How is Your Money Spent?
The parable of the shrewd manager in Luke 16:1-9 is one of the most difficult of any of Jesus’ parables to understand.
The manager of a rich estate is called to account by his wealthy master. This manager sees no other ready kind of work he can do, so he goes to those who were in debt to his master and writes out new accounts for them, with lesser amounts owed than the originals showed.
What does it mean and why does Jesus commend the manager?
Because it’s Luke’s practice to place material together with the same theme, the key to the parable is to work out the common theme. In the verses following Jesus speaks of faithfulness, particularly with money (Luke 16:10-12). Then He warns against trying to serve God and worldly riches (Luke 16:13). Luke concludes the section with a description of the Pharisees as those ‘who loved money’ (Luke 16:14) and Jesus’ denunciation of their twisted, ungodly values (Luke 16:15).
The recurring theme is obviously money. So it’s safe to say our parable of the shrewd manager relates to money and how to use it.
Lending money to Jews with interest was forbidden under Old Testament law (Exodus 22:25). Some merchants, wanting to be seen to be doing the right thing, would not lend money with interest but would lend other goods and still expect interest on the deal. This fits the parable where it’s not money being lent but wheat and oil.
By reducing what was owed the manager is simply asking for what was originally lent to be paid back. Those owing wheat or oil would pay it back immediately to take advantage of the new deal. The master gets to “save face” and still retains the favour of those he lent to.
If this is the scenario, Jesus was telling his listeners to be honest and obedient to what they knew God wanted when dealing with money. He was telling them not to twist God’s commands for the sake of worldly gain.
‘No man can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon’ (Luke 16:13). Jesus was not saying money in itself was evil but He was saying very clearly that by loving it, we make it our master.
How important is money in your life? Is money your master? If God called you to give away a substantial portion of your savings or regular income, how would you react?
Being a follower of Jesus means giving Him the right to decide how your money is spent.
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