Chapter 16
I think most of us, at one time or another, have imagined what it would be like to win the lottery or be so wealthy that we could have anything we wanted. No need to work just to pay the bills. The freedom to travel whenever and wherever we like. With social media, TV, movies, and ads constantly showing us the “good life,” it’s easy to get caught up in the idea — and why not? We’re always being told, “You deserve it.”
I’ve had those daydreams too. Sometimes, I’d let my imagination run wild — until the phone rang at work and snapped me back to reality. I think those thoughts were stronger when I was younger and just starting out. But one experience really changed how I thought about wealth and what truly matters.
I went on a mission trip to Rio Bravo, Mexico with my church. Our goal was to build a small casita — a tiny house — for a young family. When we arrived, I saw the land: a small, square patch of dry, cracked soil with weeds growing through it. In the back corner was a plywood shack. One side of it was propped up with old wooden pallets.
As we began unloading cinder blocks, I glanced inside the shed. It was maybe 15 feet by 15 feet, but not even square. The floor was dirt. A few 5-gallon buckets were scattered around. Bedding was laid out on the ground. Then it hit me — a family was living in there. A husband, wife, and children called that place home.
I knew we were coming to build a new shelter, but seeing what they lived in before really shook me. For the next few days, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much God has given me in comparison to these kind, joyful Christians. We finished building the little house that week and met the couple who would move in. They were full of smiles and gratitude. But honestly, I think I walked away more blessed than they did.
God gives each of us different resources — some financial, some practical, some intellectual. This chapter is really about recognizing those resources and how we use them. Where we choose to invest our time, energy, and money shows what we value most. It starts with a parable and ends with a true story. This chapter gives us a reminder and a question.
Reminder: Earthly status is not a measure of eternal destiny.
Question: What do you consider a wise investment?
The Parable of the Shrewd Manager
1 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’
3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg– 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’
5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 ” ‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’ 7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ ” ‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’
8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. [the manager is commended for his shrewd behavior. He saw a crisis coming, he made a quick strategic move to secure future support and he acted with foresight. But he was still labeled dishonest. His model of thinking was right, his motive was wrong. He should have used the shrewdness for the Master, but he held it back, and only used it for himself.] For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth [treasure, resources, influences, tools] to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into [their] eternal dwellings. [as odd as this sounds it is basically saying to use the natural worldly gifts, talents and wealth God gives you to gain influence in the world. So they may learn about God from you. So they may come to Jesus through your influence, and then they will welcome you in heaven as being part of the instrument that brought them to repentance.]
10 “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. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. [the world]”
14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.
Additional Teachings
16 “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it. 17 It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.
18 “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. [these verses are not a random insertion. They carry the same theme of being good stewards. Remember the Pharisees are here listening. It illustrates how the religious leaders manipulated God’s Word – just as they misused money. They claimed righteousness, but compromised the truth – both in money and moral matters like marriage, twisting God’s Word for their own purpose and gain.]
The Rich Man and Lazarus
[It is important to note, this is NOT a parable. It is a true story.] 19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ [Hades was not the Lake of Fire, or what we know as Hell. Hades was a holding place for the dead. This story gives a glimpse of that place prior to Jesus on the cross. It had two regions, one of comfort and one of torment, with a chasm in between, yet each side visible to the other. After the crucifixion, Jesus descended into Hades and released those waiting on him.]
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 ” ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ “
