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September 20, 2025

All-Consuming

Michelle Stiffler   |   Read Luke 16:1-9

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Lectionary Week
September 15–21, 2025
Scripture Overview

“Consumed” is a common theme of the human experience. We consume, we are consumed—this is the perpetual cycle. Both Jeremiah and the psalmist are consumed by grief and despair yet cry out to God for redemption. Instruction to Timothy reminds us that prayer can be an all-consuming force in our life. In Luke, Jesus uses a strange parable to warn about the all-consuming powers of seeking financial gain. In all circumstances we can choose to be consumed by God’s faithfulness, running to God in prayer and lament, reaching for God as our only lasting goodness. Pain, devastation, and temptation have the power to pull our gaze from God, quickly pulling our hearts from full devotion. But there is always a way back. In complete dependence, we lift our eyes and hands and ask for God’s mercy.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read Jeremiah 8:18–9:1. When have you experienced suffering so extreme you wished for more tears?
• Read Psalm 79:1-9. Recount a time when you were desperate for God’s deliverance. How did you balance your dual desire for God’s gentleness and God’s fiery anger?
• Read 1 Timothy 2:1-7. Name several people you know, or knew, who were people of prayer. What markers of peace, godliness, and dignity did they carry that exhibited their commitment to intercession for others?
• Read Luke 16:1-13. In what particular instances has God honored your small faithfulness by blessing you with more responsibilities and opportunities?

Respond by posting a prayer.

Luke 16:1-9

1 Jesus also said to the disciples, “A certain rich man heard that his household manager was wasting his estate. 2 He called the manager in and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give me a report of your administration because you can no longer serve as my manager.’ 3 “The household manager said to himself, What will I do now that my master is firing me as his manager? I’m not strong enough to dig and too proud to beg. 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I am removed from my management position, people will welcome me into their houses. 5 “One by one, the manager sent for each person who owed his master money. He said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil.’ The manager said to him, ‘Take your contract, sit down quickly, and write four hundred fifty gallons.’ 7 Then the manager said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘One thousand bushels of wheat.’ He said, ‘Take your contract and write eight hundred.’ 8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted cleverly. People who belong to this world are more clever in dealing with their peers than are people who belong to the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves so that when it’s gone, you will be welcomed into the eternal homes.

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

Today’s parable is not so different from the parable before it—the story of the prodigal son. Both stories use the same word to describe the main character’s wastefulness. Both stories reveal the sin of misusing the resources given to us—notice that the manager is not being fired for lying, cheating,...

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God, empower us to use the gifts you’ve given wisely. Help us to be faithful stewards of your world. Amen.


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