Favourite parables

Do you have a favourite parable of Jesus?  Mine is the parable of the dishonest manager from Luke 16. 

The shrewd manager realises that his master has found out about his unethical dealings and is about to sack him.  So, while he is (curiously) still in his job, he escalates his unethical behaviour to curry favour with potential future employers. 

He realises what his potential future holds (unemployment) and he acts decisively to secure a better future for himself.  Here is Jesus’ assessment of this kind of thinking:

“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” 

The master said, “You cunning so-and-so.  I should have sacked you immediately.  But well done on being a shrewd rat with my money.  As a rat myself, I can respect that.  Now, get out.”  Jesus is not commending dishonesty.  But he is commending the principle of letting what we know about our future, drive our decisive and shrewd action today.  The people of this world are so good at looking forward to the future, and letting that vision determine their considered actions today. 

But what do Christians know about the future?  We know that all humanity is headed for judgement – for we are each destined to die once and then to face the judgment.  (Hebrews 9:27)  There is no reincarnation.  No second chance life.  No escaping the justice of God.  Hence the absolute urgency of mission and evangelism. 

For how can people experience the grace and forgiveness of God in Christ unless Christians proclaim it?  Unless Christians declare it clearly and invite a response?  Unless Christians act decisively and deal shrewdly with their resources to support such Gospel-proclaiming and Gospel-promoting activities? 

We are each accountable for the life we lead, the decisions we make, the gifts and resources we steward.   Jesus goes on to say, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

Just as the shrewd manager used his worldly power and resources to secure his future, Jesus declares that we ought to use our worldly resources to win friends for the eternal future to come.  The passage ends with these famous words of Jesus’:

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Notice what Jesus says:-  It is impossible to serve both God and Australian middle-class monetary aspirations.  One will lose and be hated.  Which will you hate?  

Will you love God by letting God’s certain future determine how you act decisively and shrewdly with the worldly wealth he has entrusted to you?  Will you give to causes like the global missions work of CMS?  It’s a shrewd investment!  One that will help us continue and increase our work of winning friends for heaven.