This week in our Bible study together, we are looking at a parable that the New Living Translation calls “The Parable of the Shrewd Manager.” The word “shrewd” is not a word we walk around saying, so it would be helpful to begin our time together by looking at what this uncommon word means. The Oxford Dictionary defines shrewd as “having or showing sharp powers of judgment.” We practice shrewdness as we manage our lives here on earth, from our finances and schedules to our earthly treasures. Our call today is to turn that focus toward the things of eternity, practicing shrewdness as we seek to manage the gifts, talents, and resources God has given us here on this earth to impact the Kingdom of God and reach one more person for Christ. After all, that is how we live as fully devoted followers of Christ.
Who do you know who practices shrewdness, or shows “sharp powers of judgment,” when it comes to how they manage their lives (their time, finances, resources, etc.), and what can we learn from them when it comes to living for the kingdom of God?
1. Read Luke 16:1-9. Why was the manager in this story emboldened to act shrewdly?
Luke 16:1-9
And Jesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money. 2So the employer called him in and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.’ 3“The manager thought to himself, ‘Now what? My boss has fired me. I don’t have the strength to dig ditches, and I’m too proud to beg. 4Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’ 5“So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, ‘How much do you owe him?’ 6The man replied, ‘I owe him 800 gallons of olive oil.’ So the manager told him, ‘Take the bill and quickly change it to 400 gallons.’ 7“‘And how much do you owe my employer?’ he asked the next man. ‘I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,’ was the reply. ‘Here,’ the manager said, ‘take the bill and change it to 800 bushels.’ 8“The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light. 9Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.
2. What is at stake for followers of Christ that should embolden us to practice shrewdness when it comes to living for the kingdom of God as fully devoted followers of Christ?
3. According to this passage of Scripture, why is living for the kingdom of God rather than the things of this earth a far greater investment?
4. Read Luke 16:10-12. Why is faithfulness “in the large” things contingent on faithfulness “in the little things”?
Luke 16:10-12
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?”
1. What does it look like in our world today to practice shrewdness when it comes to living for Christ and His kingdom?
2. What holds people back from taking seriously the call to live shrewdly as fully devoted followers of Christ?
3. As you evaluate your life, how are you doing at leveraging everything you have to manage the resources, gifts, and abilities God has given you to build up His kingdom? What is going well? What needs improvement?
Every day we have, we are given the opportunity to manage everything God has given us well to make an impact for Him and His kingdom. Name one gift, talent, resource, or opportunity that God has given you right now. How can you manage that gift, talent, resource, or opportunity shrewdly as a fully devoted follower of Christ this week? Share your answer with your group. After everyone has shared, pray together. Ask God to help each one of you as you seek to manage all that He has given you well.
It is clear from Jesus’ parable in Luke 16 that every day is significant; therefore, we must make the most of every moment and of everything God has given us to build up His kingdom. The reality is, we have a real enemy, the devil, who is doing everything possible to stop us from shrewdly managing all that God has given us for His kingdom. For the next few moments, we will look at three things that the enemy uses to hold us back so that we can learn how to fight against them: distractions, love for the things of this world, and the approval of people.
Perhaps one of the most subtle ways the enemy seeks to keep us from managing the one life God has given us to impact the Kingdom of God is by distracting us. When our plans and full schedules consume our minds, we often shift our focus from the things that have eternal value to the things of this world. What we need is the right perspective, remembering that this earth does not have eternal value, but that the things of God and His kingdom will last forever.
1. Read Proverbs 4:25-27 and Matthew 6:33.
Proverbs 24:25-27
Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. 26Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. 27Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.
Matthew 6:33
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
2. How do distractions keep us from leveraging everything we have for God and His kingdom?
3. How can we fight against the enemy’s attempts to distract us?
4. What do you find yourself distracted by, and how is that distraction impacting your walk as you set out to be a fully devoted follower of Christ?
One of the less subtle ways the enemy seeks to keep us from making the most of every moment we have to build up the kingdom of God is love for the things of this world. You see, if we are not careful, the enemy will entice us by seeking to keep us focused on all that this world has to offer and to build up our own little kingdoms instead of the kingdom of God. This is no way to live. After all, this world will always let us down.
1. Read 1st John 2:15-17.
1st John 2:15-17
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
2. What are the things of this world that people turn to?
3. How has something of this world let you down?
4. What is the promise we have to claim if we live for the kingdom of God instead of this earth?
A third tactic of the enemy is to tempt us toward people-pleasing. You see, if we are so focused on others and pleasing them, we will find ourselves making decisions for, living for, and seeking to please them over God. This keeps us from being fully devoted followers of Christ every time we choose to live for the approval of others. God is the One worthy of all of our attention and focus.
1. Read 1st Thessalonians 2:4-6.
1st Thessalonians 2:4-6
For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. 5 Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money! 6 As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else.
2. How does people-pleasing negatively impact us and hold us back?
3. What is our motivation for seeking approval from God over people according to this passage of Scripture?
4. Do you find yourself struggling with people-pleasing? Why or why not?
Which one of the three ways that the enemy seeks to hold us back do you find yourself tempted with the most: distractions, love for the things of this earth, or people pleasing? Share that with your group, along with one way that you can fight against that temptation this week. After everyone has shared, pray together. Ask God to help each one of you as you seek to make the most of every moment God has given you.
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