Why Did Jesus Praise a Crooked Accountant?
Understanding the Parable of the Shrewd Manager in Luke 16:1–13
When you think of Jesus’ parables, you probably picture stories about kindness, forgiveness, or faith. But there’s one parable that often leaves readers scratching their heads: the Parable of the Shrewd (or Unjust) Manager in Luke 16.
In it, Jesus tells a story where a dishonest employee cheats his boss and then gets praised for it. Why would Jesus commend such behavior? Let’s dive into this surprising story and uncover what it really means.
The Parable Retold
Jesus said:
A wealthy man had a manager who was accused of wasting his possessions. The master called him in and said, “You can’t be my manager any longer.”
The manager panicked: “What am I going to do? I’m too weak to dig, and too proud to beg.”
Then he had an idea. He called in his master’s debtors, one by one.
“How much do you owe my master?” he asked.“100 measures of oil,” said one.
“Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it 50,” the manager replied.
Another came in owing 100 measures of wheat.
“Write down 80 instead,” the manager said.
In other words, he slashed debts to win friends so that once he was unemployed, he would have people to welcome and help him.
And here’s the twist: when the master found out, he commended the dishonest manager for acting shrewdly.
Wait...Why Did Jesus Praise Him?
At first glance, this seems strange. Was Jesus encouraging dishonesty? Not at all.
The manager was not praised for being corrupt. He was praised for being shrewd for thinking ahead and preparing for the future with the resources available to him.
Jesus’ point is clear: if even worldly people know how to use money to prepare for what’s ahead, how much more should His followers use their resources to prepare for eternity.
Lessons from the Shrewd Manager
Use Money Wisely: Money itself isn’t evil, it’s a tool. The question is whether we use it selfishly or for eternal purposes. Jesus said, “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9). In other words, use your resources to bless others and invest in God’s kingdom.
Think Long-Term: The steward planned for his earthly future. Believers are called to think even further ahead ,to eternity. Every act of generosity, every investment in people, every contribution to God’s work is an investment that never fades.
Faithfulness in Small Things: Jesus continued, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Luke 16:10). The way we handle money reflects how we can be trusted with spiritual riches.
You Can’t Serve Two Masters: The parable concludes with a famous truth: “No one can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money” (Luke 16:13). Money makes a great servant but a terrible master.
Practical Applications for Today
Be generous: Support those in need, bless others, and use your money to reflect God’s heart.
Invest in eternal purposes: Prioritize giving to ministries, missions, and causes that impact people’s souls not just their wallets.
Check your loyalty: Ask yourself, “Am I serving God with my money, or serving money instead of God?”
Final Reflection
The Parable of the Shrewd Manager isn’t about dishonesty it’s about foresight. Jesus was teaching us to be as intentional with eternal treasure as the manager was with his temporary survival.
At the end of the day, the question isn’t whether you’ll use your money but what for.
💭 Are you investing in things that fade, or in things that last forever?
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