THE PARABLE OF THE DISHONEST BUT SHREWD MANAGER
OR, A BAD MAN’S GOOD EXAMPLE.
(Luke 16:1-15)

1. Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager[1] 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. “‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied.  “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’
7. “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’  “‘A thousand bushels 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 servant can serve two masters.  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 both God and Money.”
14. The Pharisees[2], 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 men, but God knows your hearts.  What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.

A SHREWD FARM-MANAGER

The two themes of this story are the prudent use of material wealth and the need for decisive action in a time of crisis.  The manager employed by a well-to-do landowner to look after his estates, and keep his accounts, had mismanaged his master’s affairs.  His job made it easy for him to misappropriate funds.  When his master ordered him to turn in his books, since his job was ended, the dishonest steward took some hasty measures with an eye to his future interests.  Immediately he made preparations for his future.  He disliked manual labour and he despised begging.  So he called his master’s debtors and reduced their debts substantially and altered the entries accordingly.

As quite large amounts were involved, this reduction of debt should make the debtors feel a sense of gratitude to him.  These debtors were probably relatively rich in their own right and might employ him in the future.  One view argues that he made good the difference out of his own pocket or perhaps he was cutting out his commissions.  As the master had not jailed him, he staked everything on his master’s generosity.  His master approved the manager’s prudence and resourcefulness as he had acted astutely to provide for his own interests in the future.

The Pharisees, the official interpreters of God’s Law, were upset by this story that portrayed them as wasting God’s goods.  They saw wealth as a mark of God’s favour for their keeping of God’s law, and despised the poverty of Jesus as a sign of God’s disapproval.  Jesus further rebuked these religious hypocrites and their self-righteousness by saying to them, “For there is nothing more loathsome to God than human pride.” (Barclay).

THE INTERPRETATION OF THIS PARABLE IS OPEN TO QUESTION.

This is not an easy parable to understand for it is perhaps the most puzzling parable that Jesus taught.  The main character is a rogue and the story seems to teach that dishonest practice in business is acceptable.  This story about the stewardship of wealth was specifically addressed to disciples of Jesus (verse 1) while the Pharisees were in the background (verse 14).  The “rich man”, like the “householder” in other parables, is God who appoints the managers and calls them to account.

The story is applicable to all who have “possessions” or resources entrusted to them, and include any ministries, gifts, graces, and opportunities in the kingdom of God.  The self-righteous Pharisees had failed to use what had been assigned to them for the good of Israel and for the glory of God.  It was a warning for Christ’s disciples then and now about the misuse of God-given responsibilities.

One of the problems of verse 8 (Christ’s apparent approval of dishonesty and manipulation of money) is solved if it is accepted that the “master” was the master of the fraudulent steward, not Christ himself.  The purpose of the story is not to commend the manager’s dishonesty.  His handling of the affairs of his master’s estate was wrong and Jesus disapproved of the manager’s fraud (verse 10).  However, Christ commended the steward in that his foresight and vigorous concern for his own security is contrasted with the half-hearted concern of Christians for eternal values.

Bishop J. C. Ryle remarks:

“The diligence of worldly men about the things of time should put to shame the coldness of professing Christians about the things of eternity.”[3]

A STORY ABOUT THREE DISHONEST PERSONS

In this parable there is not one honest character.  One interpretation explains this parable as a story about three rogues: the steward who had a career of embezzlement, the debtors who were debited with less rent than they owed, and the master who appreciated shrewdness.[4]

Regardless of the interpretation adopted, the master commended the manager “for acting shrewdly and prudently” (Amplified Bible) or “for looking ahead” (Moffatt Translation), or “astuteness” (Jerusalem Bible), and perhaps gained for himself an undeserved reputation for generosity.  The master does not clear the steward from guilt and he was apparently dismissed from his service.  Both men were acting positively in a difficult situation.  However the story is interpreted, the point remains the same: the shrewd manager had decisively used the means at his disposal to plan for his future welfare at a time of crisis.  The story has much to teach Christians.

CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE ACTIVE IN THE SERVICE OF GOD (verses 8-13)

This puzzling story of the unjust steward is explained in the verses that immediately follow it.  The dishonest manager had been careful to plan ahead and use material things to make sure a secure future.  Jesus was not teaching his disciples to be dishonest but that they should use material things for future spiritual benefit.  Money, used wisely for others, may be transformed into true riches in the kingdom of God.  If only people would take similar care with their eternal destiny.  This was a good lesson from a bad example.  The story was an encouragement to be spiritually prudent.

Frederick Coutts comments:

“Christians are called upon to show the same perception, foresight, enterprise and ingenuity in the service of God as worldlings show in the service of success.  If some believers gave to their spiritual welfare only half the time and thought they give to their material welfare, their lives and values would be transformed.”[5]

People in financial or legal trouble will use money to secure influence, and in this story money is seen to be useful only for what it can do.  Worldly people use wealth to prepare for their earthly future.  Why cannot the “people of the light” i.e. believers use it to prepare for their eternal future?  Money, like everything else, will be seen in its true perspective in eternity.  Well-intentioned as Christians are, they often lack the wisdom to use what they have as sensibly as the non-Christians use their possessions for different ends.  Christians should use their possessions prudently because we are only God’s managers of everything we have.  The following story of the rich man and Lazarus makes the same point.

 THREE PRINCIPLES OF FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP.

1. Christians Should Use Their Possessions Astutely.

First, verses 8b-9speak of “unrighteous mammon”(KJV) or “worldly wealth” (NIV; TEV[6]) or “the god of this world’s wealth” (Barclay[7]).  “Mammon” (KJV) is an Aramaic word for possessions, wealth, property or “money” (NIV).  This word occurs in the Bible only in Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:9, 11, 13.  Christ used this word to mean “an egocentric covetousness which claims a man’s heart and estranges him from God; when a man ‘owns’ anything, in reality it owns him.”^[8]  The NIV spells money with a capital ‘M’, giving it the position of a god.

However, Jesus was not implying that money is inherently evil; it is morally neutral.  It is not money itself but “the love of money” which Scripture affirms to be “the root of all evils” (1 Timothy 6:10 RSV[9]).  Too often it is gained unfairly, or by greed, and used for unjust ends.  Jesus implied that material wealth is temporary in nature and will not go with us into eternal life.  It will “fail” i.e. when we die money is of no more use to us.

Therefore we should use our wealth wisely in this life.  We should “make friends” with it. That is, use it to bless others in the kingdom of God.  In the context of this chapter of Luke’s gospel this probably means that we should care for the needy, so that when we die and our wealth is left behind at death, those needy welcome their sponsor into heaven.  According to this view, money should be used to meet people’s material and spiritual needs.  Wealth should be a disciple’s servant, not vice versa. 

This interpretation does not support salvation by works but salvation with works.  Jesus is not saying that someone can buy the favour of God or buy his way into heaven with good works.  We cannot be saved by good deeds.  Salvation is by grace through faith as a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Faith in Jesus Christ is the only condition God requires for salvation.  The Christian life from beginning to end relies upon the grace of God.

2.Integrity Is Often Tested In Money Matters.

Secondly, Jesus’ words in verses 10-12 further make it clear that he is not disapproving of money itself.  On the contrary, our level of responsibility in his kingdom will depend on how we manage the resources, including money, which God gives us in this life.  Jesus commended faithfulness, honesty, prudence, and discretion.  He established the principle that whoever makes good use of small opportunities of service will be trusted with larger opportunities.  Neither faithfulness nor dishonesty is an accident.  Both arise out of a person’s character and are a test of character.

How people look after a little is an indication as to how they will look after a larger amount.  Honesty in something small is a measure of trustworthiness in something great.  If one is faithful in his use of money, then he can be trusted with greater things.  “True riches” seem to refer to spiritual riches that are more valuable and important.  We might ask: what condition are our finances in?  Are we overseeing our material resources prudently and faithfully (no matter how much or how little we have)?  One who cannot handle their own affairs properly will not be asked to manage the affairs of another.  The Christian is expected to manage well and honestly the getting and spending of money.  Possessions should be used carefully, generously, and usefully for the kingdom of God.

3. The Choice Between the Service of God and the Service of Self.

The final application is found in verses 12-13.  God’s claims are exclusive.  We either belong to him totally or not at all.  Love for money will drive one away from God (1 Timothy 6:10).  Conversely, loving God will cause one not to make money the main concern in life.  All of our earthly goods ultimately come from God and belong to him (1 Chronicles 29:14).  We only manage them on his behalf.  We cannot take them with us when we die.  We cannot serve God properly if we think that our money and our property belong to us.  We will end up serving “mammon”, rather than God.  In the NT “mammon” (KJV; RSV) represents money, material wealth and the earthly things on which people trust, and set their hearts.

E. E. Ellis comments:

“Since the service of mammon is presented as an alternative to the service of God, mammon seems to be a rival to God.  Service of mammon and service of God are mutually exclusive.  The servant of mammon, in other words, is an idol worshiper: mammon, wealth, money has become an idol, the object of worship.”^[10]

CONCLUSION: THE TEST OF FAITHFULNESS

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2)

Life is a stewardship, and we must use our God-given opportunities faithfully.  In particular, money should be handled carefully in case it replaces our love for God.  Sometimes it is difficult for wealthy people to keep God at the centre of their lives.  Jesus gave the example of the dishonest steward who used his opportunity wisely and prepared for the future.

One day we must give an account to the Lord of what we have done with all he has given us.  Paul wrote to the church at Rome, “For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.” (Romans 14:10).  To the believers at Corinth he said, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

The most important thing about a steward is that one serves his master faithfully.  Peter reminded his readers, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10)  To be prepared for eternity is the all-important concern.  In eternity those who were blessed by our ministry or money, or both, will welcome us.  It is only as we put ‘first things first’ will we Christians prove ourselves to be as wise in our generation as the people of this world.  May God’s people learn the right use of wealth.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

• God’s faithful servants have peace of mind and security both in this life and in the next.
• How are you planning for your heavenly retirement.
• Why is the worship of money and God mutually exclusive?  How can I tell if I am a slave to money?
• Am I wasting my resources without realising that they belong to God? Am I seriously in debt?
• Am I honest in small matters?  Am I a faithful steward?
• Why cannot believers plan so determinedly (as did the dishonest manager) for the kingdom of God?
• The day of my dismissal as a steward of my earthly resources will be the day of my death.

DAVID’S PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (1 Chronicles 29: 11-14)

“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and in earth is yours…Wealth and honor come from you…Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.…Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”

Jim Peacock MA (Hons), Diploma of Teaching.