Connected in The Word 9-15-25
The 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. Luke 16:8
The dishonest servant was not commended for being dishonest. Remember, he was still a crook who lost his job. Any responsibility he had was taken away because he didn’t appreciate his good and gracious master who had entrusted him to be his steward. This dishonest crook is commended for being highly motivated. Granted his motivation was essentially fear, greed, and self-preservation, but most of the time (even today) fear, greed, and self-preservation are highly motivating.
As Christians we confess that our motivation to love others, care for creation, and live according to God’s beautiful design is the Gospel – The Good News that Jesus lived, died, and rose to forgive our sins and grant us new life. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I’m not very motivated by the Gospel. All too often my choices in life are motivated by fear, greed, and self-preservation. This Truth just confirms that even though I am a redeemed child of God – I am still a sinner who struggles with my own selfish desires and choices.
Here's the Good News of the Gospel – Jesus was commended by the Father for being highly motivated! Jesus did the work I couldn’t do. Jesus stayed the course, Jesus was a Good Steward of all that was entrusted to Him, and Jesus most definitely displayed great shrewdness by going to the cross and rising from the dead. The actions of the dishonest servant were motivated by temporal issues (like where he was going to find his next meal). The actions of the Suffering Servant Jesus were motivated by eternal issues (like the redemption of all creation)!
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