Luke 16:3–8: “Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.’ “So he called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ And he said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ So 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?’ So he said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.
Jesus did not commend the steward for robbing his master or for encouraging others to be dishonest. Jesus commended the man for his wise use of opportunity. “The children of this world” are experts at seizing opportunities for making money and friends and getting ahead. God’s people should take heed and be just as wise when it comes to managing the spiritual affairs of life. “The children of this world” are wiser only “in their generation”; they see the things of time, but not the things of eternity. 1
Your Word is Truth
Are you intimidated by the opportunist of this world? Many are willing to break rules of engagement to advance themselves. But God is willing to supply wisdom to His children to make great decisions, if we are willing to yield to Him for His glory. When was the last time you were bold, and courageously stood up to the opportunist, with His wisdom?
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. –Ephesians 5:8
You Alone are God
Wisdom seizes opportunities in this world to proclaim an eternal life in Christ. – TWEET IT
Your Will be Done
Lord, teach me how to be spiritually wise in a world that does not play by the rules.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
