The following is my own paraphrase of the story Jesus told
in Luke 16 called the parable of the unjust Steward. A
certain rich man had a manager who was accused of wasting his master’s wealth. The master confronted him and decided to fire
him. The manager thought about his
options and the slim chance of being hired with a bad reputation, so he devised
a plan. He decided to visit those who
owed money to his master and cut some quick deals. Since he had been the record keeper for years
he thought the master wouldn’t notice the difference. He agreed with them to decrease the balance they
owed in hopes they would feel obligated to help him in his day of need. When the master heard of it he called the
steward in again and commended him for his shrewd skills. Then Jesus commented: “The children of this
world are wiser in their generation than the children of light.” The
Pharisees that heard Jesus speak scoffed and sneered at this because they
perceived He spoke of them.
The manager in this story was given oversight of God’s
people. The manager’s earthly values
differed greatly from his master’s which were heavenly. The goal was to lead and empower the people into
freedom from a debt of sin. Rather than
seeing their debt as a despised thing to be rid of he saw it as job security
and a way to empower himself. His
worldly minded sense of prosperity led him to further strap obligation on the
people when all along he should have led them to freedom. The master commended him for being so adept
at using worldly tactics but obviously it wasn’t something the master valued.
The children of the world are quick to make the system work
in their favor but the children of light are slow to catch on to heaven’s ways. Their earthly mindedness hinders their understanding.
They often settle for the world’s covetous ways because it makes more sense to
them. Setting people free, releases them
from all obligation and even the need of worldly management. What would a manager do without obligated
people?
The master placed greater value on freedom than on earthly wealth. The accusation against the manager was not
for wasting earthly wealth but the true wealth is people and their freedom from
sin. They had been forgiven their debts
but the manager was withholding the truth in fear of loosing his position and
advantage over the people.
No one can serve two masters, either he will hate the one
and love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other. We can not serve both God and mammon.
The manager’s goal should have been to do business with
heaven, to bring the resources of heaven to earth setting free those who were
bound to sin. Transforming society
includes the influence of heavenly wisdom.
It appears foolish to the natural mind but it is far superior to worldly
wisdom. When we do it right we can sow
into this world and reap from heaven. As
Kingdom citizens we are not limited to this earth’s resources. We actually open up heaven’s windows as we
sow into the weak and needy of this world.
We can not follow this world’s ways and expect Kingdom results. The key to this world doesn’t fit the windows
of heaven, to receive its wisdom or resources.
Grace is the seed or the currency of the Kingdom. As we empower the weak we reap from the
Mighty One. God has hidden the latch
that open’s heaven’s windows in plain sight.
It is worldly wisdom that prevents us from seeing it. Jesus came and sowed His life into those
without strength and reaped a harvest.
The same pattern was to continue but in some cases earthly wisdom has
influenced the church and hinders progress.
We can not serve two masters, following the wisdom of this
world results in further burdening people for gain. Heaven’s wisdom is to bless and do good
toward those who do not deserve it and those who cannot return the favor. It is to set the captives free from those who
take advantage of their weakness. Jesus
said in Matthew 5:46 “If you love those
who love you, what reward have you? Do
not even the tax collectors do the same?” In other words sowing into those who can
easily return the favor will not return the heavenly reward.
Proverbs 19:17
says; “He who has pity on the poor lends
to the lord, and He will pay back what he has given.” What better investment can we find than
to help the helpless and give to those who can not repay us? In extending both the earthly and the heavenly
commodities to empower others we reap more power from above in our own lives.
Grace is a heavenly commodity, it can not be worked for or
earned but is a free gift. It increases
in our lives as we freely give to empower others. This world’s system has molded our mindset to
earn and gain through work. That is
fitting and right in the world but not applicable to the Kingdom. Applying this principal to God’s Kingdom only
leads to bondage and lack of grace.
Increase through giving or sowing into the fields of the world (people)
causes a heavenly harvest. As we empower
the weak we are empowered to do greater works.
Jesus also said in Luke 16:9 Make friends by the proper use of earthly wealth so in your time of
need they will invite you into their everlasting family and home. (My
paraphrase)
Our use of earthly wealth to empower the weak without
obligating them will make them eternally grateful to us. They will freely invite
us to their home both on earth and in heaven as eternal fiends.
God has given us earthly wealth and it is a good thing. The way we handle it reveals our true master
and where our heart is. Though heaven is
loaded with silver, gold and precious stones none of it could redeem one
soul. It required the blood of an
innocent man. God’s goal is to lead all
mankind into innocence. Only the
innocent can truly represent The Innocent One.
Those who work through obligation or guilt can not lead people into
innocence or freedom.
Wealth is given us to facilitate that process and we dare
not be distracted from the goal by it. God
has given us both seed for sowing and bread for our own food. It takes wisdom to discern between the two. Eating the seed which was intended to be sown
will reap no harvest and we’ll soon find ourselves low on empowering
grace. In the same way to give away what
was intended by God for our own life will not return a harvest. Bread sown into the field will not bring a harvest. Obviously this doesn’t mean we never give
away food, it just requires wisdom to know what, where and when to sow.
