The Definition of Shrewdness

Intro

I once heard wisdom that if you ever win the lottery, you should wait a full year before you spend any of the money. Newness wears off and think clearly. I may not ever use such wisdom, but it’s given from experience. Wisdom is given much in Proverbs. Such as be careful you hang out with or be careful not to be alone. Like your tongue can tear people down or build them up. Your eyes can lead you to sin.

Need: We struggle with wisdom from others. Either kids weren’t allowed to mess up and now they want to test boundaries, or we can’t learn from falling on our faces. Time and time again we struggle with following the Lord. Sin gets in the way.

Wisdom in the NT is used as shrewdness.

Main Idea: Shrewdness is stewarding God’s gifts in this life

After the parables of what was lost and what is found, we come to the parable of the shrewd manager. We are reminded of younger brother who mismanaged inheritance. He keeps the theme though his audience changes.

Luke 16:1-18

Truth #1: Shrewdness is preparing for the life to come (1-9)

Exp. He is speaking to disciples. Instead of explaining the prodigal son, he gives a new parable. Rich man hears that manager was wasting his possessions and fires him. Verse 3. No other skills and too proud to beg. Verse 4-7. He begins planning what happens after he’s done. He wanted to live off of reciprocity. Do good to me, I’ll do good to you. Jesus already addressed this: Luke 6. even sinners are good to people who are good to them.

Ill. Joshua, fentanyl.

Exp. Notice the response of the master. Verse 8. Things get confusing. Shrewdness not a moral quality, because he’s even labeled “dishonest.” Praising his wisdom in preparing for what’s next. Sons of this world = non believers. Sons of light = believers. What is he saying? Non believers plan for the future better than believers. In Matthew, he tells them to be as shrewd as serpents. Our models are serpents and dishonest managers! What should we be shrewd about? Verse 9. The parable is over. “Means of unrighteous wealth” means the poor. Why they can’t pay you back with earthly money, but will inherit eternal reward. The future we are to prepare for is not our retirement but our resurrection.

Christ - Jesus is the one who bridges the gap to eternity. He gives us heaven through his death and resurrection. We are his co-heirs and will receive crowns in heaven.

App. What do we do?

Do not put your faith in worldly wealth. It will let you down. Leave you anxious.

Be wise with your worldly wealth. Use your wealth to prepare for what’s next.

Truth #2: Shrewdness is measured by your faithfulness to God (10-13)

Exp. Jesus continues to share his views on stewardship with something we totally understand. Verse 10. Notice the language. The manager was crafty and shrewd, but not faithful or righteous. He was dishonest. Couldn’t manage what he was in charge of, and now he is off the deep end. God gives more when you are faithful with what he’s giving. Verse 11-12. Unrighteous wealth = worldly money. True riches = heavenly things. If you haven’t been faithful with what is God’s why would he give you something for yourself. God gives you more as you are faithful with it.

Ill. There’s a reason why Cousin’s Cuban Cafe gets a lot of my business. They always deliver. A restaurant who doesn’t give good food won’t stay open long. So it is with what God entrusts to you.

Exp. Not stewarding is an act of unfaithfulness. Verse 13. Either not stewarding things well or acting like they are all yours shows your heart towards what God has given you. This is specific to money, but it’s true across the board. If your goal is more money or any earthly things, you can’t be serving God. You either use the gifts to serve God or you use them to serve yourself.

Christ - How do we do this? By following Jesus. Jesus was faithful among a generation who wasn’t. Jesus could have had the riches from heaven and earth but instead humbled himself. Philippians 2.

App. What do we do?

Steward what God has given you for his glory. Look at what you have: money, home, family, job.

Truth #3: Shrewdness is understanding what matters to God (14-18)

Exp. The response of the Pharisees here expose what they think about this teaching. Verse 14. Notice they have no response but to mock him. Why? There is no biblical argument for what he says. He’s pegged them. Verse 15. You can hide before men, but not God.

Ill. “Only God can judge me.” You don’t want that. Not everything you like God likes. You can justify all day before men, but you cannot hide before a holy God.

Exp. Verse 16-17. John the Baptist. Forces his way into it = “insistently urged” into it. Both John and Jesus were preaching about the kingdom and how to be a part of it. That’s what matters to God. Easier for the world to end before God’s word becomes void. Therefore, you better take note about what God says in his word. It will not become void. That’s what matters to God. Finally, verse 18. As he mentioned with friends, we are also to steward our relationships. The Law doesn’t give much in specifics to divorce. The Pharisees pretty much said for any reason was fine. Jesus holds a different line. He mentions several things about divorce elsewhere. Anyone who has gone through divorce knows that it’s bad. Sometimes it is the lesser of two evils, but God hates it either way.

Christ - Thankfully, we have someone who displayed the correct way for marriages to work, and that’s Jesus. Paul reminds us that the roles of marriage are displayed through the humility of Christ in Ephesians 5. Jesus came to preach the good news of the kingdom and bring salvation to all. All that we have failed to steward, God has perfected.

App. What do we do?

Care for what God cares for. How you manage your life and what he gives you. His Word. Your marriage.

Conclusion

What in your life are you not being shrewd with? Are you planning for the kingdom to come? Are you stewarding God’s gifts for his kingdom? Repent if not. Praise God for his good gifts.