1 1-2 Jesus said to his disciples, “There was once a rich man who had a manager. He got reports that the manager had been taking advantage of his position by running up huge personal expenses. So he called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? You’re fired. And I want a complete audit of your books.’
3-4 “The manager said to himself, ‘What am I going to do? I’ve lost my job as manager. I’m not strong enough for a laboring job, and I’m too proud to beg. . . . Ah, I’ve got a plan. Here’s what I’ll do . . . then when I’m turned out into the street, people will take me into their houses.’
5 “Then he went at it. One after another, he called in the people who were in debt to his master. He said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
6 “He replied, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’
“The manager said, ‘Here, take your bill, sit down here—quick now—write fifty.’
7 “To the next he said, ‘And you, what do you owe?’
“He answered, ‘A hundred sacks of wheat.’
“He said, ‘Take your bill, write in eighty.’
8-9 “Now here’s a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.”
Jesus uses a parable of a crooked steward to teach the disciples about the essential truth of looking for every opportunity to contribute to God's kingdom. We disciples are stewards of God, being entrusted with our abilities, positions, resources, and experiences to further God's kingdom. Jesus wants his disciples to be faithful, diligent, but also at the same time be smart in advancing Gospel's ministry.
My dear friend Jesus, I am following your way daily in order to know how to be your good friend but also your faithful steward. I pray this prayer again - I give all I have been given from You back to You and I pray that I satisfy and enjoy solely in Your grace and presence. And I also pray that as I am fully embraced by your grace and love, I can step forward and out of my comfort zone with courage and clarity as led by You.
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