Unfinished Stories

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” —Luke 16:10 (NIV)

I must confess that of Jesus' allegories, I find the Parable of the Shrewd Manager most perplexing. In it, Jesus tells a story about a dishonest manager who is commended—not condemned, as would be our human inclination—for his shrewdness. 

It’s unsettling. But nestled within the confusion are words that give insight into Jesus’ intentions: “worldly wealth” and “true riches.” These phrases, along with verses 13 and 14, begin to clarify the deeper invitation. Jesus isn’t praising dishonesty; he’s challenging us to consider what we do with what we’ve been given—and whom we’re truly serving.

Let’s imagine a modern version: a corporate accountant who discovers she’s about to be fired for mismanaging funds. Before the news spreads, she calls clients and offers them steep discounts on their debts. She’s not authorized to do this—but she’s optimistically gambling that when she’s out of a job, these clients will remember his generosity and offer her a new position. Surprisingly, the CEO praises her cleverness.

Jesus uses this story to highlight a truth: people who focus only on the here and now often act decisively to secure their future. So, why shouldn’t we as children of the light be just as intentional—but for eternal purposes?

Verse 11 asks: if we can’t be trusted with temporary, worldly wealth, how can we be entrusted with eternal, spiritual riches? And verse 13 drives it home: we cannot serve both God and money. The Pharisees scoffed, but Jesus saw their hearts. He knew their love of wealth distorted their vision of God’s kingdom.

This parable isn’t about endorsing dishonesty—it’s about acting with urgency, responsible stewardship, and allegiance to the Kingdom of God. Jesus invites us to be shrewd in a holy way: to use our resources, relationships, and time to build the kind of community, “on earth as it is in Heaven”, that reflects God’s justice and mercy.

And then there’s the ending. The manager’s future is left unresolved. Is he fired? Redeemed? Given another chance? Jesus doesn’t say—perhaps because the real question is ours to answer. What would we do? Would we release him or restore him?

This ambiguity mirrors the grace of God, who sees our missteps and still offers redemption. In God’s eyes, we are not defined by our missteps but embraced by his unfailing mercy.

So, we ask ourselves: What am I doing with what I’ve been given? Am I serving God—or something else? And how might I use even worldly tools to sow eternal seeds?

Gracious God, you entrust us with time, talents, and treasures—not to hoard, but to serve. Teach us to be faithful with little, so we may be faithful with much. Help us to see beyond worldly wealth to the true riches of your kingdom. May our choices reflect your mercy, our stewardship reflect your justice, and our hearts reflect your love. Amen.

Peace & Grace,

Pastor Tim