The Shrewd Manager: Wisdom For Kingdom Living

Introduction

In the dusty marketplace of ancient Palestine, business was conducted with handshakes and honor. A manager's word was his bond, and his reputation determined his future. But what happens when that reputation crumbles? What do you do when you've been caught with your hand in the cookie jar, and the pink slip is already being written?

Jesus tells us a story that would have made his audience gasp. It's about a crooked manager who got creative when his world fell apart. And before we're done today, we'll discover that sometimes God uses the most unlikely people to teach us the most important lessons about living for His kingdom.

The Crisis Moment

The manager in Jesus' parable faced what we might call a "come to Jesus meeting" – except he was about to lose Jesus and everything else! Accused of squandering his master's wealth, he was handed the ancient equivalent of a termination notice. No severance package. No golden parachute. Just shame and the prospect of begging in the streets.

Sound familiar? Maybe you've been there. Maybe you're there right now. When the doctor says, "We need to talk." When the boss calls you into the office and HR is sitting there with that look. When your spouse says, "This isn't working anymore." When the bank statement shows more month than money.

Crisis has a way of clarifying things. It strips away our pretenses and forces us to face reality. But here's what I want you to understand today: Crisis doesn't come to destroy you – it comes to reveal what's already inside you.

The Shrewd Solution

Listen to what this manager does next: "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 too ashamed to beg—I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.'"

Now watch this – he calls in all his master's debtors. One owed eight hundred gallons of olive oil; he cut the bill to four hundred. Another owed a thousand bushels of wheat; he made it eight hundred. This man was wheeling and dealing like his life depended on it – because it did!

Was it dishonest? Absolutely. Was it shrewd? You better believe it. And here's the shocking part – Jesus commends his shrewdness, not his dishonesty.

[WHOOP MOMENT] Y'all, let me tell you something that'll make you shout! This crooked manager understood something that too many church folks miss: When you're facing eternity, you better get busy making friends with your resources! He knew his time was short, so he used what he had to secure his future! Can I get an "Amen" if you know that our time is short too?

The master praised this dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. The people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.

Biblical Examples of Kingdom Shrewdness

Throughout Scripture, we see God's people using wisdom and strategic thinking for kingdom purposes:

Joseph in Egypt didn't just interpret dreams – he positioned himself to save nations during famine. When Pharaoh needed wisdom, Joseph was ready. He used his gifts strategically to preserve God's people.

Esther didn't just win a beauty contest – she used her position to save her people from genocide. "Perhaps you have come to royal position for such a time as this." She leveraged her influence for kingdom purposes.

The Wise Men didn't just bring gifts – they brought resources that would fund the Holy Family's escape to Egypt. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh weren't just nice presents; they were providence in action.

Paul didn't just preach – he used his Roman citizenship strategically, his tent-making skills for independence, and his rabbinical training to reach both Jews and Gentiles. He was shrewd about how he advanced the gospel.

The Heart of the Matter

Jesus isn't telling us to be dishonest. He's telling us to be intentional. He's saying, "Look, if crooked people can be this strategic about temporal things, how much more ostrategic should you be about eternal things?"

The problem isn't that worldly people are too shrewd – it's that godly people aren't shrewd enough! We've confused being spiritual with being stupid. We've confused being humble with being passive.

"I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings."

This isn't about buying your way into heaven – it's about investing in heaven while you're still on earth. It's about using your resources, your relationships, your influence, and your time to build God's kingdom.

A Modern Parable: The Retired Teacher

Let me tell you about Mrs. Sarah Johnson, a retired elementary school teacher from our community. When Sarah got her pension, she could have bought a bigger house, traveled the world, or just enjoyed her golden years. Instead, she did something shrewd.