12/21/2025 Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - God Loves a Shrewd Manager

Luke 16:8 “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.

            The parable found in Luke 16:1 -13 is multi layered. Often a pastor will give a sermon or homily and just hit one angle or another angle of the parable’s underlying meaning. For sure, that’s ok to do but you should note that there is a lot going on in this couple of paragraphs.

          If I’m being honest I would go out on a limb and say that most speakers quote that last verse (verse 13b), “You cannot serve God and mammon.” They make this parable all about the evils of money and man’s love of it. This, of course is one of the most misquoted ideas from the Bible. The idea that money is the root of all evil. But if you read the verse 1 Timothy 6:10 ^“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” It is not money alone but man’s love of it that can be evil, very evil.

          Another way of looking at this parable is to be good stewards of the treasures that God has provided us with. That means more than just money. It means all of the gifts and tools and resources that we find at our disposal. We need to share them among us providing for all in a fair and humane Jesus-like way. We should not be wasteful or disrespectful of God’s gifts.

          Another point to come from this parable is one that many shy away from because it seems confusing and inconsistent with the message of Christ. The steward of the master’s property was not doing his job well. The master got word of this and told the steward to get his accounts in order as he would be ending their relationship. What the steward decided to do next is a bit perplexing. At least it is when you hear that the master commended him for it. The steward met with the debtors and negotiated a settlement for their debts to his master that had him receiving less property than was originally owed. It seems like this would be a bad thing for the master, losing wealth.

          The lesson being taught here, this other point of view at this parable, is something of a lesson of the world. You might call it a lesson of the streets, if you will. I have long had an idea, or message, in my head that I have yet to put to words in print or in speech. That idea is that many of us are trying desperately to live righteous lives in an unholy world. Sometimes the lines blur. How far to one side or the other we go may be debatable. How large the grey area in the middle is may be anyone’s guess. The quote of the master that Jesus gives to us is “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.” The message translation of the Bible says it this way, “Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits.”

          Now I do not think that Jesus is suggesting that we not be law abiding citizens and I certainly am not suggesting that. But try reading between the lines. The steward had already failed at his job. He did not get a swift and profitable return on his master’s property. He was going to be relieved of his duties. So he thought quick and tried to now get the best return that was possible. The master didn’t commend him for losing him money. He commended him for quick thinking. He commended him for making a bad situation better.

          Paul tells us in 2^nd Corinthians that “Satan, … is the God of this world” and the secular world surrounding the saved is vast. Sometimes there will be times that some knowledge or familiarity with the ways of the less holy may come in handy. Quick and creative thinking like the steward is almost always a good thing. Evangelism is an easier task when you have some crossover areas of life with the group or person that you are trying to reach. I say let’s learn what we will from this steward. Let us watch and learn from all that we see around us. Then let us put all that we have learned to the glory of God.

jwb