Tag: Luke 16

Socks and Shoes

Old Testament: Hosea 12-14

Poetry: Psalm 80

New Testament: Luke 16:1-15


If ever there was a dynasty in collegiate sports, it was the UCLA Bruins in the 1960s and 1970s. Over the course of a dozen years, they won 10 NCAA basketball championships.  At one point during this spell, they didn’t even lose a single game for three years.  There hasn’t been a run like it, or may never be again, and much credit goes to Coach John Wooden and his staff. Wooden didn’t seek out cutting edge strategies or even the most talented players. He cared about self-management and stewardship.  Before stepping on the court each player was taught how to put on their socks and tie their shoes. While this may seem demeaning or elementary, it had a dual purpose. The first, to minimize blisters and injury that could prevent a loss of practice time.  The second, to see if his players were faithful in the small things. If there was fidelity and discipline to this aspect, it is more likely this same commitment would be found to honing all the fundamentals of the game.

The connection of John Wooden doesn’t initially seem apparent when we examine the Parable of the Shrewd Manager. Initially it seems like a sneaky story about self-preservation instead of faithfulness.  An accusation from the owners comes against a middle level management, misusing company resources. When the news reaches the manager’s ear that he will be receiving a pink slip, he makes a game plan that will move him from one company ladder to another.  He quickly calls in those who have business dealings with the owner to settle their debts quickly and at a far lesser rate than what they owe in hopes of getting his back scratched in return upon his dismissal.  These executive decisions do not get ire, but instead the praise of his employer.  Our takeaway is likewise to be shrewd with our resources, taking responsibility for what is directly in front of us.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? – Luke 16:10-11

In every aspect of our dealings with others, whether with little or much, there is a responsibility to take disciplined, calculated action. Instead of acting in fear of losing our livelihood, we work on becoming the best version of ourselves because this shrewdness makes us trustworthy and impactful for the sake of the Gospel.  Jesus emphasizes that even the smallest actions are important, and really the basis for the amount of work that will be assigned to us. If we don’t take the time to tie our shoes right, and ultimately miss out on practice or games, we need to sit on a bench.  Furthermore, we cannot be expected to lead a revival, or even a Sunday School class, if we cannot be trusted with being disciplined enough to do our own Bible study.  We can’t be expected to receive God’s blessing on our business if we keep a tight grip on our purse when it is time to tithe.  Going back to the beginning of our week, staying true to a system or fundamentals, will not only develop a single resource, but ultimately encompasses every aspect of our lives, including our relationships, time, and talents.

Finally, one more theme to quickly revisit appears in today’s reading. Despite Israel’s mismanagement, let us again be reminded God’s desire is not to let them go, but to bring them back into the fold when he says: “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them” (Hosea 14:4, NIV). This restoration is contingent upon living a life of integrity and faithfulness to God.  If we’re going to set foot on the court, let’s not even think about winning first.  Let’s make sure first that our socks and shoes are put on properly, looking at our calendar, our bank accounts, and our relationship, and demonstrating to God that we will be faithful with those things that are already set before us, so we may be shrewd managers, benefitting the greatest dynasty yet to come, the Kingdom of God.

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. What small actions have you (now or in the past) tried to skip over? What is the importance of doing these small steps consistently and well before trying to jump ahead to bigger things?
  2. What resources has God currently put you in charge of? What can you do to care for these well?
  3. How do you think God would rate your faithfulness?
  4. What is the biggest take-away you learned from Hosea this week?
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Give so that you get?

Luke 16

Friday, December 23, 2022

I love the parables of Jesus.  But I’ve got to admit, this one about the shrewd manager threw me for a loop.  Take a minute to read it. 

“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly.” (v.8)

Is Jesus commending this shrewd manager for cheating his master out of his money by canceling debt without his master’s permission? Can that possibly be true?  The rich master found out that his money manager was misusing his money, so he fired him.  The manager did not want to be homeless and live on the street begging, so he granted favors to the master’s debtors before his exit from his employment. The purpose of his deceit was to guarantee that he would have some “friends” from whom he could ask for future favors. Give so that you get. Sounds shrewd, right?  Sounds like the master and Jesus seems to think so.

But, is his behavior ethical?  His former boss commends his shrewdness, and it looks like Jesus is using him as an example that we should follow.  Perhaps we need to take a closer look at this parable. 

First, do not be confused about who the rich master is.  In other parables, a master is considered to be God, but in this one, that is not true.  God would not be commending us for being dishonest and a thief.  So, what is the point?  What is Jesus teaching?

“For the people of this world are shrewder in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” (v8) Jesus is comparing us, the people of the light, with people of this world.  People of the world look out for themselves, and people of the light are not doing this.  So, how do we as people of the light look out for ourselves without being dishonest?  It actually is simple, but we often find it very difficult.

“When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. (The shrewd manager’s game plan).  But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.  Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14:12-14). (This should be our game plan!)  Throughout His ministry Jesus told us to give to the needy, love your enemies, and do good without expecting anything in return.  As a result, your reward will be great, and you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

By doing these things, we are being shrewd by laying up treasures in heaven.  We are taking care of ourselves by taking care of others.  However, our focus is not on this present world, like the shrewd manager, but on our future at the resurrection of the righteous. This requires us to walk in faith, believing that God will indeed remember that we have been seeking “first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). 

Jesus shares another parable in this chapter, The Rich Man and Lazarus. So how are these two parables connected?  The Rich Man was not just rich, but very rich.  He had the finest clothes and he ate huge meals each day.  Just outside his gate lay Lazarus.  It is not that the Rich Man did not know that Lazarus was there, literally begging for some scraps off the Rich Man’s plate.  Nevertheless, the Rich Man ignored the cries of Lazarus.  Then the expected happened.  Both men die.  Because the Rich Man claimed Abraham as his father, he expected a great reward when he died.  Instead, he experienced great pain and torment.  And there in the midst of his pain and agony he saw Lazarus enjoying the peaceful and happy company of Abraham.  So, the Rich Man cried out to Abraham to have Lazarus come to him, dip his finger in water, and cool his burning tongue. How ironic! This same Rich Man refused to give Lazarus scraps off his overflowing table.  The Rich Man wanted grace and mercy, without giving grace and mercy.  The big takeaway is that the Rich Man was not shrewd enough to lay up for himself treasures in heaven.  What do you think?

-Kayla Elwell

Questions for reflection:

  •  What is the difference between “give so that you get” and “give and you will get”?
  • What is the difference between being repaid and being blessed?
  • What is your motive for giving? Is storing up for yourself treasures in heaven a good motive for giving?
  • What does God expect from you when confronted with others in need?
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