The “Parable of the Shrewd Manager” (aka “The Parable of the Unfaithful Steward”, and “The Parable of the Dishonest Manager”) can distract a person’s attention to side debates and thoughts till one loses the main point of the parable. This is a difficult teaching to comprehend. The details, though interesting, seem mostly to support the main idea. Therefore, they only find importance in support instead of being a main point to consider.
Jesus’ main point is in verse 9, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” An ill side point to consider is that the manager was not using his own wealth to secure his future in this world. He was using someone else’s. What is Jesus saying? Another distraction would be how could Jesus use an unscrupulous man as the hero of the parable. Did he gain eternal life?
The first question I have is, “What worldly wealth do I have?” Worldly wealth is things that God has provided me that I can use to make friends, for in doing so, I have eternal dwellings. I am not saying that by good works I am saved. I am saved by grace through faith. Rather, I just want to know what can I do to obey Jesus’ teaching here. What did God give me that I can use to help others know Jesus?
The proper use of worldly wealth (which is more than money) is the point. Christians should use it so well here on earth, by expending it not selfishly on their own pleasures, but unselfishly for the good of others, and for the advancement of God’s kingdom, that instead of hindering them from reaching heaven, it will help them to enter there. The foresight of the steward is commended in this parable, not his dishonest use of someone else’s stuff.
