Kingdom Minded Management

In Luke 16:1-18, Jesus teaches a parable about the values of his kingdom in regard to wealth. Jesus surprises us by commending the dishonest manager. Jesus isn't commending his dishonesty; rather, he commends his shrewdness. He's saying that the people of this world exercise shrewdness and forward thinking about their money. Citizens of God’s kingdom should do so even more. This parable  reminds us that God is the owner; we are not. This means that if we are not generous towards others, it isn't merely an issue of being miserly. It's robbery. Thankfully, we have the perfect manager in Jesus. He gave more than his wealth to make us into his friends. He gave his life. The gospel provides the motivation and inspiration for Christ's people to use money in accord with the values of God's kingdom.