tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865699211711235354.post826618241338870814..comments2023-07-05T10:42:38.326-04:00Comments on Being Happy: Thou shalt not steal, unless Jesus says it's OKhappygirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16554653800961247808noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865699211711235354.post-80016677712492288202013-06-05T13:24:38.929-04:002013-06-05T13:24:38.929-04:00Simple. He is advising people to not hoard their w...Simple. He is advising people to not hoard their wealth, but to gain friends with it. If you have no friends but a fair amount of money, and many friends but only a little, if you fall on your ass the friendship matters much more. It speaks of the cunning needed to survive in a cut-throat world. How earning favours from others can help you. But if you lose all your money with no friends, well then you are stuck. The people of that time, and also today, follow many virtues and morals, often of abstinence, have little friends and achieve nothing for love. He is speaking of influence and of pragmatism under the service of love, not to excuse the love of money, but to put it clearly under the rule of love, and the requirement to have social power to survive in this world (for people of the light to be cunning as serpents but innocent as doves). A dove without influence does not last long. This is exactly what he is saying, plainly speaking, to make use of the world's tools, without succumbing to the love of the tool itself. You cannot worship the two masters, because quite evidently those who hoard money do not so much have friends, but people who are forced into their service. If you have wealth coming in, he is saying focus on being generous. It is like a hint to disciples. Such as before I told you not to carry a sword, now I tell you to carry one. I do not think the hints were followed so well, as people are easily coerced into a majority interpretation. If you value my explanation and wish for any other ones, just ask me, as you will find I am a good source for it :PRyan Goblenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865699211711235354.post-7267919033974573982012-06-12T05:59:59.509-04:002012-06-12T05:59:59.509-04:00That's a tricky one to tackle.That's a tricky one to tackle.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865699211711235354.post-56018409982651814082012-06-11T15:33:52.217-04:002012-06-11T15:33:52.217-04:00ha...this is the nature of parables...they are to ...ha...this is the nature of parables...they are to figure out...i am glad you gave context as that often will point to the answer...brian millerhttp://www.waystationone.com/noreply@blogger.com