The Parable of the dishonest Steward is difficult for us to understand because we are unfamiliar with the business practices of the time. Stewards worked to make the maximum profit for their masters. An accepted way of making more money for the master was the practice of charging clients a high interest rate for goods supplied but not yet paid for. But since charging high interest (usury) was against the law, it could not be shown as such in the accounts. Instead, it had to be disguised as extra goods supplied.
The steward had wasted his master’s property and not acted in his master’s best interests. Faced with dismissal, he immediately set about currying favour with his master’s clients in the hope that, remembering how he had saved them a great deal of money, they would later welcome him. He reduced their bills by removing the disguised high interest charge.
He thereby deprived his master of the extra profit and, at the same time, put the clients in debt to him. His master, recognising how shrewdly he had acted – even though it had been at his expense – praised the steward for his astuteness.
By telling his hearers this parable Jesus wanted them to draw the conclusion that they too should use their money shrewdly. However, the use of money in the kingdom of God is very different from in the world. In the world, money is tainted. It seduces and blinds. It has a way of enslaving us so that all our energies go into becoming richer, even at the expense of others. In the world the use of money is always for our material benefit and advantage.
In the kingdom of God, however, the shrewd use of money is for the furthering of the kingdom by doing good to others especially the needy. This always brings blessings. When we share our possessions, which are on loan from God, with those in need, we are given the treasure of heaven as our inalienable possession. It is through being generous and kind to others that we become astute disciples of Christ – for in doing this we store up treasure in heaven, where no thief can destroy or steal.’
