The Wise Christian

Luke 16:1-13

We often speak about the loyal Christian.

We often speak about the dedicated Christian.

We often speak about the humbly serving Christian.

How about today’s passage? It speaks about a Christian who is acting wisely, shrewdly, and cleverly.

Let us read verse 8 again. “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly(wisely), for the people of this world are more shrewd (wise) in dealing with their own kind than are the people of light.”

Don’t you think this is too much? I mean I thought the world should learn from us and not vise versa.

I don’t think we are wrong. Yes, the world needs to learn from the Light that Jesus gives us to illuminate the dark world. Yet, today’s parable would be misleading if we do not understand what Jesus is trying to say to his disciples and to us today.

My teachers at the seminary always warned us that parables are stories telling one point. Let us not drag them into different conclusions that will mislead us. This parable has one point: “Church, wake up; look around and learn.” If you remain sleeping, nothing will happen in your life. Look and learn from the world. They are clever and wise. Learn to put your energy in the right place. Do not waste your time, but learn from the world how wisely they work. Therefore put your money, your talent, your energy, your life in investments that can bring life.”

What is the story? Well, there is rich businessperson who has an interesting manager. The news arrives to the owner of this businessperson that the manager is not doing his job. Well, you know how the world of business is. If you do not work well, you are fired. Many of us live in that anxiety. Am I doing my job well? Does my boss realize how much time I put in my work?

The manager heard that his “pink” slip or that phone call will soon come. He went to his office to collect his stuff. There he thought of something that would help him in the future. He thought he would need new friends when he is fired, so he can get a new job. After all, his boss would not give him any recommendation. He started to call his master’s debtors and one by one he started to cancel their debts. Now the boss finds out what the manager has done. Although he loses money, but he praises (“commends”, NIV) the dishonest, unjust manager. Why? Because he acted shrewdly, wisely.

We will fall in the trap if we discuss the ethics of this business arrangement. Do not forget that Jesus used the words “unjust”, or “dishonest” manager. So there is no doubt that his action cannot be justified. But what can we learn from this parable?

1- When the manager heard that he would lose his job, he believed and act. The manager took his condition very seriously.

I wish the church, the Christians take their mission as seriously. The unjust manager did not sit, weep, and get depressed. He did not say, “Well, there was once a time to make money and I was successful. Now it is time to go down.” No, he took the change seriously and acted.

There are different people in our churches; this is not only in CACC but in churches.

-There are the ones who were born in the church family. They were baptized as children, once a while came to church and liked it. It has a nice environment. They like the food festivals and the banquets, too. They even express their opinion when they will invite a pastor or fire one. But their involvement is minimum.

-There are others in the church who regularly come to church. They do not like to miss a Sunday, but their daily life in business or at home is not in harmony with the teachings of the Bible. Their involvement in church life is being there. They do not allow Christ to transform them. I will call them observers.

-There are others who are in the church who do attend, but they have no time to serve, especially during the week. They want to serve, but they cannot. I call this group, yeranouhiner, “I wish I had the time.”

-There are also others who are in the church and they take the Word seriously. They are ready to learn and grow, and ready to take challenges. I don’t know in which group you stand. The message of today is for all of us. Take the Christian life and growing in faith very seriously.

We will continue in English.