The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. Luke 16:8 (NIV)

Personal Responsibility – Small Things Series – Part 3

Go to PART 1  |  PART 2  |  PART 3  |  PART 4  |  PART 5  |  PART 6

Personal responsibility.

Could be there a more, unexciting way to start a devotion? Talking about the weather is more palatable than discussing the inner workings of personal responsibility and its interplay with the community and the collective conscious.

Am I right?!

Yet, here we have a confusing parable praising an anti-hero.

After the Manager had been told to settle up so he could be fired, he made a plan:

“Here’s what I’ll do… then when I’m turned out into the street, people will take me into their houses.”
Then he went at it. One after another, he called in the people who were in debt to his master. He said to the first,
‘How much do you owe my master?’
He replied, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’
The manager said, ‘Here, take your bill, sit down here—quick now—write fifty.’
To the next he said, ‘And you, what do you owe?’
He answered, ‘A hundred sacks of wheat.’
He said, ‘Take your bill, write in eighty.’” (Luke 16:4-7.)

Essentially, he got people to forge their invoices and pay less than what they originally owed.

Shrewd, yes?
Dishonest, yes?
Jesus approved, Yes?
Yes.

OK, what?

“The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” (Luke 16:8-9.)

And that my friends is why you rarely hear anyone use this parable as the main text for ANYTHING.

It would almost be like using Walter White as a good example of how to provide for your family in difficult circumstances…

Or is it?

Remember, what was worth more than financial prosperity to the ancient Hebrews?
Honor.
Remember that the manager was an extension of his master… they were almost the same.

And how do you feel when the person you owe money, more than you can afford to pay back right away, reduces your balance by a significant amount?
Have you sniggered and sneered about someone, and felt the joy of it because you owe them, and suddenly you don’t think they deserve to be owed by you anymore? And then that person has turned around and done you a significant, potentially life-changing kindness?

Yep.

The “dishonest manager” did just that. In one fell swoop, he restored the communities sense of honor toward his master and made friends that would take him at the same time.

He took responsibility. He made it personal. He got it done.

Sometimes, I think communities and people of faith can be the last to take personal responsibility for the honor and dignity of those we serve and share the world with. We’re too busy lining our own pockets, caught up in our own reputation and image; we’re too busy being right and dignified and holy; too consumed with getting a platform and a break and what’s owed us; too watchful and judgy of others and whether or not they are on the right side of things, and too busy being certain that 1) there is a right and wrong side and 2) we are on it and 3) we’re a voice of authority on who belongs on which side.

Too religious and pious for our own good.

Too harsh? *wink* That’s how parable's work.

For me, the dishonest manager and his solution to his problem, mess with my darkness… would I take responsibility? Make it personal? Get it done? Or sit around praying for the big lotto ball of heaven to fall into my lap?

OUCH!

What do you do when you’ve done something wrong, and things are messy, and you stand to lose something you can’t afford to lose? Because even the small things, especially in these circumstances, are the big things.

(BTW – sometimes parables suck!)

Go to Part 4 – Don't Run From Suffering »

Written by Lizzy Milani

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