THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

117PLAN FOR THE FUTUREThe Parable of the Shrewd ManagerLuke 16:1-15The Parable of the Shrewd Manager has been confusing to most of us since our firstexposure to it. That's because this parable seems to be commending someone for being dishonestwhich is out of character for God. For God to encourage anyone to be dishonest certainly runscounter to the teachings of Scripture. And if this is not what God is encouraging, then what is Heencouraging?FEW OF US PLANHow much should we set aside for today to secure our future? This is an issue we all needto address. Yet most of us don't plan beyond this year, this month, this pay period or even thisday.Fewer than 50% of us financially plan beyond our regular pay check. Even fewer planbeyond this coming year. This typically makes us poor stewards. By buying something on acredit card and making the minimum payment, we end up paying about five times the retailprice. Why? It is because we desire instant gratification. We want to have things immediately.Instead, we should plan how much we need for giving, savings, regular bills, medicalexpenses, maintenance, taxes, gifts, vacations, etc. for the whole year and then put aside themoney on a regular basis to cover them.This is the advantage of planning! It gives us freedom to choose how we use our moneywisely.THE WISDOM OF PLANNING (16:1-9)In Luke 16:1-15, Jesus is challenging His disciples to plan, not for this life, butbeyond it. He's saying not to plan for worldly wealth, but for true riches, in God's kingdom.Many of us "Christians" don't really believe in eternal life. We may pay lip service to impressother Christians but when it comes to the practical day-to-day decisions, we belie our professionby our spending patterns. Our spending most likely don’t look very different from our neighborswho have little, if any, interest in religion.If we really believed that how we used our money in this life could change our life foreternity, how would our priorities change? Our challenge is living like we believe Him and Hismessage.