In Luke chapters 15 and 16, Jesus shares several parables, stories with life lessons for those listening. Take the parable of the shrewd manager for example, do you understand the crux of what Jesus was trying to tell us?
"Jesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money. So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.’ “The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg. Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’
Luke 16:1-4 NLT.
On realising he was about to lose his position, the shrewd manager both planned for the future and guaranteed he would have people in position of power in his debt. He used what was not his and invested it into his future, Jesus said;
“The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light. Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”
Luke 16:8-13 NLT.
The rich man admired the manager not for stealing and taking what was not his, but for having the foresight to plan ahead.
Aother lesson in the story Jesus specifically mentions; use what you have been given to benefit others and make friends. Your wealth and gifts are not for hoarding, they are changing the lives of others.
Finally, in verse 10, Jesus shares with us a very important secret of success; "if you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones." In other words, start small and grow.
