Andrew Fountain - A modern take on the Parable of the Dishonest Manager

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A modern take on the Parable of the Dishonest Manager

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The Dishonest Manager

The Dishonest Manager

Image source: Jan Luyken

Luke 16:1–9

  1. Jesus also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and accusations were brought that his manager was wasting his possessions.
  2. So he called the manager in and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in the account of your administration, because you can no longer be my manager.’
  3. Then the manager said to himself, ‘What should I do, since my master is taking my position away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m too ashamed to beg.

Luke 16:1–9 cont’d

  1. I have decided what to do so that when I am put out of management, people will welcome me into their homes.’
  2. So he summoned his master’s debtors one by one. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
  3. The man replied, ‘A hundred measures of olive oil.’ The manager said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write fifty.’
  4. Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ The second man replied, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ The manager said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

Luke 16:1–9 cont’d

  1. The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the people of light.
  2. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by how you use worldly wealth, so that when it fails you will be welcomed into the eternal dwellings.
  • Why does the master comment the manager?
  • Why not just undo his changes after he is fired?
  • How can this possibly be a good example for us?
  • This is one of the hardest of all the parables
  • People have struggled with it for 2,000 years
  • I have a commentary that lists sixteen possible interpretations
    • A lot of them are because the parable is a bit shocking
    • Would Jesus really take dishonesty as an example for us?

Luke 16:1–9

  1. Jesus also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and accusations were brought that his manager was wasting his possessions.
  2. So he called the manager in and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in the account of your administration, because you can no longer be my manager.’
  3. Then the manager said to himself, ‘What should I do, since my master is taking my position away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m too ashamed to beg.
  • role of manager —total power of attorney

Luke 16:1–9 cont’d

  1. I have decided what to do so that when I am put out of management, people will welcome me into their homes.’
  2. So he summoned his master’s debtors one by one. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
  3. The man replied, ‘A hundred measures of olive oil.’ [$150,000] The manager said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write fifty.’ [$75,000]
  4. Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ The second man replied, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ [$375,000] The manager said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ [$300,000]
  • Rule of reciprocity in many cultures, particularly that one
    • If someone did something for you, then you absolutely had to return the favour
  • Why could the master simply not have revoked the changes, or even punished the manager?
    • This was the most clever part of the plan—the manager had turned him into a hero in the community
    • Imagine the manager of the local Loblaws supermarket was about to lose his job
    • For Christmas week, he donated 50% of the entire stock to the Toronto food bank
      • He would be a local hero and could probably get a job with the city!
    • Could Loblaws reverse that and get the money back?
      • They have had wonderful PR through this
      • To demand it back and send their trucks to collect it would be a PR disaster!
  • Very similar to this story
    • The master would be thought of highly in the community
    • He would just have to pretend he had agreed to the plan and keep quiet
  • He acknowledges what a brilliant plan it was, and how

Luke 16:1–9 cont’d

  1. The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the people of light.
  2. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by how you use worldly wealth, so that when it fails you will be welcomed into the eternal dwellings.
  • Living in a situation
    • Suddenly realize that it is going to end soon
    • Extreme measures are called for
    • All assets are made use of to prepare for the future situation
  • No unemployment insurance in those days
    • There is a catastrophe coming
    • Canadians very good at preparing for calamity (the most highly insured nation)
      • We all have our carbon-monoxide detectors and don’t park in front of fire hydrants in case of a fire
      • But what about the catastrophe of death and the day of judgement?
  • Example of the flood and God’s provision
    • That is a picture of what Jesus is providing
    • Why not take advantage of it now?

Using Assets

Using Assets

Image source: AMF

  • v.8 says “shrewdly” or cleverly

Luke 16:1–9 cont’d

  1. The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the people of light.
  2. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by how you use worldly wealth, so that when it fails you will be welcomed into the eternal dwellings.
  • Very clever plan
    • The point is that people in this world are clever with their resources
    • how much more should we be!
  • What assets do you have?
    • Money
    • Time
    • Abilities
  • Herring fishing and long car trip
  • Girl singing in the corner store, eventually a Christian bookstore
  • 1950’s message of free grace was at a low ebb.
    • Group of men from Oxford (inc. my dad, Iain Murray) gripped with the idea to start a Christian publisher
    • Businessman felt he should give all of his profits to this venture
  • Lord Radstock (Mayfield)
    • Money
    • Nobility
      • Missions to Russia
  • Woman who was shut in and wrote out Bible verses
  • Rosalind Goforth
    • trained as an artist here in Toronto
    • Skilled at drawing portraits
    • A meeting with a Chinese leader—suddenly had a creative idea
  • Trapper John
  • Ehud (left handed—a liability)
  • Man who gave free driving lessons
  • What are your assets?
    • I have a lot of friends on facebook
    • I can sell things on eBay (CRY charity)
    • I can talk to people
  • “Hold nothing back!”

Updated on 2014-03-30 by Andrew Fountain