Luke 16:1-15 — Parables
The Shrewd Manager
Disciples of Jesus must learn to be as shrewd about the spiritual value of money as worldly people are about its material value, using wealth generously rather than selfishly.
Introduction
What would you do with sudden wealth? Most of us have thought about it or dreamed about it. If a long lost relative left us a pile of money, most of us can think about how we would spend it. Most of us think in terms of “if I had just a little more.” Of course, the problem really isn’t the amount of money that we have but our disposition and thinking about money that really determines our wealth.
Jesus had a lot to say about wealth and the parable that we are going to look at this morning is no exception. It is a parable that both perplexes and challenges. It is a story intended to lead to both the nodding of the head in agreement and surprise in its application. It is challenging to think about money and how it is to be used. It is even more challenging when the son of God adds some twists which are designed to convict his disciples. May we be challenged and convicted this morning.
The Story
Chapter 16 needs to be seen in the greater context of chapter 15. Luke gives no real break between the two chapters and neither should we see a new section. In chapter 15, Jesus is criticized because he welcomes sinners to be near to him. Jesus tells three parables about the importance of finding that which is lost. Beginning in chapter 16 he continues the same thought except that he turns the focus just a bit. He now focuses on those who think of themselves as in God’s favor. While 16:1 begins with Luke’s narration that he is speaking to the disciples, verse 14 leaves no doubt that others are listening in on his story and are offended by what Jesus has to say. The aim of the parable is to challenge the disciples but it is to convict the religious leaders of their sin.
Jesus tells the story of a manager who has wasted the master’s wealth. This results in his being fired. The master wants a final accounting and so the manager is faced with the reality of knowing that in short order he is not going to have a job. He can’t dig ditches. Much as we would say that we can’t flip hamburgers at McDonald’s after having such an important job. He will not beg. So he does something extremely wise. He makes friends with his master’s debtors. He does this by lessening their debt. While there is some debate about how he does this, it is enough to say that the outcome is what he had hoped for. He may be fired but the debtors will welcome him as a possible manager for their own wealth.
Jesus makes his point in verses 8 and 9. This text is difficult to understand but even more so when it is misused and abused. Jesus is making a comparison between those who are his disciples and those who are not. Those who are not disciples are very wise (shrewd) in the ways of the world. Notice, however, that Jesus still calls the manager dishonest even though he is wisely shrewd. This is not an endorsement of what he is doing. It is a way of comparing worldly wisdom and spiritual wisdom.
The point is clear: worldly people are so much wiser about money than Jesus’ disciples are about the spiritual use of money. People of this world are able to deal with other worldly people in wisely shrewd ways. There is an appreciation for how this world turns and how one is able to get what one wants in business through a simple yet profound method. Our political system turns on the wealth of corporations and individuals “helping” our legislators decide what is important. This lobbying for attention has gone on for decades. Money talks. Politicians listen to the one who brings money. Shrewdness occurs in most facets of life. The reward is power, prestige, and more wealth. This is the way of the world. And those of this world know how to work in this world to their advantage.
But the children of light do not understand the spiritual world at the same depth as those of this world understand their world. In verse 9, the children of light are to use money in a different way. The people of this world use money as if it will last. Children of light understand that money is temporary. Knowing this then we are to use money to gain friends. This isn’t to buy our way into people’s lives. It emphasizes generosity. Give so that you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. God is the one who receives the generous. The worldly wise know how to use money to their advantage. The children of light need to know just as much spiritually.
Application
The application of the parable follows. People of this world demonstrate their trustworthiness by doing the little things well. Do the little things well and more will be given to you. Then Jesus applies this worldly value to spiritual reality. If you haven’t handled worldly wealth, then how could you expect God to honor you with truly important things? For if you have turned your attention to gaining worldly wealth then God is not your true God. I know this is what Jesus meant because of the reaction of the religious leaders. They sneer at Jesus. They don’t like the point he is making. Jesus’ final words in verse 15 are convicting. What is valued in this world is detestable to God. The point cannot be missed—these religious leaders have gone after that which is detestable to God.
So what does this mean for us? What does God really think about money and our usage of it? God goes after the ones that no one else wants to go after. That is evident from Luke 15. Chapter 16 is about going after those who think they are okay with God when they really aren’t. He challenges them to change the way they think about money. But not only do they not want to change how they look at money, they are offended by the suggestion that anything needs to change. But that is exactly the point. Jesus says those who are children of light need to become wiser about money. It isn’t that we need to learn more about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and retirement accounts. We need to learn more about generosity.
Who hasn’t thought, if I had a million dollars I would give most of it away? That’s a nice sentiment. It also means you will probably never be called on to do that. The question isn’t what will you do with a million dollars. The real question is what are you going to do with $100? Jesus wants us to focus on looking at money differently. We are to be generous. Give it away because one day it will be gone. Generosity isn’t about the amount we give away but the intent of the heart. “I’d give more if I had more” is an easy way out of a difficult dilemma. We live in this world, but we look at money differently than others.
Remember the widow in Mark 12? She gave the least amount but God said she gave more than any other. She gave less than a penny. But it was more than a million dollars. Why? Because of the intent of her heart. Do we want to be generous with God’s money or do we want to treat it like it is our own? We spend a lot of time thinking about money. Most of the time we think about it in terms of paying our bills. Most of the time we think about it in terms of gaining more and buying more which only results in more bills. That is the way this world thinks about money. Children of light think of money differently. Children of light think about how they can give it away. Children of light think of generosity. And until our thinking becomes more like God’s in this regard, God will detest how we spend our money while the world will call us successful. One language is easier to hear. The other language calls for radical changes. Which language do you speak? The language of the world or the language of God’s children?
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