A random question for a Tuesday~~Is there a real difference between deceitfulness and vision? Luke 16: 1-13 should be read at least twice~~The parable of the Shrewd Manager, which is the parable of the crooked accountant who devised creative bookkeeping techniques, but was detected by the owner and given a few days before his termination would take place. He knew he was headed to a different lifestyle (possibly food stamps or general assistance) and developed a scheme to be self sufficient after losing his job. His ingenuity led him to call on all large accounts to cook the books as a favor to those in debt to his boss, cutting in half on paper all debts, and to reap future benefits from those involved in this scheme. Each debtor thanked him and said, if you ever need a favor, just look me up~Dont worry thought the accountant, but his boss caught wind of this plot, and had an unusual reaction~~he praised the accountants shrewdness and inventiveness. Bill Hybels summed it up best, saying Now neither Jesus nor the boss ever praised deceitfulness, dishonesty, or creative bookkeeping. But both of them recognized the accountants vision. When faced with a serious problem, he did not hide, blame somebody, run to the bottle or jump off a cliff. Instead, he faced his problem and came up with a shrewd way to solve it. Jesus commended him because as soon as he saw his problem, he became solution oriented. Go and do likewise, as you face the multitude of self made problems!
Posted on: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 16:51:28 +0000