Making Sense of a Confusing Parable
At first blush, the parable of the dishonest steward appears to be a strange lesson from Jesus. It appears that the shrewd actions of the steward are being commended to the disciples as an example to follow but closer examination reveals that there is a lesson behind the parable that does not readily present itself.
So we have a story about a steward who has been defrauding or wasting his employer’s wares. When he is caught, his employer prepares to fire him; but before he does so, he wants an accounting from the steward to know just what the extent of his fraud was. The steward is genuinely concerned because he is afraid that his reputation will precede him and he will not secure such a good position. But he needs to do something to help himself prepare for the future because he knows that he is not physically capable of manual labour and he is too embarrassed to consider begging.
He concocts a plan that he hopes will give him a future. He calls people who owe the business owner money for various goods they have purchased. He then asks them to rewrite the bills and show a figure different than what is on the original bill. No doubt those who owe money to the owner are grateful for the break. The steward is hoping that his action – while not ethical – will enable him to be seen in a favourable light by the debtors and perhaps even lead to a position with one of them.
The owner discovers this latest scheme of the steward but rather than calling him to account and making him pay the difference, he commends him for his actions. No doubt the owner would probably rather get payment for half of what he is owed if the alternative is to receive nothing. But even though the steward has been shrewd and that is a quality that is welcomed by his employer, the employer can no longer trust the steward and so he wishes him well and sends him on his way. Hopefully the steward will find those people whom he helped and they will remember him and give him employment.
The question we need to ask now is: was Jesus commending the actions of the steward? Yes, and no. What Jesus was pointing out was that there are two kinds of riches in life: the riches of this world and the riches of God. The riches of the world are often referred to as Mammon. In some texts it appears that Mammon has replaced God but here Jesus speaks of unrighteous Mammon and righteous Mammon. Mammon is a Semitic word often translated as riches or money. So it is not money that is the root of all evil but rather the attitude we hold with regard to money. If we view money solely as a means of advancing our own self in the world and are guided by principles that disregard the welfare and security of others in the attainment of wealth, then it could be said that we have an unrighteous attitude to money.
If we are more concerned with our reputation and status among the people of this world, then we will seek to gain and use wealth in a way that builds our kingdom. And Jesus would see that as perfectly acceptable for anyone who does not affirm their faith in and love for God. If we choose not to accept the presence of God in our life and choose to live our life for ourselves and our goals and aspirations, then we would be wise to gain whatever we can out of life.
But if we have made the choice to accept the presence of God in our life and have made the choice to live for God and to seek the kingdom of God, then we would be wise to understand the goals and aspirations of God for our lives. Whatever we may find in our life – whatever may enrich our lives be it material or other – we will seek to make use of it in as responsible a way as possible in accordance with the principles of faith revealed to us by God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This is righteous Mammon.
Jesus then reminds those listening to him that a servant cannot serve two masters. If you have ever watched a movie or a television show or read a book that spoke of the relationship between masters and servants, you realize very quickly the difficulties that arise when a servant is torn in two directions. Resentment and frustration can build to the point where drastic actions can occur. No wonder it is often said that the butler did it! A house divided against itself cannot stand and a person who finds themselves standing between two opposites cannot go anywhere. No matter how hard we try and no matter how effective we think we can be, we will ultimately be faced with making a decision one way or the other.
But many of us are like the people of that day. We constantly try to live in both realities. We want the reality of personal gain and contentment and we want the reality of eternal gain and contentment.
Remember that Jesus is not asking that we all take a vow of poverty; rather, he is asking that we see monetary wealth from a different perspective.
But let us not forget that wealth comes in many forms. There is monetary wealth but there is also physical wealth in the form of health; there is emotional wealth in the form of stable and caring relationships; there is mental wealth in the form of a mind that is clear and able to make reasoned decisions that balance personal and corporate needs; and there is spiritual wealth – a wealth that informs and guides our innermost being. All of us possess this wealth; the question becomes who is the master of this wealth? Will it be God or will it be someone or something else?
Jesus doesn’t tell us who to choose but he cautions us to remember that a choice will need to be made. That choice will not only determine the course of our lives in this time but it will determine the course of our lives into eternity.
AMEN