The parable of the shrewd manager (Luke 16:1-13) is one of the most difficult lessons of Jesus to unpack. It seems like he wants us to root for the dishonest guy in the story, but if we dig a little deeper, we see that there are some important lessons to learn.

Talking Points:

  • The parable of the shrewd manager (Luke 16:1-13) is one of the most difficult lessons of Jesus to unpack. It seems like he wants us to root for the dishonest guy in the story, but if we dig a little deeper, we see that there are some important lessons to learn for how we deal with money today.
  • Like the manager in the story, we (1) are stewarding God’s gifts to us, (2) must one day give an account of how we use what he’s given us, and (3) should invest with this future in mind. This is the point of another parable about money, the Parable of the Servants. Matthew 25:14-30
  • When you give to God, you are saying that you desire God above everything else. That’s why Jesus ends the parable with verse thirteen.
  • The condition of our hearts can be gauged by what we desire. If your treasures are in this world, so is your heart, and if your heart is in this world, it can’t be with God in his. Matthew 6:21
Discussion:
  1. Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Everything we have is a gift from God. What does this mean about how we should spend our resources, time, and energy?
  3. Read 1 Timothy 6:9. How can seeking wealth and material gain lead us toward destruction? Have you seen this happen in your life or in the lives of people you know?
  4. Read Luke 6:13. Why can’t we serve both God and money at the same time?
  5. Read Matthew 6:21. How does what we desire most (God, family, money, drugs) reflect the spiritual trajectory we are following? Share a real-life example if you have one.
  6. Do your giving and serving habits reflect the truths discussed in this topic? If not, what can you do to be better?
  7. Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?

This is part 2 in the Perplexing Parables series. Find this and other pursueGOD.org sermons on YouTube here.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email