“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”
Luke 16:9 (NIV)
The parable of the shrewd manager commends a man who was devoted to looking after himself. He put his own prosperity ahead of his employer’s – first by stealing from him for his own use, and then - when confronted with dismissal - by stealing from him on behalf of his customers for the manager’s future benefit. He stole from his employer and when caught decided to steal again - WOW- talk about doubling down on inappropriate behaviour! Why then would the employer commend him for his shrewdness? The Lord told the story with this twist at the end so that we will learn the lesson
stated in verse 9.
stated in verse 9.
But have we learned it? Do we live like this?
Do we use worldly wealth to involve ourselves in the advancement of the kingdom?
Or do we use the kingdom to help us lay up worldly wealth?
It is the Lord that gives us the ability to produce wealth- to what end? A life of leisure for
us and our family?
us and our family?
Or to be used in spreading of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ?
The Pharisees sneered, and the story of the rich man and his brothers make it clear our Lord does not expect the Pharisees to learn the lesson.
May we show our devotion to God by how we use our wealth!
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