Christ.

—Reve Alyssa, @unapobrecita

And, of course, we just had those Parables of the Lost, with each one ending with a big, ridiculous party. Jesus says that is the Kin-dom.

This guy, scrambling for a golden parachute? He’s the contrast.

Most importantly, he’s who we already are. Not who God dreams we all will be.