Have you noticed how often dishonest people seem to get away with their schemes? So many are willing to pay an incredibly high price for things that, in light of eternity, have no lasting value. In the beginning of Luke Chapter 16, we read about a dishonest manager who was embezzling money from his employer and got caught. His boss ordered him to get his books in order because he was going to be fired.
Sadly, instead of trying to make things right, the manager decided to “make friends” whom he figured would help him after he was fired. This way, he thought to himself, he wouldn’t have to resort to manual labor or begging in the streets. The manager decided to call in each person who owed his boss money. When they arrived, he offered to adjust the records to make it appear as if they owed less. Not only did the manager throw away a second chance to do the right thing, the debtors took advantage of the situation themselves, agreeing to the falsified records.
There certainly is a lesson here; however, it may not be the one you might have guessed. The lesson is not “though shalt not steal” but rather, don’t miss a great opportunity! The manager had no shortages of opportunities in life—as a matter of fact, he made the most of every opportunity to steer them to his advantage. He simply chose wrong over right, evil over good, his way over God’s way.
His boss, who saw what the manager was doing, was actually impressed by his shrewdness. We may be quick to dismiss the manager as having nothing valuable to teach us; however, Jesus says we should actually learn from him. Like the manager, we should use our resources, influence, and opportunities to “make friends.” The difference is that the manager was short-sighted and self-centered: he made friends purely for selfish reasons—to use them for what he could get out of them during the short time he had left on earth. But for us, we should make friends for their benefit, making the most of every opportunity to share Christ, to show people God’s love, and to make friends we will enjoy for an eternity in Heaven!
“Here is the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.” Luke 16:9 NLT
And here is the warning: “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose. It. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” Mark 8:35-37 NLT
Shadia Hrichi
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Excellent discussion of this difficult verse.
How often we choose to do something – little or big – because it benefits ourselves. It’s a lack of trust when we don’t risk putting ourselves out there for SOMEONE ELSE’S benefit.