September, 2001

“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Luke 16:13

Written between the pages of Luke 14 and 19, there are many parables. Jesus used parables (stories) to bring out a truth that would make it easier for listeners to identify. However, if the listeners weren’t interested in his teachings (like that of the Pharisees), they would not seek the “moral” of the story and therefore, miss the golden opportunity to learn from the Master. Whenever we read parables, we need to realize that there is only one major theme within one parable.

Many misunderstood the teaching of the parable of the “Shrewd Manager” (Luke 16:1-8). Jesus wasn’t praising the unfaithful manager for mishandling his master’s money. He was saying that it’s a shame that “the people of this world” understand the purpose of having money better than “the people of the light” (v.8). The major theme of this parable, then, focuses on Christians understanding what money is and how to handle their worldly possession.

From this parable, the people of the light need to at least learn the following lessons: First, exercise wisdom to use worldly wealth from an eternal perspective. No doubt that money is of this world, for there is no need for money in eternity, yet Christians can use temporal possessions to benefit people and thereby reap eternal reward (v.9). We must not look at money as a tool of buying one’s way into Heaven. The context tells us that they were the people of the light. In other words, they were “saved.” When they enter Heaven (by the grace of God), they will be welcomed with applaud.

Second, Christians need to exercise faithfulness on what they possess. The amount is irrelevant. The principle is that if we are not faithful and trustworthy with little things, such as worldly wealth, we would not be faithful and trustworthy with true riches (v.10-12). What has more value than people’s soul? If we can’t take care of money from God’s perception, how can we take care of people’s soul? Maybe that explains why so many Christians only “talk” about Evangelism instead of having the passion of witnessing.

Third, Christians must exercise devotion to God as their fulltime Master (v.13). Jesus demands His disciples to treat God as their master every day of the week instead of only Sundays. “Living for money” six days a week will put God at a distant second. It is a good reminder that whoever takes God seriously doesn’t look upon making money as his chief end of every day activity.