I had an opportunity to spend some great time in fellowship with my brother-in-law Dick Ayres recently in Arkansas. He has been a mentor and brother in the faith for many years. He shared some insight into Luke 16 1-9, and following, I thought might make good foundations for thinking and discussion. So, I will share a bit of that here this week.
[Luke 16:1-9 NASB95] 1 Now He was also saying to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and this [manager] was reported to him as squandering his possessions. 2 “And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg. 4 ‘I know what I shall do, so that when I am removed from the management people will welcome me into their homes.’ 5 “And he summoned each one of his master’s debtors, and he [began] saying to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 “And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 “Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ And he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 “And his master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light. 9 “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.
This parable can be a bit confusing to some because it appears the unrighteous steward/manager is commended for mismanaging his master’s wealth. However that is not what the commendation of his master is about. And, Jesus is simply using this example to make a point for those of us that serve Him while we are in the world and handle worldly wealth.
In verse 2 the unrighteous manager is asked to give an accounting and warned of his impending release/firing as manager. In verse 3, he considers his current position including that he is not going to be in management much longer and that he, himself, is too weak to dig and too proud to beg. Then, an idea comes to him! And, in verse 4 he says “I know what I will do…”; and please note the turn here in his idea. He is moving beyond being released from his job, and is going toward doing now what he can that will benefit him in relation to the worldly wealth and authority he has been entrusted with “so that… people will welcome me into their homes.”
He then goes about making friends of his master’s debtors, in verse 5-7, reducing their debt so that they will, after he is out of management, welcome him in when the time comes.
Then in verse 8, the astonishing part, or turn in the story. His master praises him, not so much for what he has done, at least not for the master. But for his SHREWD actions that benefited himself in winning welcome from others. . “his master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly”
The parable continues with the statement “for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.” What does Jesus mean by this indictment of the sons of light? As He says the sons of this age, by way of referencing the unrighteous steward/manager, are more shrewd than the sons of light, the indication is that we have something to learn hereby and from this man’s actions.
What did he do? His brilliant and shrewd idea was to use unrighteous mammon which was entrusted to him to win the favor of others and for his benefit down the road.
How many of us are doing so? In other places Jesus warned of loving wealth or position. So the indication is not to do that. But the clear indication is that we should use what we are entrusted with, in terms of wealth and position in the world so, as Jesus says in inverse 9, when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. He foreshadows a time when this worldly mammon/riches and authority will fail and be worthless. But says now is the time to use the value it has to prepare for that time.
Look at His instruction in verse 9 and consider it. 9 “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.
…make friends for yourselves . Benefit yourself now, winning the favor of others by benefiting them.
How do you do this? …by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, By using what you have in terms of wealth or position entrusted to you to benefit others/ them.
And, the result: so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. When that unrighteous mammon fails, you will find others blessing you, and welcoming you. And, not just welcoming you into their homes here, but receiving you, not into homes passing away, but eternal dwellings!
The indication is to consider what you may be entrusted with and how to steward it now, even unto giving it away, so that there will be those who have been drawn into eternal dwellings themselves, and will upon seeing you in that hour, when this “stuff” has no value, rejoice at welcoming and receiving you into that which is is place of eternal comfort, belonging, and the Master’s presence.
What you give into missions or unto others now, of what you have been entrusted with of unrighteous or worldly wealth or position, can benefit you greatly (although you may not see that now), and benefit others as well, whom it does directly benefit here and now, but even more so benefits in terms of eternity.
So be shrewd. Don’t be afraid to gain worldly wealth or positions. But, understand you will have to be shrewd, in stewarding well, more shrewd than the sons of this age if you are to act as shrewd sons of light. Gathering to yourself and squandering the master’s possessions will benefit no one, not you or anyone else. Gathering and shrewdly benefiting yourself and others by it will reap that which is eternal for many in the Kingdom you are in, are a part of, and exhibit now.
You are not of this world, so holding on to what it holds and valuing it tightly to be grasped, makes no sense. Having it is not sin. But not using it to benefit yourself and others for the Kingdom you are truly of, may be sin. Seek to use it in service of the King to serve and benefit others, and you are likely to see eternal benefit as you seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Another passage Dick and I talked about was the “Render unto Caesar” passage you find in Matthew 22, Mark 12 and Luke 20. He shared another good insight that seemed to compliment this passage we have just considered. Here is Mark’s exposition.
[Mark 12:13-17 NASB95] 13 Then they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him in order to trap Him in a statement. 14 They came and said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? 15 “Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.” 16 They brought [one.] And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17 And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.
Many of us have heard, and most likely considered, this passage. And have focused on the cleverness of Jesus’ answer which amazed them. He looks at the image on the coin and asks who’s image it is on it. It is simple, it is Caesar’s. So, He directs them to give unto Caesar that which is His.
But how many of us have considered what is the implication of looking at that image, and then also saying to them to “Render….to God the things that are God’s.” What bears God’s image? We do! The Pharisee’s did. Their trick question was focused on paying a tax to the Government? But, Jesus’ answer looks at another coin, if you will. It brings to light the conviction of the question regarding giving to God that which bears His image! Wasn’t Jesus answer indeed an instruction to consider giving yourself, all that you are, and all that have, to Him.
[Gen 1:26-27 NASB95] 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Selah –
May we be found good stewards, not for the sake of making ourselves more righteous by works. For, our only righteousness is found by being in Christ Jesus. But, may our stewardship, under His Lordship, be for the sake of the Kingdom, giving to Him fully that which is His.