This guy essentially is about to get fired, so he writes off significant amounts of debt that his master in owed in hopes of finding favor with those who owe. He's making his exit strategy. He thinks through what he is and is not good at then makes the decision to set the foundation for a life that he can find tolerable, if not comfortable.
Here's the point that Jesus is making to the disciples that he is speaking to and the Pharisees listening in - if people are willing to use their talent, wit, and intelligence to benefit themselves, why aren't we doing the same thing for the Kingdom of God?
That's a great question. I bring the full force of my knowledge, skills, and abilities to bear on my work. We need money to survive in this world, so we work hard to earn it then use wisdom in how we decide to spend and save it. If the Kingdom and the Church is so important to me, doesn't it also deserve my full effort?
Last week, I came to the conclusion that in order to be rich towards God, I needed to really consider if everything I have is available to Him if He asks for it. This text forces me to realize that He gave me intelligence, wisdom, and drive in some measure as well. It's compels me to consider He didn't give me those just to earn a living, but for His glory and benefit. So now the question changes. If I have made everything (or even just some things as I mature) in my life available, how am I proactively using or preparing to use those to benefit the Kingdom?
What if I take account of the gifts God has given me? I'm responsible for the accounting of how I use them, just like in the Parable of the Talents. We all have a responsibility to use what we have just like an good businessman would consider what he has and what he needs to pursue the passion of his drive.
One last thought from the conversation my Bride and I had - it's easy for me as a recovering pharisee to take this down a legalistic road and try to figure out how all of my gifts are being used all the time for the work of Christ. It's not going to happen that way. We can always give monetarily because it's always needed. It's a great form of worship. We can also look around us to the believers we need to connect with and the people we have the opportunity to reach. Then take a look at your gifts and start working on how make those connections using the gifts, blessings, and talents you have.
Luke 16:1-15New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Shrewd Manager
16 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’
3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’
5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
6 “‘Nine hundred gallons[a] of olive oil,’ he replied.
“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’
7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’
“‘A thousand bushels[b] of wheat,’ he replied.
“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’
8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.
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