An Aspect of the Kingdom of God

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager

1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’8The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth,so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. (Luke 16:1-9) ESV

This passage of scripture has always baffled me. What in the world was Jesus talking about? Then I read this:

The Parable of the Talents

14 “For it [Kingdom of Heaven] will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:14-30) ESV

In the Kingdom of God there is a completely different economy one that doesn't make cents or sense. It is an economy that says the widow’s mite (pennies) are an immense fortune and the rich man’s abundance is mere pence. (Luke 2:1-4) I believe that the "Kingdom of Heaven" begins now and is to be lived out in every Christian's life, I don't see anywhere that Jesus declares the kingdom to be for a future time so I am curious about how I am to "live out" these instructions.

I certainly don't have all the answers however I know the Bible is not intended to be difficult to understand. The 3rd man in the "Parable of the Talents" kept his talent safe. He kept his home and his church secured from the world. He purposely made sure that there was no risk whatsoever of the money given to him by his master. The other 2 men obviously took calculated risks to create a profit for the master (what if their buying and selling failed). It says that they were given according to their ability. Not more, not less.

We are given blessings, opportunities, and relationships whose purpose is to further the "Kingdom of God". I need to use these "talents" and take calculated risks to generate profit for my Master (no, not necessarily monetary profit). Did you ever talk to someone who sold Ambit, Amway, Shaklee, or some other multi-level marketing product? How long do you need to talk to them before they began to tell you about their amazing products? 30 seconds? 5 minutes? How long does someone need to talk to me before I tell them about the amazing deed Christ did on the cross? 5 years?

The dishonest manager (steward) used his means to promote his selfish cause. I don't believe I go to nearly as much effort to honestly promote my God-given directive in Matthew 28:19-20. This was the point that Jesus was trying to make, in the Kingdom of Heaven we need to make every effort to point souls to Christ. I have no doubt that the day is approaching when we will no longer have an opportunity, someday the Master will return...then what?