You can read Luke 16:1-18 here
Today’s reading, The Parable of the Shrewd Manager, is a tough one. It isn’t immediately obvious exactly what Jesus is getting at, at least to me, with this parable. I’ve set myself the task of trying to write a few thoughts each day about the lectionary readings for the day based on my initial few readings of the passage, rather than some long, over-considered response. You can read commentaries for that!
It would seem to me that the shrewd/deceitful manager is credited in this passage with gaining for his master, the highest return on his debts possible. As this follows from the parable of the Lost Sheep and then the Parable of the Prodigal Son, I’m left to wonder whether the Master is God, who is willing to forgive some of our debts in order to maintain and develop relationship with us. What do you think as you read this passage?
A key verse here for me is verse 10: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” Joyful obedience to God in the small things of life is a challenge for all of us. However, we receive more life, hope and freedom than we could possibly earn on our own. God, I believe, is seeking friends and sons/daughters who will be trustworthy in the small things, so that, as they grow in to maturity of faith, tasks which might require a greater degree of trust/faith can be entrusted to them. It is a comfort to me, at least, that God, in Jesus saw chose to relieve the debt I had to Him, and invite me to serve Him in the small things.
What do you think? Have i missed the point altogether? Am I way off the mark? What do you think God has entrusted to you today?