PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 16:1-9
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly.” (Luke 16:8)
Why does Jesus make a hero out of the dishonest manager?
Would Jesus use Bernie Madoff as a commendable character in his stories?
But the point of comparison here is not the dishonesty but the shrewdness.
Jesus is lamenting that bad people show more creativity than good people.
Bad people seem more devoted to bad plans than good people to good plans.
Why are the devil’s disciples more shrewd and determined than the Lord’s disciples?
Jesus wants us to invest in eternity with same zeal worldly people invest in themselves.
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord.” (Romans 12:11)
How much energy do we put into our vacation, new car, furniture, technology… ?
How zealous am I about my ___ (whatever I invest my time, money and energy into)?
Jesus wants us to invest in people so one day they can be at the finish line too (16:9).
Jesus describes the HUGE welcome we will experience by people blessed by us in this life.
These treasures in heaven are better investments for they will last forever (Matthew 6:19-21).
Am I more shrewd and zealous about blessing others than I am about blessing myself?
PRAYER
Lord, I want to be more shrewd and zealous about blessing others than about blessing myself. Ignite this zeal in me!
The guy losing his job is strategic or shrewd so that he gains friends when he is given the pink slip. My life will end too – I’ll get the pink slip too. How is my account? Am I strategic with all that the Lord has entrusted to me – am I thinking about what really matters: others knowing Jesus – others finding life in Jesus. Can I use my earthly resources and my skills and abilities to ‘facilitate’ others – so that they might know Jesus – that I might bless them with life – and in so doing I celebrate his grace and mercy to me also? Lord help to be zealous for others! Holy Spirit use me I pray!
All that I have is the Lord’s. It must be put in useful service – His service and service to others. That needs to be the focus and not being a lover of possessions. My treasures must have the love of God and the love of man for all what I have is a gift from Him to serve Him.
1 We give thee but thine own,
whate’er the gift may be;
all that we have is thine alone,
a trust, O Lord, from thee.
2 May we thy bounties thus
as stewards true receive,
and gladly, as thou blessest us,
to thee our first fruits give.
3 To comfort and to bless,
to find a balm for woe,
to tend the lone and fatherless
is angels’ work below.
4 The captive to release,
to God the lost to bring,
to teach the way of life and peace–
it is a Christlike thing.
5 And we believe thy Word,
though dim our faith may be;
whate’er for thine we do, O Lord,
we do it unto thee.