Read Luke 16:1-15. Jesus’ story about the Shrewd Manager is problematic. It seems the manager was dishonest, or at the very least wasteful, but Jesus turns him into a hero!
So what did the manager do right? He looked ahead and he made a plan. As soon as he realised he was in trouble, he needed to budget. He planned how to spend the money he had. By lowering the debts that were owed to his master, he helped others and ensured he had friends.
We need to be careful how we handle this story. Jesus is not praising the manager’s dishonesty. What catches Jesus’ eye is the man’s attitude. His attitude was to think ahead, to make a plan and then to put that plan straight into action.
That’s what Jesus wants us to do about our own finances. We’re not to hoard our money. It’s not about stockpiling it. We’re certainly not to worship it. Jesus wants us to use our money, and to use it wisely. In order to do so, we need a plan.
As his Future Builders, Jesus wants us to plan ways we can use the resources God has put in our hands for good.
THINK IT OVER
Think about the following:
• What do you want to accomplish in the future with your money?
