Lost Parables: Shrewd ManagerPosted by Phil on May 19th, 2009
typically we take the word shrewd to be somewhat on the negative side…yet Jesus tells a parable about how we should be like the shrewd manager. webster defines shrewd as….clever discerning awareness.
this is a parable seems like it would have been written today, not 2000 years ago. but at the time, Jewish people were not to charge interest on loans they give to people. however, they would at times fudge their books a bit and record more than they gave out to make up for this.
so in Luke 16, we have the property manager of a rich landowner who is being called into questioning. we’re told he is going to lose his job and is asked to give an account of the books. so the manager calls all the owners debtors and cuts them a deal. “you owe how much?….how ’bout we knock 30% off that and call it good?” he’s trying to make a good name for himself to make him worth hiring once he loses his job.
we hit verses 8-9 and it doesn’t fit into our normal understanding of the Christian life. its one point where people of this world are given credit over people of light. they’ll sacrifice the way things should be done in order to make friends.
really…we have so much. we have been blessed beyond what we can imagine. feeling guilty about it doesn’t do any good. but money is a tool and if not watched closely can consume you and become a god.
as believers, do we use our talents, abilities, and/or finances to cleverly reach people. you see, there are times when people aren’t ready for Christ. a relationship w/ God is a huge need in their life, but it’s not a felt need. your compassion towards others to meet their felt needs might open the door later on to point them to the greatest need they didn’t even know existed.