The Shrewd Manager

One of the most impressive movies about World War 2 and the holocaust was Schindler’s List.

Based on truth, it is the amazing story of Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist and member of the Nazi Party.

At his munitions factory in Cracow, Poland, he employed many Jews, saving them from certain death in the concentration camps, and continually outwitting and defying the SS. In this way he saved more than 1000 lives. After the war however, he just couldn’t make a success of any of his endeavours. He was supported financially for the rest of his life by Jewish organizations.

Oskar Schindler’s investment in life saving operations carried him through right up until his death in 1974.

I couldn’t help comparing this man with the parable of the shrewd manager in Luke chapter 16. This has been labelled “The hardest parable” by at least one prominent theologian, and there are many different interpretations even amongst Bible scholars, so my personal “take” is just one among many.

This shrewd manager is a somewhat strange character – not the kind we might expect to hear Jesus praising. His employer accused him of mismanagement of funds. “Get your report in order,” said the employer, “because you are going to be fired.” The manager thought to himself. ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches and I am too proud to beg. Ah, I know how to ensure that I have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I’m fired.’ So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation” (Luke 16:2-5 NLT throughout). He then got them to change the amounts owing on their bill of debt, reducing the amount owed in every case. A most welcome debt relief for those in trouble, and at the same time ensuring his popularity with them after he was fired.

“The employer had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd, and it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of light,” said Jesus. “Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then when your earthly possessions are gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:8-9).

Jesus wants us to be shrewd

Did Jesus admire the dishonest manager? Of course not. The next few verses make that much clear. “If you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?” (Luke 16:11) The point Jesus makes is that this fellow knew how to look after his own interests. Jesus also advises us to look after our own eternal interests by being “as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16 NIV).

Jesus was shrewd in his answers to the Pharisees on many occasions. Had they been able to catch him saying the wrong thing, or speaking against the law, they might have had grounds to arrest and put him to death a lot earlier than the time God appointed.

The Apostle Paul was able to save himself from a cruel beating in Jerusalem by revealing his Roman citizenship. The next day before the Sanhedrin he saw a way out of his predicament by announcing his belief in the resurrection. The Pharisees shared this belief, but the Sadducees didn’t. So the council was divided and the verbal conflict grew violent. In the meantime, Paul was quietly slipped back to the fortress before the enraged council members could tear him apart (Acts 23:6-10).

Today we need to be “wise serpents,” and to realise there are “wolves in sheep’s clothing” all around us. There are the health and wealth preachers and the false prophets mentioned in our previous issue of this magazine. There are the legalists who would have us think God is waiting to pounce on us if we make even the smallest mistake. Our adversary the devil employs some clever tactics to divert us from following our Saviour, and we need to be aware of them. Often it’s an easy way out of problems, or it’s to satisfy some material desire he makes us think we’re entitled to.

Just recently we have received calls from a “technical support” organization offering to help protect our computers. This kind, concerned representative just needed our username and password. A year or two ago, we received an email supposedly from a well known motor company informing us that we have won a car. They just need a few particulars so they know where to send the vehicle. A little investigation into that company’s website warned against such correspondence. There were even some basic spelling and grammar mistakes in the message. Then there was the upbeat lady who assured me I’ve won a prize in a competition which I never went in for. I just needed to call at a certain store to claim this prize.

One thing is certain. There are no free lunches out there, and if someone takes the trouble to contact you, there is a good chance they are doing it in their own interests.

But how did Jesus make the connection between the dishonest manager’s tactics, and our eternal life? Just as the dishonest manager invested in his physical future, so must we invest in our eternal future in the Kingdom of God. But we don’t do kindness to others by cooking the books. On the contrary, Paul advises: “Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasures as a good foundation for the future so they may experience true life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

Oskar Schindler is a 20th century example of a shrewd manager, and his investment carried him through to the end of this life. When we invest in the Kingdom of God, it will be guaranteed forever.