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The Enron Parable

The Enron parable. There was a CFOOf a major corporationThe CFO embezzled huge amountsThe shareholders find out and demand an auditBefore the audit, the CFO rewrites loan documents to forgive enormous sums to the company's debtorsAfter he is fired, he expects to be hired by one of the debtor co

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The Enron Parable

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    1. The Enron Parable Luke 16:1-8a

    2. The Enron parable There was a CFO Of a major corporation The CFO embezzled huge amounts The shareholders find out and demand an audit Before the audit, the CFO rewrites loan documents to forgive enormous sums to the company’s debtors After he is fired, he expects to be hired by one of the debtor companies The shareholders find out what happened And they say, “Good job!”

    3. But, that ending…? Either parable seems to make sense Until the very end Why would the embezzler be praised? Some look at the word “shrewd” and say he was praised for making a clever plan But who would praise such wickedness? Even Jesus’ final statement seems odd “Make friends with unrighteous wealth”? Isn’t that wrong? (Matt. 6:24)

    4. Understanding the parable What’s the context of this parable? Lk 15:1-10 Parables of repentance Lk 15:11-24 Parable of repentance and forgiveness Lk 15:25-32 Parable of greed and unforgiveness Lk 16:19-31 Story of greed and consequences Greed is the common element before and after our parable

    5. The Pharisees The parables were told to the Pharisees (Lk 15:3) What was their reaction to our parable? Lk. 16:14 – They were scoffing The parable didn’t make sense to them either They knew the master would not praise the wicked

    6. “You are the man!” Do you remember that line from Nathan when he set up David with a story? (2 Sam 12:1-7) Jesus says a similar thing “You are those who justify themselves in the sight of men!” The wicked manager represents the Pharisees If you missed this, you missed the point of the parable

    7. A second look at the parable The Pharisees (and all Jews) were given spiritual responsibility from God Instead of making good use of their position for God, they looked out only for themselves God demanded an audit (through John the Baptist and Jesus) Instead of repenting, the Pharisees went into even greater wickedness to make life even easier for themselves

    8. A second look at the parable But the ending? Will God praise them for their shrewdness? The Pharisees laughed; they knew the master would not praise the wicked Yet they were living as if they expected God would praise their shrewdness But He won’t (Lk 16:15) Even if men praised the wickedness (which they don’t), God finds it detestable

    9. Application (Luke 16:8b-13) Worldly people will get the worldly point quicker than spiritual people will get the spiritual point If you are concerned with what money can buy, you’ll spend eternity with likeminded people No such thing as “a little sinful” But what about the spiritual things with which you have been entrusted? Are you using them for God? Do you expect a reward based on how you use them?

    10. Application (Luke 16:8b-13) Worldly point If you are dishonest, you will be found out When you are found out, you will be punished Even more clever wickedness will not save you, it will just get more people punished with you

    11. Application (Luke 16:8b-13) Spiritual point If you don’t give God your best, then you are embezzling from God and you are known by God Since you are known to be embezzling, God will punish you (unless you truly repent and have sins removed) Don’t think that more embezzling (e.g, making a pretense of service) will somehow make things right God knows where your true loyalty lies

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