Context Question

[Ryan Scott]

In the investment thread Dave used Matthew 25:14-30 to illustrate a principle of being smart with money (at least put it in the bank to earn interest). Now I don't have any qualms with the plan, it seems like a good idea. I just didn't think we should use those verses as a lesson from Jesus on how to use money. It seems like Jesus is setting up three examples of how to live properly in preparation for the coming of the final judgment (which is outlined in the previous chapter).

We have the parable of the ten virgins with their oil lamps, then the section above - the parable of the talents, and finally the sheep and the goats.

It seems like the point of all of these is to say that we must be prepared for the end and not a specific teaching on money.

Dave said he agreed the principle was bigger than money, but could include money.

And that does make sense. We need to be faithful with money just like we need to be faithful with everything else. It just seems like there are far better verses to illustrate the point than those above.

Since I don't want to derail the other thread, nor assume I know what I'm talking about, I thought I'd pose the question here and see what others here might have to say.

[Randy Wise]

It seems like the point of all of these is to say that we must be prepared for the end and not a specific teaching on money.


Since those that were considered faithful by Jesus made the gain for their master and not themselves and those that helped others helped Jesus I do believe there is a message in there that isn't about making money.

Randy

[Roland Hearn]

Ryan I am sure you are right that the topic under discussion isn't money. I do think that money falls into a sub set of the point that Jesus is trying to make which is faithfulness or living with faith. The under-lying theme through each parable is the ultimate judgment that is made on each of the people based on the way they lived out their understanding of the master. It is interesting that the three individuals in the "talent" story are given according to their abilities and the one with the apparent least ability is the one that proves the least faithful. I wonder what the back story might be like.

[Crystal Lutton]

I think this is a very interesting question--I wonder if the answer one might give would depend on where they fall on the financial ladder of our society. In Jesus' day it was still largely an agricultural society and not the monetary world we live in. I have NO doubt his audience heard that parable with a very different starting point and with very different understanding than many today read it.

And yet I think there are principles that can and do apply to money today--BUT I think that summarizing the story with the idea that we should at least put it in the bank to earn interest is not that point ;) The "at least" isn't where we're supposed to be striving for imo.

I've found from worshiping with everyone from broke and probably not going to ever get ahead to well to do to famous and very wealthy that the "investing" that God wants is into his Body. When he gives "money", like anything he gives, he does so for the purpose of the Body. When money, or anything, is hoarded and kept for personal or selfish or ungodly use them it's "buried". Maybe giving it to the bank "to earn interest" was the master saying it would have been better to entrust it to someone else who understood where it should be invested.

I think the context is VITAL when it comes to understanding Scripture. I think that removing the context causes people to come to some very interesting (and often very wrong) conclusions. I happen to think that using this passage to encourage putting money in modern day banks is one of them.

[Martijn van Beveren]

In the investment thread Dave used Matthew 25:14-30 to illustrate a principle of being smart with money (at least put it in the bank to earn interest). Now I don't have any qualms with the plan, it seems like a good idea. I just didn't think we should use those verses as a lesson from Jesus on how to use money. It seems like Jesus is setting up three examples of how to live properly in preparation for the coming of the final judgment (which is outlined in the previous chapter).

We have the parable of the ten virgins with their oil lamps, then the section above - the parable of the talents, and finally the sheep and the goats.

It seems like the point of all of these is to say that we must be prepared for the end and not a specific teaching on money.

Dave said he agreed the principle was bigger than money, but could include money.

And that does make sense. We need to be faithful with money just like we need to be faithful with everything else. It just seems like there are far better verses to illustrate the point than those above.

Since I don't want to derail the other thread, nor assume I know what I'm talking about, I thought I'd pose the question here and see what others here might have to say.

I don't think that this story tells you, be prepared for the end. I think it tells you to use your talents aka skills which you have received from "the Master". And don't lay them to waist. In the end, when the Master returns, the story is telling us to not waist our talents by "burying them in the ground". In other words, we need to be fully living life which He has given us so that we may grow and produce fruits. Some have more, and some have less, depending on how much you can handle.

that's my 0.02 EUR cents:basic02

[Randy Wise]

that's my 0.02 EUR cents:basic02

Thats about 50 US dollars:)
Randy

[Martijn van Beveren]

Thats about 50 US dollars:)
Randy

Haha :p these days it's so interesting to ship products from the USA...

[Hans Deventer]

Haha :p these days it's so interesting to ship products from the USA...

Yeah. That's what the Dutch Customs think too :gen04

[Dennis M. Scott]

Context always assists in recognizing the bigger picture, but it rarely contradicts the specifics. That would be like saying we don't really need to honor our parents because the ten commandments were set in the context of establishing man's relationship to God. Even the mention of "talents" we know is an English coincidence. In the broader perspective, the issue of spiritual gifts applies here, but it is clearly more particularly about stewardship of the master's financial resources than how to acquire gifting. It's another case for both/and. There are a lot of lessons to be derived. There are also many more needed - and it is implied certainly that those who begin with what they have will be entrusted with more as things develop.

It probably is natural that we see scripture from our different perspectives. Passages that pay tribute to being penniless seem particularly dear to people without a lot of financial stature. Solomon's wealth as being a gift from God apparently resonate more with those surrounded with more significant resources. Both realities find connection and meaning in the texts. Just because our circumstances differ does not give us the option of dismissing those portions that appear to not address where we live at various points in our lives.

Objectivity can be helpful, but most of life is pretty subjective.