Investing in the Future

Reflections for this date are based on the following scripture passages:
Luke 16	Luke 17	Luke 16	Exodus 31	Exodus 32	Psalms 35

Luke 16 records a parable told by Jesus of the unjust steward, or in more modern terms, the dishonest manager. The parable is difficult to understand for it appears to applaud the manager's dishonesty, though this is not really the case. Instead, the parable reveals a flaw in our perception of faith and understanding of stewardship. Many of us speak of salvation by faith but function as if it is by our own efforts. We accept, by faith, that our salvation is gained through Jesus Christ and not by anything we can do. Having done so, we expect God to engulf us in a protective bubble so that nothing bad ever happens to us again. Furthermore, we expect that any material blessing we receive is God's reward for our faith and to be used for our own benefit.

As God's stewards, therefore, we are like the dishonest manager in that we misuse what God places in our care and our faith falters when God's blessings are not forthcoming. While we understand that much of the reward and blessing God has for us is in the future, in heaven, we want a good measure of it now and grow impatient in our faith when God does not bless us as we think He should.

What was it about this dishonest manager that Jesus commended? Certainly it wasn't his dishonesty. No, Jesus commended his foresight to invest in the future. Having been given notice that he was to be fired, the manager went to those who owed money to his employer and reduced their debt. While this was a loss for his employer, it was also a loss for the manger of profit he would gain in collecting the debt. He took this loss as an investment in his future. When he was no longer employed as a manager nor able to do physical labor, those for whom he reduced the debt would be his friend and offer him help.

Jesus said, "For the sons of this age are more astute than the sons of light in dealing with their own people." (Luke 16:8) This ungodly manager showed more wisdom in providing for his future than many followers of God do in "laying up treasures in heaven." Rather than foregoing the treasures of earth for the treasures of heaven, they misuse what God places in their care for their own benefit rather than for the benefit of God's kingdom.

In verse 13, Jesus came to His central point, "No household slave can be the slave of two masters . . . You can't be slaves to both God and money." We will be richly blessed eventually, but need now to be faithful stewards of what God entrusts to us.