The S Word # 4

A NEW PERSPECTIVE
BY DOUGLAS HAMBIDGE #4

Please read: St. Matthew Gospel Chapter 25 Verses 14 to 30

“STEWARDSHIP CAME ALIVE FOR ME when I stumbled across this well-known parable, and saw it in a new light. I had heard sermons on the parable, and I had preached sermons on the parable, I knew it as a neat and well-worn stewardship sermon. I had been invited to reflect on this scripture at a stewardship conference, and in the process of preparing, a new perspective of stewardship came to me in a startlingly fresh way. Let me remind you of the parable.

THE CHARACTERS; OWNER AND SLAVES

The slaves own nothing except what the owner gives them; the owner owes them nothing; they have no rights. They are owned; they are totally dependent upon the owner, who has life and death power over them. They live or die at his pleasure. Jesus’ listeners would have understood this when he told the story. It would not have surprised or startled them. They would have taken what he said for granted.

THE SCENE
The owner’s possessions and property are handed over to the slaves in the proportion determined by the owner. This is not negotiated. Ownership is not abdicated; it all remains his possessions and property, and he will receive all the benefit derived from it.

THE TASK
The slaves are to use what has been entrusted to them for the owner’s advantage and benefit. He anticipates receiving interest on his investments.

THE DURATION
Time is not unlimited, but the duration of the time allowed is determined by the owner and not by the slaves. At some time in the future the owner will return.

THE RECKONING
The slaves know there will be an accounting demanded of them. They know they will be held accountable for what their owner has put into their hands.

The next scene in this parable/drama describes the return of the slave-owner, when the slaves were summoned to report. Each would hear the question, “What did you do with what I left in your hands?”

Each would make the anticipated response, “This is what you entrusted to me; this is what I did with it. Here is what is yours, with the interest that I have gained for you.”
Something went wrong. A third slave reports that he is able to return exactly what was given to him. He has lost nothing; he has taken great care of it---hidden it away in fact, and the owner has lost nothing of his wealth.

Imagine his surprise when the owner calls him a useless, good-for nothing, lazy slave, and orders him to be severely punished. What did he do wrong? Why is he condemned? What was his problem? Perhaps he did nothing with what was entrusted to him because he was afraid he might fail, and incur the anger of the owner. Perhaps he felt he had not been entrusted with enough to make any efforts on his part wr4thwhile. Maybe he was just a timid person who avoided taking risks. At all events, he did nothing with what was given to him and for that he was condemned.

The final scene has him on the outside looking in, while the other slaves are celebrating with the owner.”

Next time we will continue to consider this New Perspective.