The Shrewd Move

The Parable of the Unjust Steward

Luke 16:1-15

Jesus Christ was a Master storyteller. He used stories like "The Unjust Steward" to teach His followers as much as possible during His brief three-year ministry. He taught His disciples about managing money and possessions during their time on Earth with the Pharisees within earshot. He told them a Glory Story about a shrewd manager who worked for an important business owner. The story began.

A wealthy CEO once had a chief operating officer, and rumors started swirling that this COO was mismanaging company assets; “embezzlement” was the term that kept surfacing. So, the CEO called him into his office and said, "What's this I'm hearing about you? I need a full report of your books, because if what I heard is true, you're out of a job."

The COO thought to himself, "What am I going to do? My boss is firing me. I'm too old to do manual labor, and I'm too proud to ask for handouts." Then he had an idea: "I know what I'll do! When I get fired, I need these important clients to still have my back. I'd better use what little power I have left to guarantee I won't be left high and dry.” So, he quickly called in all of the company's major clients. He asked the first one, "How much do you owe my company?" The client replied, "Fifty thousand gallons of premium fuel." The COO said, "Alright, take your invoice, quickly cross out fifty thousand, and write down twenty-five thousand." Then he asked another client, "And how much do you owe?" The client responded, "A hundred tons of grain." The COO told him, "Take your invoice, and write down eighty tons." 

Now, the CEO heard about all this and complimented the dishonest COO for being so clever. You see, people in the business world are often more resourceful in looking out for themselves. They're determined to use every single thing at their disposal—no questions asked about its origin—to ensure their security in this world. If only we, as faithful people, were as intentional about using our God-given resources to advance His kingdom. That would truly take care of our future, both now and forever. Here’s a question: “Why do more people know about Coca-Cola than Jesus Christ? He’s the real thing!”

Here's the core message Jesus wanted to convey: We should strategically use our earthly resources to cultivate relationships that yield eternal rewards. Later in the story, He uses the term "mammon." This Aramaic word literally means "that in which one puts one's trust," referring specifically to wealth.

“Riches promise much and perform nothing. They excite hope and confidence and deceive both in making a man depend on them for happiness. They rob him of the salvation of God and of eternal glory.” Adam Clarke

God owns it all but trusts us with some. He wants to see how we manage it. Because if we’re faithful with the small things—even with money that isn't ours— we'll be trusted with true spiritual riches. And if we’re not faithful with what belongs to someone else, who will give us what is rightfully ours?

Jesus cuts to the heart of the matter: “You can't serve two masters. You'll either end up hating one and loving the other, or you'll be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” The Pharisees, obsessed with money, heard all this and scoffed at Jesus. Even their hardened hearts felt the sting in Jesus’ words. But Jesus said to them, "You're experts at making yourselves look good to people, but God knows your hearts. Because what's highly valued by humans is often detestable in God's sight."

Make the right choice. Choose the shrewd move.