Wealth, Cleverness, & Kingdom Stewardship
...and some seemingly shady business practices.
The wealthy characters in Jesus’ parables can be confusing! The master in the parable of the talents is dead set on earning more from his money. The vineyard owner in the parable of the workers shows no favoritism according to the length of time his workers gave. And in today’s parable, the “certain rich man-master” seems to have no problem with his household manager reducing his portfolio.
Clever, even.
I’m not sure “clever” would be a good defense in US courts of business law.
But we’re not talking about US courts of business law, are we?
Is Jesus encouraging shady business practices?
How did the master know what the manager did?
Is Jesus really telling us to use wealth to make friends?
When he gives the moral of the story, some things become clearer. You can’t serve wealth, so use it to the advantage of other people. Use it redemptively. Use it generously.
Be faithful with whatever comes your way, whether much or little. Because in the end, the point isn’t about cleverness or capital. It’s about stewardship, integrity, and kingdom priorities.
A word for today…
Luke 16:1-13
Jesus also said to the disciples, “A certain rich man heard that his household manager was wasting his estate. He called the manager in and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give me a report of your administration because you can no longer serve as my manager.’
“The household manager said to himself, What will I do now that my master is firing me as his manager? I’m not strong enough to dig and too proud to beg. I know what I’ll do so that, when I am removed from my management position, people will welcome me into their houses.
“One by one, the manager sent for each person who owed his master money. He said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil.’ The manager said to him, ‘Take your contract, sit down quickly, and write four hundred fifty gallons.’ Then the manager said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘One thousand bushels of wheat.’ He said, ‘Take your contract and write eight hundred.’
“The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted cleverly. People who belong to this world are more clever in dealing with their peers than are people who belong to the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves so that when it’s gone, you will be welcomed into the eternal homes.
“Whoever is faithful with little is also faithful with much, and the one who is dishonest with little is also dishonest with much. If you haven’t been faithful with worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? If you haven’t been faithful with someone else’s property, who will give you your own? No household servant can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
Psalm 49:6-13
…those people who trust in their fortunes
and boast of their fantastic wealth?
Wealth? It can’t save a single person!
It can’t pay a life’s ransom-price to God.
The price to save someone’s life is too high—
wealth will never be enough—
no one can live forever
without experiencing the pit.
Everyone knows that the wise die too,
just like foolish and stupid people do,
all of them leaving their fortunes to others.
Their graves are their eternal homes,
the place they live for all generations,
even if they had counties named after them!
People won’t live any longer because of wealth;
they’re just like the animals that pass away.
That’s how it goes for those who are foolish,
as well as for those who follow their lead, pleased with their talk.
Prayer
God,
Teach me to handle what I have with care, with compassion, and with Kingdom concern. Money, time, influence - make them yours through me. Well…rather…remind me they are yours in the first place.
Keep me from serving wealth or chasing cleverness for its own sake. Show me how to use what’s in my hands to bless others, to reveal your kingdom, and to grow in faithfulness.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.