When You Fail (Part One)

Let's take a look at the first nine verses of Luke 16. It is a parable spoken to the disciples. It concerns a steward that could have been any one of the apostles, or for that matter, it could be any one of us.

When Jesus says such a thing, what is he really saying? He is saying, 'Look at what you are doing.' He is saying, 'Look to yourself. This is you.' When we read this parable, we see precise parallels. The comparisons could be no clearer. Jesus' summation and admonition should set off alarms.

At no point in his admonition does Jesus say, “If you fail.” He says, “When you fail.” Realistically, then, we must consider our own imminent failure. Let us look to the parable for parallels that might arm us against such nonfulfillment.

Here is a list of the comparisons:

The mammon of unrighteousness are those indebted to God.

The children of this world in their generation are compared to the steward.

It may be that a comparison is made between a beginning and an ending. The children of this world in their generation are set against the children of light. Are the children of light the angels of God? Are they the long-lived pre-flood patriarchs? Clearly, the children of light would never think to recover in such a manner as the failed steward. So, what exactly are the actions and reactions of this failed steward, and of these children of the world?

First, in his service to his master, the steward was charged with wasting his goods. The word 'his' is used here, and it is unclear from the text whether 'his' referred to the goods of the steward or the goods of the steward's master. My guess is that the goods involved belonged to the master. They were such things as the master had entrusted to the steward's care. The steward, for whatever his reasons were, had undercut his own employer. He had misappropriated; he had embezzled those goods to his own ends.

Second, when the steward was caught and forced to respond to his imminent loss of station, he did so by undercutting his employer one last time. While he was still empowered to do so, he handled the debts of his master's debtors in their favor, effectively saving them half of what they owed. In doing so, he made friends of the debtors, showing himself to be shrewd in business, and savvy enough to work for any of them.

Had the children of light failed their master, they would not have responded by undercutting him a second time. This survival mechanism, as a flaw in our nature, is so well developed that it is of a higher caliber than the integrity of the children of light. Despite suffering the initial loss, the ingenuity of the steward in undercutting his employer a second time, impressed the master in that he 'commended' the unjust steward.

In that we, the children of this world's present generation, are compared to the unjust steward, our being 'wiser' than the children of light is only a comparison between 'wise' and 'unjust'. That is comparing apples with oranges. Wise should be compared to just, not it's opposite. What is unjust, anyway? Here are a definition and synonyms.

Unjust: not based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair. Unfair, prejudicial, biased, inequitable, discriminatory, partial, one-sided, wrongful, unfair, undeserved, unmerited, unwarranted, uncalled for, unreasonable, unjustifiable, undue, gratuitous.

Can any of that be called wise? Crafty, perhaps, but not wise. The children of this world are all of that. The children of light were morally right and fair. Their wisdom was the real deal. Our wisdom is a well-polished fake.

Let us make some of our own comparisons. How do we compare ourselves, certainly as children of this world and possibly as Christians considering their own imminent loss of grace? What was a steward's position? A steward held an intermediary position between the one who loaned and those in need of help. The steward was a manager and administrator who acted in the name of his master. Christians should think of their Christian stewardship in these terms.

When the mammon of unrighteousness (itself a comparison to one who is righteous) find themselves in need and turn to the righteous one who provides, it is the steward who brokers the deal. A Christian steward should bear in mind that such a loan is always at interest, which are the goods that a steward may either treat morally or partially. The goods are in your hands. What will you do with them?

The steward is the face of the master to the rest of the world. Befriend them now. Care about the burden of their interest. You are the children of this world – you inhabit the same place as the mammon of unrighteousness. Failure is not a matter of if; this world is full of failures. An honest eye will show you that you are in the same boat with the rest of them. Your hand is held out for a loan no less.