The Power of Money

“Parable: The Shrewd Manager”

Luke 16:1-8

            When is being dishonest good? In answering this question we might want to say it depends on the situation. For if a wife asks her husband, “Does this dress make me look overweight”? The husband has to be very diplomatic in how he answers this, but does so in a caring way.

            But if we say someone is shrewd just what are we stating? When one reflects on Jesus’ disciples, we often say that they are meek, gentle, nice, mild,. Yet were they also realistic, astute, tough and shrewd.

            A rich man’s manager was accused of wasting his possessions. He called him in and asked him, “What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management.” So the manager knowing that he would be fired still wanted to make amends to the debtors, after all he would be needing a job and they might hire him. The debtors came to the manager and he made deals with these people. One owed 800 gallons of olive oil—he changed the bill to read 400 gallons; A second debtor owed 1000 bushels of wheat—and the manager make it 800 instead. Upon reading the account books, the master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly.

            What is Jesus purpose in telling this parable? People need to make a choice- serve God or money but not both. The manager is an employee who is in control of his master’s business. He is responsible for cashflow, credit and debts. He is entrusted with the every day working of the business and in this story the manager also needs to show what he has done for the master. The manager knows that he will be fired but he has to act. He calls in two of the debtors and changes what they owe knowing that the master will get some of the debt repaid but maybe, just maybe he overcharged them in the first place and had planned to pocket the difference?

            Yet the master commends the shrewdness of the manager because of what he did in acting with foresight and anticipating what would happen in the future. He looks beyond the present moment and into the future and so acts with cleverness and judgment.

            We are also to look beyond the moment- preparing ourselves to be with God forevermore. Living according to Christ and following God and not living for money.

We are to follow Christ’s teaching and be shrewd with money and as we assist in meeting the needs of fellow believers and spreading the gospel. We are to be faithful with money and live within our means. How are you living faithfully with your money? Are you in need of God’s guidance with this? Pray to God….

PRAYER:

God of love you are first in our lives even though we think money is most important to get what we want. Change our attitude and enable us to put you first for you promise to care and provide all we need. Hear us as we pray to you as we strive to be your faithful followers. Amen.

BLOG QUESTION

Jesus parable of the shrewd manager is one of several in which he points out the choice each follower must make. God or money we cannot serve both. Have you chosen wisely? Or it is time again to look at what the stewardship of money is about for you?