Luke 16 reminds me of house-sitting for my brother. He only asked me to keep the grass cut. A month later, when I finally got on the riding mower, the belt broke. The result was a clear line showing how long I had waited to keep my promise. Today’s chapter looks at trustworthiness. It begins with a parable about a rich man that heard his manager was cheating him. The owner asked, “What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management”. This was a very reasonable request for an accurate accounting of the business activity. An innocent man would not hesitate to open the books for an audit, but the manager instead asked himself, “What shall I do now?” So he began to scheme. The manager called in each of the largest debtors, and reduced the total amount due; thereby ensuring he would find favor with them after his termination. The parable ends with a surprising comment, “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly”. Jesus’ commentary does not condone corruption; He does highlight the fact that “people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light”. Jesus taught them not to be naïve, about finances or human motivation. He says, “Use worldly wealth to gain friends”. Ethical use of our resources should be a visible witness to those skeptical of the church.
The next verse clarifies His message, “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”. A good manager or a good parent will expect and inspect faithfulness with small things first, before giving bigger responsibilities. Jesus asked, “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” Friend, are you giving untrustworthy folks access to your true riches?
Continuing His teaching on wealth, Jesus added, “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money”. You can look at any person’s spending over time to determine that person’s priorities. “God knows your hearts”. To be clear, money is not the problem; according to 1 Timothy 6:10, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”. The next verse seems to be out of place, but He is relating the importance of keeping promises in our marriage vows. “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery”. His example was about leaving one in order to marry another. This is not a universal condemnation of every divorce. This is a warning to the intentional promise-breaker.
The chapter closes with a story of contrasts. “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen… At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus”. We read, “when the beggar died… the angels carried him to Abraham’s side”. Most assume that if there is a heaven, they will go there; but we read, after the rich man died “he was in torment… he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side”. He pleaded to “send Lazarus to my family… Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment”. Abraham answered, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them”. The rich man argued that if someone came back from the dead to tell them, then they would listen and repent. The chapter ends with the somber words, “‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead”. Many of us hope that the ledger book of our life will show more positive entries than negative. Do not be deceived, God’s standard is perfection, everything else falls short. My friend, can you pass the audit? Perhaps it is time to put your hope in the Faithful One.