Luke 16:1-15
Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’
The setup of this obscure parable. An audit of a dishonest manager if you will, to use modern vernacular.
“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’”
So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
“ ‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied.
“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’
“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’
“ ‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied.
“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’ “
“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’”
So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
“ ‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied.
“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’
“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’
“ ‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied.
“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’ “
The manager weighs his options, only to rely on what he knows, manipulation and underhandedness, rather than doing the right thing.
The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly.
The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly.
An unexpected thing to hear Jesus say, but one must consider the context. The rich man does not represent the Lord or anything divine in this particular parable. Unlike many others where God is interjected somehow.
For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
Dishonorable people are more likely to betray people like themselves. Who are less likely to judge them or hold them accountable. In dog-eat-dog industries, there is a culture of greed and disrespect for those who don’t live by the harsh reality of it. Even if you are on the wrong end of it, as we see here. Alphas, as we often call them, know people will try to undermine them to get ahead. They anticipate and prepare for it. This is what makes them top dogs. This is not a recommendation from Christ. Rather a simple but unfortunate fact that we must keep in mind when dealing with worldly people. All the more reason to be wary of said communities.
I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
Again, out of context, it may seem like Jesus is telling us to buy friends. In context, he is just exposing the shallowness of a world that we may envy at times. Dishonorable people want to get people indebted to them because they are always keeping score. They know nothing else, so they can’t recommend anything else. If we earn our relationships through provision, that is likely what it will take to maintain them. Such people love the provision more than the providers. This is why we shouldn’t trust them. In the original Greek ‘Eternal’ refers to a long period of time, not something divine.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
Here is where God’s Judgment finally comes into play. Those who will do bad things for you, or with you, will also do bad things to you. As it is often said, trust what people do more than what they say. It paints a more accurate picture of their character. God watches and blesses character, even when people are too mesmerized by wealth and popularity to notice actual integrity.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
Here is where God’s Judgment finally comes into play. Those who will do bad things for you, or with you, will also do bad things to you. As it is often said, trust what people do more than what they say. It paints a more accurate picture of their character. God watches and blesses character, even when people are too mesmerized by wealth and popularity to notice actual integrity.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
A famous verse in and of itself. Often quoted outside the context of the parable. The manager served only self, and he used money to do that. He also coveted what his master had, and hated him for it. Don’t trust anyone who puts their hope in money. They will betray you for money if given the chance.
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.
They didn’t like being held accountable to their master either. They didn’t like a spotlight being put on their superficial hearts. Since it exposed their unrighteousness.
He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts.
The Pharisees, like the shrewd manager, have earned all the respect, admiration, and relationships they had through worldly means. Yet God sees right through this thin veneer. What do you value more in this world so motivated by acceptance, approval, and validation? Where does your genuine self-worth lie?
What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.”
What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.”
But unlike the rich man and the Pharisees, God sees nothing noble, commendable, or trustworthy about any of this. As I implied earlier the parable is an example of a bad example. What not to emulate about human nature.
Jesus also said ““See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”-Matthew 10:16
When you put it together The takeaway is don’t be naive, but be cautious in navigating this wicked world. Yet don’t let caution lead to bitterness and cynicism. Most of the time we go to either extreme, instead of a wise balance.
Jesus also said ““See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”-Matthew 10:16
When you put it together The takeaway is don’t be naive, but be cautious in navigating this wicked world. Yet don’t let caution lead to bitterness and cynicism. Most of the time we go to either extreme, instead of a wise balance.
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| “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” -1 Corinthians 16:13 |
