Shrewd Manager

Some Sundays I really have no idea how our gathered service has impacted you. On other Sundays, I hear a word of appreciation for the song selection, a particular reading, having the kids involved, or a relevant illustration.  

Our reading of Luke 16 and Jesus' invitation to be shrewd in our stewardship has led to way more post-service comments. I have enjoyed hearing your thoughts and questions.  I think Jesus appreciates it as well.

I appreciate how this pushes us back to reading scripture more closely.  I offer two things that might help further our reading of Luke 16.

1. The first is the colourful company Jesus uses to illustrate his points. "Why, Jesus, did you pick a dishonest manager to invite us to consider shrewd stewardship?" The Samaritan was not good in the eyes of the Jewish people, and yet he was the good neighbour. The king who counts his military might before deciding on war illustrates wise decision making. Is warring a good thing?  And what about that judge who did not fear God or respect people that was worn down by the persistent widow?  In each case Jesus takes ordinary people and illustrates something for us to learn about God and his ways that stand apart from our way of working.

2. Which brings us back to the dishonest manager. He was shrewd. He was more shrewd than the children of light. He was more shrewd than the children of light in regards to investing or stewarding resources to get a beneficial outcome.  

I admit I am not so sure I am as shrewd as this dishonest manager. I have some things to learn. But "shrewdness." That is an interesting word or concept. One can find it or its synonyms in the Bible as clever, prudent, wise, or crafty. As a quality, it can lead one toward good or evil. 

Cardinal Richelieu in The Three Musketeers is a clever man for ill-gotten gain. He is shrewd in a bad way. I might argue that a few people in political power are shrewd for ill-gotten gain. And it would seem that Ethan Hunt of the Mission Impossible movie series is often shrewd in trapping the bad guys with clever counter-espionage tactics. 

Jesus invites us to be clever, wise, and deliberately shrewd in the stewardship of God's gifts for his purposes. Take your talents and invest them into things that really do help others thrive in Kingdom-of-Jesus ways. Be thinking. Be calculating. Be prayerful. Be in-tune with the Holy Spirit. Let's see what seeds we can plant.  Let's see what investments we can make. Let's be clever for the Kingdom!

Thanks, Church for asking more questions about Luke 16. It makes my heart glad that you are reflecting with me.

Peace,
Kelly