The Unjust Manager

Wisdom

Learning to Become Wise

Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) 

God's People Grow in Wisdom

Luke 16:1-9 The Message

The Story of the Crooked Manager

16 1-2 Jesus said to his disciples, “There was once a rich man who had a manager. He got reports that the manager had been taking advantage of his position by running up huge personal expenses. So he called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? You’re fired. And I want a complete audit of your books.’
3-4 “The manager said to himself, ‘What am I going to do? I’ve lost my job as manager. I’m not strong enough for a laboring job, and I’m too proud to beg. . . . Ah, I’ve got a plan. Here’s what I’ll do . . . then when I’m turned out into the street, people will take me into their houses.’
5 “Then he went at it. One after another, he called in the people who were in debt to his master. He said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
6 “He replied, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’
“The manager said, ‘Here, take your bill, sit down here—quick now—write fifty.’
7 “To the next he said, ‘And you, what do you owe?’
“He answered, ‘A hundred sacks of wheat.’
“He said, ‘Take your bill, write in eighty.’
8-9 “Now here’s a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.”

For Reflection

Are you surprised at the rich man's assessment of the crooked manager? Well, me too. I doubt that Jesus was advocating such unethical behavior toward righteous ends. Matthew 11:25 points out, "At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [I openly and joyfully acknowledge Your great wisdom], that You have hidden these things [these spiritual truths] from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants [to new believers, to those seeking God’s will and purpose]. (AMP)

If God's truth is hidden from the "street-wise," what is the meaning of praise for the crooked worker? Perhaps Jesus meant to point out that we Christians are not to react to life passively. We are not witless pawns satisfied to be compliant in the face of injustice. We have the creative capacity to counter injustice in "God-wise" ways.  Righteous ends require righteous means.

Pray

Pray and listen to the Christ that resides in your soul. Pray and marvel at the wisdom in you that is hidden from the worldly wise.

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