CHAPTER TWO
A Business Overview of Luke 16:1-13
“Get my broker on the phone, Miss Smith!”
“Yes sir, stock- or pawn- ?”
The rich man referred to in the parable, is the one to whom everything belongs. He is the financier – the one who supplied the money and the opportunity for his servant, referred to as the steward, to handle his business affairs – heard a rumor that his steward was wasting what had been entrusted to him and the rich man called for a review of the books.
Remember, in the time of Jesus, a large proportion of business was done by bartering, for example, fish could be traded for wheat, or olive oil for grapes, and so on.
The task of doing business and seeing to the financial wellbeing of the rich man’s household fell to the steward and he, knowing what he had done or not done, knew his job hang in the balance. He also realized that there was no way he would be able to do menial or hard labor such as digging ditches, and on top of that, living the good life had made him too proud to beg, so his future looked bleak. All he knew was business and administration and with the word ‘discharged for dishonesty or laziness’ on his testimonial, he had no chance of other employment in those fields. What was he to do about his situation? First and foremost, he needed friends, and these needed to be in the right places. Therefore, he needed to strengthen and expand his contacts in the business world, and the best way to do that in the business environment is to make deals that benefit his would-be friends, deals that would be financially beneficial to those whose help he might need.
Money talks in the secular world and people listen especially if there is a quick profit to be made. I can imagine how happy those debtors must have been when the steward told them to re-write their accounts. These accounts were usually promissory notes describing the nature of the transaction and the amount to be paid on or before a given date. Written in the debtors own handwriting, with his seal or mark confirming the transaction, these notes would serve as an account of outstanding debt, and were binding in a court of law. Failure to honor the debt could cost one all he had and even land him in prison, which two thousand years ago was not a pleasant experience and if that were not enough, there was a good chance that the debtor, his wife and children could be sold into slavery. (Matt. 18:23-35)
The steward, in his shrewdness, had the debtors rewrite their notes for a lesser amount, and then by destroying the original account, the new note became valid. Yes, the rich man lost money but the steward gained new and probably powerful contacts at no expense to himself; dishonest, yes, but highly advantageous. In this way the steward literally bought new friends, and opened doors for the day when he would be without work.
The financier was rich and he would be able to cover the loss, but he, obviously an astute businessman himself, did appreciate the shrewdness of the steward.
It is unfortunate, but a large portion of society sees success as described in a Spanish proverb: ‘A rich man is either a scoundrel or the heir of a scoundrel.’ But this need not apply to the Christian businessperson.
In this parable, Luke 16:1-13, Jesus acknowledges that the world, in its dealings, is shrewder than the average believer. Our faith and moral ethics tend to silence our lips in the face of ruthless competition. We are afraid we will compromise our beliefs or portray ourselves as hypocrites.
All, however, is not lost. Our faith and beliefs need not be concealed in our efforts to gain a foothold in the business world.
Jesus’ advice is not to do as the world does, but to make friends with unrighteous mammon that we may always have a place to do business. Jesus did not say, ‘accept the ways of the unrighteous’. There are other biblical guidelines for making your way through this world without resorting to dishonesty and underhanded tactics.
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
(1Cor. 9:19-23)
Paul says, that in whatever he did, he stayed within the boundaries as laid out in the Bible even though he had to deal with the world in all its diversity. His advice was:
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
(Eph. 5:15)
Paul is telling us, that as Christians we can deal with the world without becoming part of the world, and without succumbing to the vices of the world. Through wisdom we can gain an advantage without losing our identity. There is no reason for you to be ashamed of who you are or what you believe in the face of opposition, remember you carry the name of the King.