September 12, 2016

A GOOD BAD EXAMPLE

Luke 16:1–18

Alisa Hauser Brown
Monday's Devo

September 12, 2016

Monday's Devo

September 12, 2016

Central Truth

If this verse seems confusing, you're not alone. No, the master isn't commending the manager's dishonesty. He's commending his shrewdness, or his wise use of opportunity. Jesus is instructing that believers should be just as clever in heavenly affairs as unbelievers are in the affairs of this world.

Key Verse | Luke 16:8

"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." (Luke 16:8)

Luke 16:1–18

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager

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 1 16:6 About 875 gallons or 3,200 liters 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 2 16:7 Between 1,000 and 1,200 bushels or 37,000 to 45,000 liters 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 3 16:8 Greek age 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, 4 16:9 Greek mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions; also verse 11; rendered money in verse 13 so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

10 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. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 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.”

The Law and the Kingdom of God

14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. 15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

16 The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. 5 16:16 Or everyone is forcefully urged into it 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

Divorce and Remarriage

18 Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

Footnotes

[1] 16:6 About 875 gallons or 3,200 liters
[2] 16:7 Between 1,000 and 1,200 bushels or 37,000 to 45,000 liters
[3] 16:8 Greek age
[4] 16:9 Greek mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions; also verse 11; rendered money in verse 13
[5] 16:16 Or everyone is forcefully urged into it

Dive Deeper | Luke 16:1–18

It may seem like an oxymoron to commend a dishonest manager for his shrewdness. First, he's guilty of dealing unjustly with his master's property. Then, he takes deliberate actions to use all his resources for his own means. And yet, in the face of the steward's corruption, Jesus isolates an admirable virtue—prudence.

Webster's Dictionary defines prudence as "care, caution, and good judgment, as well as wisdom in looking ahead." So, is the master correct in calling the foolish steward wise? Yep!

In this broken world, virtues and vices, good and evil, are intimately juxtaposed. The truth is, a "bad" man can have some redeeming quality, and a "good" man definitely has some sin or defect. In the best men, there is something to regenerate; in the worst there can be something to imitate.

There is cunning, skill, and forethought in the manager's actions—if only it had been for a better cause. It is here we find the main point in this parable. Separating the deviousness of the deed from the cleverness that directed it, Jesus calls attention to the prudence of this unjust man as an illustration of the shrewdness and cleverness that should mark a believer's conduct when it comes to stewarding our resources for Kingdom affairs.

Those who believe they would do more for the Kingdom "if only" they had more to give, and yet do nothing with what little they have, are deceiving themselves. And so, because Jesus knows we're easily distracted and prone to make excuses, He clarifies in verse 10 that a man's faithfulness is measured by the way he stewards his own wealth, whatever amount there may be. What a man does with little is a true indication of what he will do with much.

Let's be prudent like the unjust manager. Let's learn from his bad good example.

Discussion Questions

Those who care more about the things of the world are much more prudent in providing for themselves and exerting themselves to their own best interests, while believers often let opportunities of doing good pass right by. At times like this, believers are less steady, firm, and concerned about eternal affairs, and thus show less wisdom than unbelievers. How different would the world be if all believers were as diligent and prudent in heavenly matters as others are in worldly matters?

Lessons we can learn from the unjust steward:

1. Good stewards are shrewd. In what ways can you be more prudent, or resourceful, for the Kingdom? Are there resources you have that God wants you to use for Him?

2. Good stewards are faithful. Are you being faithful to steward your money for the Kingdom or for personal gain?

During this busy season, when it's easy to get distracted with busy schedules and sports scores, purpose to find at least one way you can use your time, talent, and treasure to invest in the Lord's work.

3. In what ways can you be more like the prudent manager?