THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

119'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied.The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fourhundred.'"Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?''A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied.He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.'The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly.For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind thanare the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends foryourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”(vv. 3-9)Since the master commended the manager’s shrewdness in writing down the accounts,it’s hard to imagine he was being cheated in these dealings even though the Lord calls themanager dishonest. More likely, in settling with the debtors the manager was deducting theexcess profits he himself had tacked onto their accounts, earning the gratitude of the debtorsand the admiration of the master.We see here the wisdom of providing against an uncertain future and coming evil.The conduct of the unjust steward, when he received notice to give up his place, was undeniablyskillful. Dishonest as he was in striking off from the bills of debtors anything that was due to hismaster, he certainly by so doing made for himself friends. Although he was wicked, he looked tothe future. Even though his actions were disgraceful, nevertheless he provided well for himself.He did not give up and give in to laziness and self-pity. He did not allow himself to be reduced topoverty without a struggle. He schemed, planned and boldly carried out his plans. The result wasthat when he lost one home he secured another.This is in striking contrast to the conduct of many Christians who show little regard fortheir souls. Like him, we should be forward looking and provide against the day when we shallhave to leave our present place on earth. We should make sure we secure "a house in heaven,"which may be our home, when our present life is over (2 Co 5:1). All means should be utilized toprovide for ourselves what is everlasting.Why is it that people of darkness are more diligent about earthly things than professingChristians are about heavenly things? Why is it that worldly people are more zealous in amassingtreasures on earth than believers are in receiving treasures in heaven?