Parables
“The Shrewd Manager”
A rich man has a manager who was up to no good. And so he fires him and calls him to give an account.
The manager was squandering his boss’s money. The word here for “squandering” is the same word used to describe what the Prodigal Son did with his Father’s money.
It literally means to throw wheat up into the air so that the chaff can blow away. Hold that image in your mind. This is what the manager was doing.
Essentially throwing money to the wind. And now judgement day was upon him.
The manager is faced with a crisis. And there is no time to lose.
He assesses his situation. How will he make a living?
He’s too soft to dig and labour; and he’s too proud to beg.
He has limited time left to secure his future.
So he calls in those who have done business with him and reduces what they owe.
The amounts are huge.
But what he does is secure his future.
The way that life was lived in those days was that business acquaintances provided hospitality to each other.
Based on what he had done - this manager could now retire.
And the rich man congratulates his manager’s shrewdness. Some suggest that the rich man was placed in an awkward position because the debtors may well have associated the owner with this tremendous show of generosity.
The story itself is easy to follow. It is simple.
However, it is recognised as the most difficult parable Jesus told because it is easy to misunderstand it.
It’s easy to hear Jesus incorrectly.
The difficulty of the parable is that the hero is a villain.
So let’s quickly clarify some points.
Jesus is not encouraging dishonesty or holding up the manager as a role model in the way to serve an employer or go about business.
Elsewhere Jesus tells a parable about a thief in the night. The lesson there is not to break into other people’s homes.
Jesus is using a “how much more…” argument. As He often did. “If you being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit” (Lk 11:13)
It is an argument from the lesser to the greater.
The use of a villain here is colourful and draws people in.
We have it throughout many stories in the world – fact and fiction.
Robin Hood.
The movie “Oceans 11”.
The Great Train Robbery in the UK in the 1960’s. Ronald Briggs became a folk-hero.
Various world leaders who were villains but enjoyed great popularity.
Nixon.
Clinton. His popularity actually increased after his indiscretions.
I suppose that upon hearing this story people may well have chuckled.
A rich man was outflanked. This story only appears in Luke and he was especially concerned with the poor.
So - “Yah! The rich have been tricked”.
It is a story that in and of itself is simply a good yarn.
But then – as parables have the habit of doing – its impact begins to settle upon your soul.
You have been drawn in and you now realise that it challenges you.
Calls you to a response.
Jesus makes a comparison between who He terms the “people of the world” and the “people of the light”.
He wishes that His people, the people of the light, would act with the same degree of urgency and perspective as the manager.
The manager saw that his time was short, an account was being called for and he took action that had the future clearly in view.
He used the resources he had cleverly.
Why, Jesus wonders aloud, do not the people of the light live life with that kind of perspective?
Why, Jesus asks, do the people of the light who know that life stretches into eternity; who know that there is a day of judgment; who know that an account will be required of every person – why do they not live with even more urgency than this manager?
Why do they not use the resources they have with God’s future in mind?
Why do they not use money to impact people knowing that one day they will be welcomed into eternal dwellings by God Himself?
Because – whatever we do to the least of His brethren we do to Him?
Is it because maybe they are worshipping the wrong God? (You cannot serve two masters).
Is it because they fail to see that money is the litmus test to even greater things in life? (Whoever can be trusted with very little can be trusted with very much).
If they cannot be faithful in money – which will end – how will they handle responsibilities of far greater worth?
At its heart – this is a story about money, relationships and certainty of God’s purposes for the world.
Jesus says "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." (Luke 16:9)
This is not Jesus saying to manipulate people and literally “buy” their salvation. He is saying that this world and its things will pass away – use the resources at your disposal with generosity, grace and Godliness.
You have a view of history that many are unaware of. Lives are at stake.
This is a story which strikes at the heart of every believer about how we live and use money.
It is a story about bringing the use of money under the rule and realm of God.
Right now things are tough here in NZ.
One of the most depressing tasks is going to the petrol station and filling your car. The petrol pump just keeps ticking over and over and the amount increasing at the speed of light.
Interest rates keep going up.
Food prices are high.
So – this parable is maybe better applied when maybe there is a bit more money left over.
But you don’t actually need a lot of money to embrace what Jesus is talking about here.
Imagine if you could spare $20 what you might do with that to bless someone in the spirit of this parable.
$20 is a good cup of coffee and some food at a café for you and someone who is stressed out and just needs a bit of space.
$20 slipped into the hand of someone – or given anonymously – could be literally an answer to prayer.
$20 is not a lot. You probably won’t even miss it.
Imagine what you could do with $50.
Holding this parable in your heart, saying to God “You are my Master and it is You that I serve. Not money. I have $50. How can I serve You with that?”
I wonder what He would say?
I wonder who He would lead you do so that you “could gain friends, so that when the money is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings by God”.
I wonder if you took a deep breath and you dedicated $100 to giving this parable legs what good you could do?
We are disciples of Christ; citizens of a Kingdom founded on love, justice, mercy and grace.
A Kingdom founded on the death and resurrection of its King Who has promised that He will return.
He declares this parable to us.
What do you say?
Shall we honour it?
Shall we do what it says?
Presented By: Rev. Geoff New