Giving is one of the most controversial subjects in the church. Some people declare that “all the church talks about is money” or “all they want is my money.”

Churches have split over the use or misuse of money. Families have abandoned fellowship because of money issues. Money is a powerful force. Jesus talked about money often. He wasn’t always talking about it in a positive manner, however. Often He was warning us about it. In one parable it appeared that He was giving a mixed message about money.

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager has often confused readers. Is Jesus actually commending an unethical business person? Of course not. However, there is some digging that needs to be done. Let’s get to it, shall we?

He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ – Luke 16:1-2 ESV

The rich man scheduled an audit of all the financial transactions and the dishonest manager was quaking in his boots! I recently re-read this passage and quaked as well. Would I be confident when Jesus judges my stewardship? I had to do some soul-searching and realized there is always room for improvement and growth.

Back to the Dishonest Manager

We can immediately determine that he was dishonest. An accusation was made to the owner about his ghastly stewardship. He did not push back or ask for a second chance. He simply slipped back into his mode of dishonesty and dereliction.

And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses’ (Luke 16:3-4, ESV). 

A plan of deception is being hatched by the criminal employee. He’s lazy and prideful but quite crafty. In this situation, the owner is actually partially complicit with the dishonest manager. In all actuality the guy should have been fired immediately and escorted off the premises with a brown box. Instead, the owner provided him ample time to embezzle money from the company.

So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty’ (Luke 16:5-7 ESV). 

The amounts mentioned in the text are not trivial but quite significant. A hundred measures of oil is estimated at 875 gallons or 3,200 liters. A half-liter of quality olive oil can be purchased on Amazon for $39.97. The total bill then, using this estimate, would be about $255,808! He told the buyer to cut the bill in half! Wheat is not as expensive as olive oil so the discount was not as severe. The manager was simply currying favor from customers. He was “scratching their back” so when he was fired, which was inevitable, his back would get scratched as well.

Well Played Hand

Verse eight is where the parable gets a bit murky. The business owner actually commends the dishonest manager for his shrewdness and ingenuity. For decades I read this part of the parable in utter confusion. How in the world could God find this type of behavior even remotely acceptable? The short answer is that He doesn’t find it acceptable but reprehensible. So why the confusion?

The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light (Luke 16:8 ESV).

The master, or owner, in this situation is not Jesus. The master is actually not even a real person – it’s a parable. The owner, in the parable, commends the dishonest employee for his brutal, business acumen. The owner respects his strategic thinking. He certainly was still sent packing but the owner had to admit that the manager played his hand well. Verse eight is the end of the story for the owner and the dishonest manager. Jesus picks up in verse nine and addresses His disciples.

And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings (Luke 16:9 ESV).

Wasteful or Extravagant

Jesus encouraged us to “make friends by means of unrighteous wealth” but admittedly that seems a bit nebulous. What does He mean? Jesus is tying verse nine to the previous verses in the parable. The owner commended the dishonest manager for being wasteful with his resources. We’re given permission by Jesus to be extravagant with His resources.

All the money we have in our possession belongs to God. We’re simply managing it. Jesus is encouraging us to be radically generous with His money. In one instance the manager “gave away” half of his masters money. In the other example he gave away 20% of his money. I realize to some giving away 20% or 50% is mind-boggling! I get it. Our Lord and Master is simply saying that it’s okay and actually encourages us to be radical givers!

First Things First

There are a few caveats that need to be discussed. If we’ve made commitments to creditors these must be honored. We read in Psalm 37:21 that the wicked borrows but does not repay. I don’t want God to classify me as wicked. Paul, in his first letter to Timothy, declared that if we do not care for our family we are worse than the unbeliever.

Before we can get into the mode of radical giving we must care for our families and meet all of our other financial obligations. I encourage you to rid yourself of debt once and for all. When we have debt hanging over our heads it’s difficult to give 20% much less 50%.

Take care of your family financially. Where you live and what you drive is between you and God. Don’t be a financial parasite just so you can give.

If you have debts make sure they are paid as agreed. If you cannot pay your debts then you should not be giving to a church or a ministry. WHAT? I realize that statement is unpopular with the clergy but I stand by it firmly. If we’re in arrears to our slave owner (credit card company) but drop that money into the offering we’re simply being a religious Pharisee. We straining out a gnat but swallowing a camel.

Two Sets of Jones’

When we’re not able to give but truly want to give it should stir in us righteous indignation. Are we angry enough, with ourselves, to stop buying things we don’t need to impress people we don’t know with money we don’t have? I hope so! Keeping up with the Jones’ is a serious issue in the Body of Christ. Our lives do not consist in the abundance of things we own (Luke 12:15).

A subset of Christianity has taught that wealth and riches are a sign of great faith. Beware when anyone, preacher or not, uses the promises of God to appeal to our carnal nature. Things we buy on earth are often necessary but they don’t have eternal value. Treasures in heaven are a result of giving to the poor.

Friends in High Places

Wealth is going to fail. Our currency is no good in heaven. Riches do not profit in the day of judgment. We are saved by grace through faith! When we use God’s money for Kingdom purposes we’re making eternal friends. When we give to a church or ministry we get “credit” for everything that is done in that ministry.

I’ve had friends sneak Bibles into countries where Bibles are illegal. I fully expect to meet at least one person from Iran or China in heaven because of it. God has given us His wealth to manage here on earth. We can use it to buy depreciable assets (automobiles) every couple of years (no Kingdom return) or we can use it to make eternal friends. I want friends in high places. I want to meet a new person every day in heaven and discuss how they surrendered their life to King Jesus.

How about you? Are you making friends in high places? Are you faithful with the little?

I dare you to profit!

Tim Kiser is the author of The Profit Dare: Winning at Wealth Without Losing Your Soul. It’s available through Amazon, B&N, or through the publisher.