"The Lord Commended The Unjust Steward"
Luke 16:8
The unjust steward was a wicked, dishonest
man. He was too lazy to work and too proud to beg (v.3). Yet, when he found out
that he was to be put out of his stewardship by his master he determined that
he would make friends of his lord's debtors, so that when he was turned out of
his master's house he might be received into theirs (vv. 4-7). Treacherous as
he was, he was brilliant in this one thing - He used the opportunity he had to
prepare for his future, when all opportunity would be gone. For this his lord
commended him and the Lord Jesus holds him up as an example of wisdom (v. 8).
The unjust steward was not commended for
doing the things he had done, but because he had wisely provided for himself.
Dishonest as he was, by lessening the bills of his master's debtors he made
friends for himself. Wicked as he was in his deeds, he had an eye to the
future. Disgraceful as his actions were, he provided well for himself. He did
not sit still in idleness and wait to be reduced to poverty. He schemed,
planned, contrived and found a way to secure a future home for himself.
Therefore the Lord Jesus said, "The children of this world are in their
generation wiser than the children of light."
This man, with regard to earthly things,
was very diligent. He wisely looked to and provided for the future. This is
commendable even in ants (Prov. 6:6-9). It is the nature of man, by base,
animal instinct, with regard to earthly, carnal, material things, to look to
the future. In fact, we most naturally look to the future with regard to
everything temporal. Are we not then fools if we neglect our souls? This unjust
steward is a man whose example in earthly things we would be wise to follow in
spiritual things. Like him, we should look to the future. Be wise, my friend,
make provision for your soul against that day when you shall have to leave your
present habitation. Secure to yourself "an house
not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" by faith in Christ. Use every
means at your disposal to secure the everlasting welfare of your immortal soul
(Mk.
Don Fortner