Did Jesus endorse the dishonest manager...???

[tribeofjudah]

Story is from Luke 16 and it confused me at bit. Anything from Bible Commentary of Mrs. White....???

Luk 16:8

“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.

Luk 16:9

“And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail,fn they may receive you into an everlasting home.

Luk 16:10

“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

Luk 16:11

“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Luk 16:12

“And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?

Luk 16:13

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

[ClubV12]

You bring up an interesting chapter. I'm looking into the question.

My initial response is that Jesus is just recognizing what the stewards "boss" begrudingly had to recognize. The steward pulled off a pretty slick move. He took immediate action to prepare for disaster. From a worldly view, gotta hand it to the guy. Now he's got people that "owe him" and he will come calling on them in due time. It was sin, no doubt about it, but wait for the application to the Christian.

How much more should we be concerned with preparation for our future! When the stakes are infinitely higher. We to need friends in high places!

[tribeofjudah]

Thanks for the response. I need to go look it up in my Bible commentary for further examination.

[joeb]

I agree with ClubV12 on this. The key to understanding this is the second sentence of the first verse you quoted. Jesus says this guy was far wiser than Christians in the way he prepared for the future, in his understanding of the future. Christians have a far different view of the future, and of what really matters in life.

What Jesus was really saying was that Christians are really very lax in their preparations, that they show very little understanding of what is going to happen, and what their Master really wants from them. He's saying that we, and I'm including myself in this, show very little evidence of living a life that says we really understand what we profess to believe.

[LifeHiscost]

"

[ Persecutions Are Coming ] “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." Matthew 10:16 NKJV Brackets theirs LHC

God cares!

[tribeofjudah]

Wise as serpents... That's kinda like a oxymoron?

Serpent Satan is certainly wise...but NOT for the good things of this world. Wise and sneaky and evil.

[ClubV12]

So let us be wise, even sneaky, but far from evil. Sneaky isn't necessarily a bad thing. Jesus had many things He wanted to tell His disciples, but they weren't ready. We need to discern when, who, how, to reach people with just the truth they need for that time.

The Waldenses were VERY sneaky and ever watchful for those who might be interested in truth. :)

[Gerr]

No way did Jesus endorse his dishonesty. What He did commend was his astuteness in providing for himself in anticipated time of necessity.

[thx4mercy]

I agree with ClubV12 on this. The key to understanding this is the second sentence of the first verse you quoted. Jesus says this guy was far wiser than Christians in the way he prepared for the future, in his understanding of the future. Christians have a far different view of the future, and of what really matters in life.

What Jesus was really saying was that Christians are really very lax in their preparations, that they show very little understanding of what is going to happen, and what their Master really wants from them. He's saying that we, and I'm including myself in this, show very little evidence of living a life that says we really understand what we profess to believe.

Yes, I think this fits far too many Christians!

[Gibs]

"And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely." The worldly man praised the sharpness of the man who had defrauded him. But the rich man's commendation was not the commendation of God. {COL 367.3}

Christ did not commend the unjust steward, but He made use of a well-known occurrence to illustrate the lesson He desired to teach. "Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness," He said, "that when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles." R.V. {COL 367.4}

1Jo 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

1Jo 3:11 ¶ For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.