Luke 16:1-13

when being shrewd is being wise

This strange parable brings to mind those discussions that begin, “so when is it okay to tell a little white lie and not be wrong?” Apparently, when the manager heard the word Audit! he decided this was one of those times to step right into a lie, or two, if that would allow him to land on his feet when he is thrown out of his job for cooking the books. In fact, he creates such a clever web of deception, setting up business relations on the side, ensuring his future, that his own boss is impressed. He commends him for being so shrewd in a moment of crisis.

So what do you make of this? Is this a summons to cheat when you are in crack? Should all dishonest mangers lurking in the shadows cowering in fear of the IRS step joyfully in to the light of their crimes? On first glance you might think so. But look again. What is being commended here – dishonesty or shrewdness?

“His master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd than the children of light.”

On the slight chance that you don’t use the word shrewd everyday any more than I do, here are few other words that describe what it means: astute, sharp-witted, smart, acute, clever, canny and perceptive. For all these reasons the dishonest steward is commended for his shrewdness, which raises some good questions for how honest followers of Jesus might be described in handling our resources. Why does the parable describes the children of light as far less shrewd – decisive, bold, clever, creative, astute – in dealing with money, than the children of this generation? Perhaps, the children of light have something to learn about bold shrewd handling of money.

The practices of faithful Christian discipleship includes the management of our financial resources. We are being called upon to be as astute, clever, creative and wise as possible. In doing so, I think can take a lesson from those who deal shrewdly with their resources; neither dishonestly or deceptively – just shrewdly.

For instance, the current issue of Atlantic Monthly is devoted to financial stewardship. They call it the this new philanthropy social entrepreneurship. Among other articles is an an essay describing how the Clinton Foundation has developed a business model linking pharmaceutical companies from India and other developing countries with governments of those countries whose citizens are suffering the most from AIDS. The business plan has succeeded in bringing HIV/AIDs drugs at affordable prices to millions of people who otherwise would have no medicine. The model which is unique in its design allows for a win-win situation for the companies who are making a profit, the governments who are helping their citizens and the people who are most in need of medicine. In the long run, it could save millions of people from dying of AIDS. Now that, it seems to me, is being bold and shrewd with financial resources. (I must add that the essay noted that not one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the United States has signed on to the plan. But, I believe they will and when they do even more medicine will be available.)

Or, for another example of shrewd management, take the 10 year old boy in Potomac who decided to raise money for Habitat for Humanity by hosting a contest for people to build model homes completely with Legos. The event raised thousands of dollars for Habitat and is being duplicated around the country with the full financial support of the Legos company and other corporate sponsors. I think this is what it means to be a shrewd manager of money.

Enough of this talk about being shrewd. Let’s move on where the commentary that follows the parable is more pressing than the parable itself.

II

Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest in much. [...] No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hat the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

What happens to your life when you value money – and all that stuff that comes with it – more than your relationships with others and especially your relationship with God? Okay. Yes, I realize no one going to come out and say, I about money more than anything else in life – more than my friends, family, neighbors and even more than God and country. Of course not. You know and I know we are talking about a matter that is much more subtle on our souls and their much more serious.

This, I think, is the central challenge at the heart of this text and at the very heart of Christian discipleship. It is a variation on that other famous text, “what shall it provide a man who gains the whole world but loses his soul?”

The gospel seems to say that managing money well is a lot like handling snakes. You better know what you are doing or you will be either bitten or squeezed to death. Because when money has you in its grip it will not let go easily. Am I exaggerating? Is this just a preacher’s penchant for rhetorical exaggeration? Consider this.

Personal indebtedness in the United States alone is ringing very loud alarm bells for economists. Those alarm bells are even louder for those foreclosing on their homes, juggling credit cards and losing sleep holding creditors at bay while they figure out how to move expenses onto yet another credit card. While all this is rightly alarming to economists, it is also alarming to wise congregations and their leaders.

Why? Because how you and I handle money is a spiritual matter, if we understand spirituality to be about the whole of life and not a narrow private slice. It’s a spiritual matter and a pastoral matter.

The gospel says one cannot serve God and mammon; and mammon appears to be winning the battle. So your relation to money is not only an economic matter – and at serious one at that – it is also a spiritual and moral question. Divorces happen over money. Alcoholism deepens when money problems increase. Families descend into fighting. Am I making this up? You tell me.

Spirituality and money are both at the heart of everyday, ordinary life. They can not be separated yet we need guidance with both. The gospel says, place your relationship to God and God’s purposes first in your life. Manage your money however little or much faithfully, in a manner that doesn’t undermine your relationship with God or the core convictions of being a disciple of Jesus. It’s good counsel and hard to follow.

So, let me say this as pastorally as possible. If any of this touches you where you live and you find your debts mounting along with your fears, seek help now not later.

Money is neutral. The thing itself is only paper. But that is like saying the boa constrictor around your neck is neutral. See what happens when you forget its power. Of course money is neutral. The spiritual challenge is to know how to handle it wisely so that it is used for the purposes of God rather than yourself alone. The more you have the more you want and soon you have more than your actually need to have a good life.

Wants and needs get all confused – do I need this or want this? At some decisive point, one has to say NO to more acquisitions and begin living within ones needs, not wants, and giving the rest away to God’s purposes. Do not look to our culture for help on this one – it is multiplying fake needs faster than rabbits create little bunnies.

What to do? I think asking good, honest questions often leads to wisdom. So ask yourself these questions about faithful stewardship of your finances.

What do I value most in my life? Does my bank account reveal that?

How can I arrange my limited wealth most faithfully to serve the purposes of God while caring for my family?

How can I be a more creative, shrewd steward of my gifts?

In what ways are the management of my money and possessions a hindrance to my relationship with God and neighbors?

Does my holding on to more, inhibit my generosity toward others?

The gospel contains the wisdom that will bring us life and wholeness. Your money is a gift. Use it and all your possessions in ways that strengthen your life with God, your relationships with others, support the needy and enable you to love your neighbor. I think this is the path to wisdom that is pleasing to God.

About faithful stewardship my own teacher, Fred Craddock, once said this:

Most of us will not this week christen a ship, write a book, end a war, appoint a cabinet, dine with a queen, convert a nation, or be burned at the stake. More likely the week will present no more than a chance to give a cup of cold water, write a note, vote for county commissioner, give an offering to church, visit a nursing home, teach a Sunday school class, share a meal, tell a child a story, go to choir practice and the feed the neighbor’s cat.

“Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.”

Let it be so. Amen.