Proper 20.C.25
Luke 16:1-13
Melanie L. McCarley

I suspect that our Lord occasionally told parables not simply because he enjoyed telling them; but also because there were moments when he was deeply frustrated. The Parable of the Unjust Steward strikes me as such a story.

Here, we encounter a thoroughly disreputable—and, dare I say, unlikeable character, the Unjust Steward. He is the kind of person I imagine would manage to profit heartily from a Ponzi scheme. Invite him to your house for dinner, and you’d be wise to count the silver afterwards. Accused of mismanaging the Owners resources, this Steward doesn’t throw up his hands in despair of having been found out—no, he plots, he schemes…this man, he comes up with a plan. Seeing the end of his employment looming ever nearer, he quickly lowers bills owed by others to the Owner and thereby makes friends for the time when he will need them. The Owner (who we suspect shares something of the mindset of the dishonest steward himself) catches wind of what is going on and seeing the same shrewdness which he, himself possesses, commends the dishonest steward for his savvy response to a future which is approaching ever closer.

Here, I can only imagine the surprise and consternation on the faces of those listening to Jesus as he tells this parable. What must they have thought? What could be the point in telling a story such as this? Does Jesus really want us to be like the Dishonest Steward? Well…yes and no. The answer is found in the conclusion.

Jesus says: “If you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

Boil it all down, this is a parable about priorities. What Jesus is suggesting is that the future we have depends upon our devotion to what we believe is most important. Perhaps Jesus is suggesting that if Christians are to have a future, we must be able to employ shrewdness and practical knowledge and make good judgments. The future depends, not simply upon God making things better for us; but upon us working with God to make a better future for everyone. St. Augustine of Hippo, in the early fifth century, watched as the Vandals besieged his city in North Africa said: “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.”

So, the Dishonest Steward isn’t to be commended for being dishonest—he is to be commended for being savvy—for looking ahead and taking pains to plan for a future in which he would prosper. What that steward had was absolute focus and complete determination. Something, I suspect, Jesus was concerned that some of his followers lacked.

I wonder if Jesus was frustrated with people who were trying to craft a future on too many fronts. Remember, when he says: “No slave can serve two masters…You cannot serve God and wealth.” Now, the steward in today’s parable was clearly on the side of wealth—and he was willing to continue to cheat his master in order to get it. And so, while you may not admire his dishonesty, perhaps we should admire his whole-hearted determination.

That steward reminds me of my cat Parker—who is relentless when it comes to seeking attention. Nothing will dissuade him if it is your lap he seeks. Put him down on the floor, and he’s up again. He sneaks in, with one paw on your shoulder and then slowly climbs around and into your lap. If all else fails, he will stand and look at you with an expression of judgment, anger and disappointment until finally, a person either gives up or gives in. This, on a daily basis. To be honest, his strategy usually works.

As I see it, today’s parable is about crafting a future worth living. Ask yourself—what kind of future do you most desire? We live in a consumer society. What many people want is wealth—big homes, expensive cars, grand vacations, influencer deals, the whole package. This, for a good percentage of our population, is what constitutes success.

But what if this isn’t the only vision of what a successful future looks like? What if there are other ways to see a future worth pursing with wholehearted determination? What if the future we desire isn’t based upon the accumulation of wealth and items, but something else entirely—the pursuit of values: love, faith, peace and joy. How might we go about giving our whole-hearted determination into pursuing these values as opposed to accumulating items that benefit only ourselves, our family and close friends? And if we did so, with the zeal of my cat Parker, or that of the Dishonest Steward—what would the world look then?

Take some time to think about it, and ask yourself: If the world I want to live in is to be filled with love, faith, peace and joy, how can I go about creating that? What can I do today (this day—Sunday, September 21st, 2025) to make that kind of future a reality? In truth, you’ve already begun—you’re here worshipping God, or online worshipping God. You’ve set aside time to remember that you are not the center of the universe. That’s a really fine step—and in a world constantly competing for our time, I consider it to be something significant. You don’t have to be here. You could be at a sporting event, sleeping late, making a great bloody Mary to go with brunch—but you’re here, sitting in a hard pew, listening, praying and singing with others, and it matters.

How about love, peace and joy? We live in a world filled with rancor and polarized viewpoints—how can you bridge the divide? What will you do to invite peace and joy into the space you inhabit? Will you listen more this day? How about silencing the divisive voices of social media for the afternoon? Spend some time considering which cooperative effort you would like to join to better the world for everyone? What societal need tugs at your conscience? The environment? The abused and disenfranchised? The problematic state of access to health care? There are so many things to consider—choose one. Garden, put together a bouquet, take a walk in the woods (and bring along a bag with you to collect litter). Goodness, the possibilities are endless.

Now…consider this. What if this future isn’t about just you—but everyone? How might your pursuit of the future spill over into other people’s lives. What if you became determined, creative (and dare I say) relentless in your pursuit of love, faith, peace and joy? What then? Perhaps…the future would be brighter, better and more livable—not just for you; but for everyone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.