Luke 16 The Parable of the Crooked Manager.
This parable is probably the most misunderstood one in the Bible. It's a story about an employee who "cooked the books." He used dishonest methods to advance his own bank account. It reads much like a deposition from the Wells Fargo fraud trial!
The bottom line is that it's a parable about money, which shouldn't be surprising; of the 38 parables Jesus told, 19 of them dealt with handling possessions. Baptism is important, but there are 16 times more verses in the New Testament on handling money than are devoted to baptism. The Lord's Supper is important, but there are 32 times more Biblical statements about Christian financial management than about the Lord's Supper. Since Jesus had so much to say about it, we'd better pay attention. And for us who live in Disneyland, we better listen with both ears.
The "moral of the story" is found in the last sentence and it's the key to understanding the parable. The manager was a cunning, conniving, dishonest rascal, but you can't help but smile at how shrewd he was. When it came time to be fired, even his boss said, "I've got to hand it to you; you are a cunning, devious, despicable fellow–just my kind of guy–now get out of my sight!"
That's how business is still done. You hear expressions like, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." and "Hey, I owe you one!" Jesus isn't suggesting we use dishonest business practices, but He is suggesting we can learn something from the clever way cunning people operate.
If believers would make wise decisions as business people do – but with the right motives – they would accomplish more for the kingdom of God.
Sadly, today many Christians are naïve and gullible people. They know nothing about shrewdness. You hear of stories of trusting Christian who are conned by scam artists and invest their life earnings in "sure-fire investments." I still get emails from Christians who think Madalyn Murray O'Hair has a bill before Congress that will outlaw all religious broadcasting. Equally naïve are Christians who buy into the health and wealth gospel as their pastor drives to church in a new 2018 Maserati.
The bottom line is a crisis does not make a person but it shows what a person is made of. The Lord did not commend this steward for his unethical actions. He commended him for his wise use of this opportunity. This steward was able to make the most of his situation because he responded properly to the insights that came to him in the crisis.
We need to live the same way. Don't be naive about the world we live in and the continual assaults on our Christian faith. There is a conspiracy to marginalize Christians. Be shrewd today and make the most of today's opportunities.
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