The Parables of Jesus: Holy Shrewdness

He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.  And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.'  And the manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.  I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.'  So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'  He said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'  Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'  The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.  And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.  "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.  If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?  And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?  No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." - Luke 16:1‭-‬13 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

This is a very challenging passage. In this story, Jesus appears to commend dishonest behavior. How do we handle this? It is a very difficult story to accept. Is Jesus telling us to be like Bernie Madoff? Why is this dishonest manager commended for shrewdness?

Here's an interpretation that seems​ to best fit what we know of Jesus. Charging interest was sinful. Usury was held up with adultery as sinfulness. So how did this work? Money managers were hired by the rich. And managers were blamed, if the charging of interest was discovered.

So why does this matter? The manager probably cut the interest from these debts. Since charging interest is sinful, the rich man cannot claim the interest without incriminating himself. Not only that, but the rich man looks generous. And the dishonest manager curries favor with the people around him since he was about to be fired. This is some Oceans Eleven type of thinking. The manager was using the resources around him to secure his future.

The world is so much better than Christians in being shrewd. We look at it as negative, but that isn't how we should see it. Shrewdness is insight, foresight, and diligence. We are called to be shrewd as snakes, innocent as doves.

The application of holy shrewdness

How to apply this in our lives? Firstly, we cannot allow money to master our lives. We cannot look to money for security. Money masters us quietly and quietly. We are very much like the Pharisees. We can look like God fearing and spiritual people, but what will Jesus see inside our hearts?

We need to examine our hearts in regards to finances. Consider tithing. We do eGiving here. It can easily be a set it and forget it, kind of thing. But we can think that just by tithing, we are being obedient financially. But we should consider everyday, what we spend, what we save, what we spend money on.

We should be creatively and diligently considering everything we do to maximize the impact for God's kingdom and His glory. Examine the passions, strengths, stewardship, and opportunities that God has given us.

The result of holy shrewdness

If you have invested your money and resources well, may those who you have served and ministered to... be the ones to welcome you into heaven. Generosity done well points to Christ. But not only that, but it points to Christ in you. If you can't handle earthly riches well, then you cannot handle heavenly riches. Shrewd stewardship doesn't save, but it shows that we know Jesus, who poured out all his resources in our behalf. If we are gripped by Christ, who gave his all for us, then we will desire to pour ourselves out for others.