I love the parables of Jesus. In many cases we can relate to the simple stories and see the deeper spiritual meaning, especially when Jesus explained himself. However, sometimes the parables are not so clear, or we can’t even relate to the topic in our lives today. Recently I led a small group discussion about the Parable of the Shrewd Manager in Luke 16. This is one of those parables that has always left me baffled, so I needed a little prayer and spiritual discernment before I could make sense of this one.
Luke 16:1-9 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 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.’
3 “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— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’
5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
6 “ ‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied.
“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’
7 “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.’
8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
Really?! This guy was commended? What does this mean? If the rich man represents God and I am a steward like the manager then what is commendable about the debt forgiveness using someone else’s wealth? No matter what assumptions I made, I could not make sense of the story. That’s because I missed Jesus’ point. Jesus was not commending this man. God did not represent the rich man and was not commending this man. This was a parable about acting shrewdly and more specifically, Jesus declared, “the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.”
What did he mean by that? Let’s reexamine the story and think about what the manager knew and how he responded. First, he knew he was going to lose his job. He didn’t react defensively so he probably considered the rich man’s actions justified. He also knew that he wasn’t strong enough to dig and was too ashamed to beg so he needed to position himself for a new job or at least a place to stay. Knowing he was on his way out he quickly approached each of his master’s debtors and helped them out by forgiving some of their debt in hopes of building rapport with them. The master (not Jesus) called these actions shrewd. Maybe the master himself operated in this conniving way, but that is not explicitly stated, nor does it really matter. His shrewd actions likely improved his position after he lost his job allowing him to be welcomed into people’s homes.
Jesus stated that people of the light don’t act this shrewdly with their own kind. This is where the parable should bring conviction. What I think Jesus meant is that we know we will one day leave this world and enter eternity when our time comes. What shrewd things are we doing to prepare for that day? When we meet Jesus face to face, will we receive the “Well done, good and faithful servant” praise? The economy of the kingdom of God is upside down in comparison with the economy of the world. The way we prepare for eternity requires a Jesus mindset. Take a look at some of these scriptures:
Luke 12:31–34 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 19:29–30 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Matthew 5:43–47 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Romans 12:20–21 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Matthew 20:26–28 Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 16:24–27 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.
Matthew 25:22–23 “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
The theme here is clear. There is reward and treasure in heaven and it is available for those who humble themselves, love others, take care of their enemies, are generous with their possessions and who seek God’s kingdom first. This is kingdom shrewdness and Jesus said the people of the light don’t do it as well as we should.
Jesus went on to say a few more things about wealth as you read on in Luke 16. In verse 9 He told us to use worldly wealth to gain friends for ourselves. Be generous, bless people with it. After all, it will be gone someday. In so doing you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. Maybe these eternal dwellings represent those people who received the salvation and love of Jesus Christ through your generosity and love. Finally, Jesus gave parting words to the pharisees when he said, “God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.” Luke 16:15b
We need to be shrewd enough to know what is highly valued in God’s sight and to invest in those things.
