Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-13)

Of all the parables and teachings given by the Lord Jesus this is one of the most difficult to understand and explain. The difficulty is primarily because it is apparent from what we read and see that the steward has done wrong, he has been dishonest, but yet it appears that the Lord Jesus is commending him, and presenting him as an example worth emulating. This is true to some extent, but not entirely.

To understand the Lord Jesus's intentions in this parable we need to pay attention to what the steward used – planning, smartness, prudence, purpose and appropriate methodology, to make the most out of the circumstance he was in. From the latter verses i.e. 10 to 13, it is quite apparent that the Lord is clearly teaching against dishonesty and wealth acquired through wrong means; hence it stands to reason that here in the parable, the Lord could not be saying or implying to His disciples that the steward's dishonesty was something worth emulating. Yet, there is no doubt that the Lord Jesus did find something worthy in what the steward did, and therefore asked His disciples to learn from what the steward did and implement it in their lives. The things that the Lord commended in the steward were, his sense of keeping his wits about him in dire circumstances, his being smart and prudent, and his working with a plan to fulfill his purpose (Luke 16:3-4).

That steward knew that the time has come for him to give an account Luke 16:2; and he was also aware of his impending fate. But he did not loose heart or give up; instead he used whatever time and resources were available to him, he did all that he could do, to ensure that his future does not remain dark, but becomes good (Luke 16:5-7). This is what the Lord is teaching to His disciples (Luke 16:8), that as the people of the world are they too should be clever, and learn to use their resources, whatever they have, worthily and properly. The Lord has not called us to be foolish or gullible, but to be clever and discerning (Matthew 10:16). It is not that the Lord want us to be devious, but that we learn to take stock of the situation at hand, and then prudently act accordingly (Luke 12:56-58; Luke 14:25-33; Matthew 10:23).

This is not just the teaching of the Lord Jesus, or only the New Testament. In the Old Testament, the book of Proverbs begins with instructions to be wise, prudent and understanding (Proverbs 1:1-7); and immediately goes on to warn about the serious consequences of not paying heed to these instructions to be wise, prudent and understanding (Proverbs 1:20-33). David, a man after God’s heart, behaved wisely in carrying out his responsibilities and caring for preserving his life (1 Samuel 18:5, 14, 30). Psalms 119:98-100 shows us how God makes His followers more wise and understanding than the people of the world around them, and He teaches His people wisdom and prudence through His Word, so that they may utilize these qualities in their day to day life, when facing the people and circumstances of the world, in achieving their purpose of witnessing and living for the Lord.

It should be the endeavor of the Lord's disciples to enter their eternity in the Kingdom of God with honor; or, in other words, to enter with good rewards, which they will utilize in their eternity. While on earth, they should plan well, be smart and prudent, and keep looking for ways to fulfill their purpose of living and witnessing for the Lord, and making good use of the opportunities God provides them for this purpose. Like the Lord Jesus, His disciples should be resolute and firm in fulfilling their God given purposes (Luke 9:51-52); and like Paul, all disciples should plan their activities (2 Corinthians 1:17) and actively keep striving and trying one way or another to work for the Lord, instead of being passive and waiting for things to happen (Acts 16:6-10).

The entry into heaven, i.e. our Salvation is through coming to faith in the Lord Jesus, repenting of our sins and receiving the Lord's forgiveness for them, solely through the grace of God. But our rewards for our eternity are granted to us by God based on our works; the judgment of Christian Believers, the Born Again children of God will not be for their salvation, but for giving them rewards for their work for the Lord, and there will be some who will enter heaven for eternity empty handed (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

Through this parable of the Unjust Steward the Lord is teaching His disciples to ever remain undaunted by circumstances, be smart and prudent, to keep an eye on their purpose and endeavor to fulfill that purpose. No matter how difficult or disappointing the situation may be, they ought to adopt a prudent or appropriate methodology, as that steward did, to turn the dire circumstances into favorable ones. The Lord’s disciples ought to use their worldly possessions and wealth in such a manner that 'when it fails,’ or is gone, i.e. at the completion of their time on earth, the people who benefited from the disciple’s wealth and other resources on earth, will be the reason for the disciple’s being welcomed into eternity with honor (Luke 16:9).

Through this parable the Lord was not teaching us to be dishonest, but to be smart and prudent, to remain focused on our purpose, and without getting disappointed, without loosing heart, use all our circumstances wisely to maintain and increase our eternal rewards.