Clever & Prudent

Luke 16: 1-13

This scripture is not easy for many Christians.  First of all how can Jesus use a dishonest person as an illustration?  And if the point is to be clever and shrewd is that usually for one’s “own skin” as it is in this parable?  It is difficult to grasp, and Luke does record an interpretation that clearly states we are to serve one master and to be honest in everything, yet it does not answer the questions posed above.  We should not be surprised to see someone that is not perfect at the center of an illustration, for only one person was truly perfect.  We all come to church with positive and negative attributes yet we are all used by God.  Why shouldn’t Jesus use someone who happens to be dishonest but is shrewd?  Another thing we must appreciate is that parables are to make a specific point, and thus we should not think we should act like the individuals contained in the story.  Such it is with the parable with the forgiving father (better known as the prodigal son), we are not to go out and live a prodigal lifestyle to be forgiven rather the point is the forgiveness not the wastefulness.  Here the point is being shrewd and clever with your domain.  The assumption is that if one is being shrewd and clever, they are doing it to save their own skin.  Certainly that is what the dishonest manager is doing in this parable.  However, the commentary that follows the parable makes it clear that the point is being clever, and specifically clever with the resources one has available.  This reminds me of Jesus charge to his disciples, in Matthew 10:16, “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”  Jesus makes it clear that we must be like serpents, wise, clever, shrewd, AND innocent as doves.  The innocent as doves can be equated with serving only Jesus; not serving alterative motives, only innocent love.  Yet being clever and shrewd, with what you is available to you.  Most of us are not heads of state but rather have each our own sphere of influence.  We are to serve only Jesus and that includes being clever and prudent.

Thinking about this scripture I was having a hard time finding an illustration, until I was in the dentist’s chair the past week.  It then came to me, when I was a baker I knew a woman that worked as a cashier part-time and as a veterinarian technician part-time.  She loved animals.  Her husband was going to graduate school and they had what they needed but there was currently not a lot to spare.  Her young dog got in a freak accident in which his lost three canine teeth.  These are like fingers to dogs, hence the name, and it was important that the dog get implants.  It would have been a very difficult life without at least two of those teeth.  She did research on getting a dog orthodontic surgeon and the cost was simply prohibitive.  The cost of the implants themselves was expensive enough without the specialist’s fee.  Well she had her sphere of influence.  She was very well liked by the vet and by the whole bakery customer community.  And thus she got the dentist and the veterinarian to do the surgery pro-bono.  The dentist borrowed books from the vet and did some studying as the implants were shipped.  Then late Saturday afternoon, the vet sedated the dog and the dentist went to work.  I recall the vet being impressed with the lighting and the dentist loved having the patient out for the procedure.  This is a prime example of being clever and prudent with what you have, while following only love.

At the office that Saturday, was a dental assistant and her elementary age girl, who watched the procedure with amazement.  That Monday the little girl’s teacher asked everyone what they did that weekend, and as you know the girl shared the story I shared, from her perspective.  The teacher did not believe her and told her not to lie.  The girl held to her story and was even sent to time-out crying.  The teacher was upset as well since the girl did not typically lie and called her mother late in the afternoon to discover the truth.  Thus I believe that we, the church, does live among wolves, and even when we are wise as serpents and innocent as doves, the world will not always believe that the resurrection happens.  We must continue to serve only Jesus, with the conviction of that innocent elementary school girl!

Amen.