Luke 16:1-9
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Read Luke 16:1-9 noting any questions that arise as you read.
We’ve explored a number of Jesus’ parables throughout Luke’s Gospel, and as we’ve seen, parables are stories that convey a spiritual truth – often in a surprising way. In this parable, the manager of a rich man’s wealth is found to be careless with his employer’s money. But rather than slink away in defeat when his boss gives him notice, he suddenly gets busy and decides that the best way to ensure his future well-being is to make friends who will remember his beneficent actions when he is out of a job.
Like many of the parables recorded by Luke, this story is about a reordering of perceived realities. When exposed, the manager could fall into feelings of guilt, shame and despair, but instead he is able to look beyond and see a better way.
What perceived realities are you facing right now that are causing you to feel anxious or defeated? Is it possible that Jesus might want to challenge your perception of these realities through this surprising parable? Talk to him about this for a while.
Read Luke 16:1-9 again and imagine how Jesus’ disciples might have reacted to hearing this surprising story.
You can almost hear the chuckle of the rich man as he commends the “rascal” manager for his shrewdness in securing the friendship of others by canceling large portions of their debts. The lazy manager has suddenly become very industrious in his efforts to change his situation.
Considering that this parable comes on the heels of the parables about God’s heart for lost people, Jesus’ “lesson” to the disciples is especially impactful. The reality we can see and touch around us is not the final reality. God’s Kingdom broke into our world in Jesus and is advancing toward a time when everything will be set right just as God intended.
As followers of Jesus, we have been given access to the riches of God’s Kingdom so we can use them to spread Good News and the riches of God’s Kingdom to those around us. We can be agents of reversal – using the good things God has given us to benefit others and helping them see and experience a different reality. Then when this life is over, we will be among friends in God’s eternal kingdom.
Get still for a moment and let your thoughts settle. Breathe deeply as you listen to Jesus.
What might Jesus want you to learn or do through this parable and his “lesson.”
What will you do about that?
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