I never understood the parable of the "shrewd" manager in Luke 16. I couldn't figure out what aspect Jesus was complimenting about an accountant who wasn't doing what he was supposed to in the first place, and then he went through and inappropriately cut people's debts when he found out he was going to loose his job - hoping that someone would give him a job when he lost this one. So, I read a commentary on this passage:
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/index.php?action=getCommentaryText&cid=50&source=2&seq=i.49.16.1
I see two things:
- We must be faithful with the resources that God has placed in our care. The truth is that I don't own a single thing, not even my "own" body!
- Considering that we are ministers of reconciliation, it is actually appropriate for us to help people see that their debt with God has not been lessened, it has been ELIMINATED through CHRIST!
Heavenly Father, I confess that I own nothing. You have blessed me with the opportunity to use the breath, body, gifts, talents, mind, strength, financial resources, relationships, and every other aspect/resource of my life (all which you gave me) for the glory of your Name and for the advancement of your Kingdom. May I be continually working to bring you glory and fame - motivated by my expectation of my Savior's return. May I share with others your love, life, and light - that they may experience your Goodness, Wisdom, Power, and Presence. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
As an accountant, I compare this parable to what is happening in our society today. There is a lot of "debt-spending" among the majority of people. Meaning people are living well beyond their means because they can get "credit" and "loans" without having anything to back it up. This is what a large part of the problem that has our economy in trouble. Example, a lot of people have loans on homes they cannot afford. When they look at home loans, most likely they will only take into account the monthly amount they have to pay on mortgage, and don't consider other bills like utility, home-owner's insurance, etc; and end up not being able to make ends meet because they don't know how to budget. This is easily compensated on their end by charging the difference to credit cards. So now they are fighting 2 debts, and the second is at a larger interest rate. This isn't even adding vehicles, new TV's and other "luxuries" that they don't really need. They think "as long as I have credit, I'm okay."
ReplyDeleteThis sets me up to the parable. The manager is like the loan officer who sit and make these loan decisions. They know that these people will not be able to pay these off; and instead of giving them sound financial advice; they act out of greed. But when it comes time to "collect", the owner is the one losing out because of faulty dealings (again, just like the bailout from the government, which I completely disagree with; but that is another story in itself).
Since a parable that Jesus tells always has spiritual implications; the question we should be asking ourself is "What is the spiritual implication I need to find?"
It is found in verses 9-13, "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the {use of} unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true {riches} to you? And if you have not been faithful in {the use of} that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
The message is this, be honest in your dealings with non-believers, especially in regards to money and wealth. Because non-believers put their trust in many things, but one of the biggest things they put their trust in is wealth. Jesus says, if you are honest (shrewdly in verse 8 in Greek is phronimos, which means "prudently and wisely") with those who are unbelievers, when their wealth fails; and they have nothing else to trust, they will receive the "Good News" you share with them. Where the "unjust manager" became wise in his dealings; was helping others manage their debt; and by doing so gained the trust of those in debt, and his employer.
In my example of the economy, I know a lot of Christ-Followers who deal with mortgage loans, financial advice, etc. If a Christ-Follower is a Loan Officer who met with a person who had bad credit and wasn't wise in their financial dealings; he should advise them on how to correct it. If we mislead the non-believer in one aspect of life (financial wisdom, marital advice/purity, etc); how do we expect them to trust the message of Christ?