Something very strange happens as a result. The lord – that is to say in the parable, the landlord, the owner – commended the unjust, the crooked steward, ‘because he had done wisely.
What the steward did with his master’s good was dishonest and underhand. What we may learn from him is that he takes some action; he is shrewd in what he does; he faces the certain prospect of losing his job; and he acts so as to secure his future after he is no longer working; he does so by making friends using the only thing that is available to him. Obviously, what we are not to imitate is his refusal to come clean to his master about his unfaithfulness as a steward, his striking a dishonest bargain with his master’s debtors, and his abusing of his master’s property and wealth. These factors in the parable are to be regarded as scaffolding which is necessary to setup the parable, and to bring before us the lessons that it is intended to teach.
There was something brilliant about the way this man solved his problem, and we are being taught to think how we should act in our predicament as fallen human beings. Just as he was accountable, so we are accountable to God, and must give an account of our lives at the judgment seat of Christ. The way people solve their problems, says the Lord Jesus, shows that the children of this world are very ingenious in their own generation, figuring out what they're going to do. But when it comes to the soul there is no provision at all. When it comes to the soul the natural thing with us is to behave as though there is no day of account. There is nothing to think about; nothing to be done. Here we are: the children of this world. We make endless insurance policies – not to criticize anything along those lines – and all kinds of intricate provisions in case this happens, and in case that happens. But nothing for the soul. What about when the last hour comes? What about the hour when we are summoned out of this life, and we launch into eternity? We are very astute when it comes to providing for earthly things, but there is no provision at all when it comes to the soul. That is the message of this parable.
‘For the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.’ They are wiser and demonstrate greater shrewdness in worldly affairs. But the children of light count this world as passing away, and they make provision chiefly for the world to come. The children of this world give little thought to that. Let a man not be so foolish as to think that this life is all there is.