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I don't understand it.

Luke 16: 1-8 He also said to His disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. So he called him and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.' Then the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.' So he called every one of his master's debtors to him, and said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' So he said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.' Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' So he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.' So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light." If you were to put this in today's vernacular, it would be like padded expense accounts, lavish meals and accommodations, a limousine and such. This guy was consuming a lot of his masters wealth and not producing much. This is quite a contrast to Joseph who was Potifer's steward was in charge of everything and when tempted by his wife, ran away and ended up in prison because of it. It seems weird that a man who has just been “ripped off” by his employee would commend him for his shrewdness. Jesus using the term, “the sons of this age”, like we'd say today, “it takes one to know one”. The master valued the stewards shrewdness because he probably would've done the same thing if he were in his place. They were both unbelievers with the same values, conduct, and commendation of an unbelieving generation. Jesus is explaining how wicked men think and act, but He's not recommending us believers to act this way. He's describing the length to which people will go to preserve their life and money. Jesus said in Matthew 10:16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves”. A shrewd person gets ahead by using people to make money, a win/lose situation. Faithful stewards get ahead by using money to help people while preparing heaven for themselves and hopefully for other people, a win/win situation. Big difference, don't you agree? The chapter goes on to tell about Lazarus and the rich man. This rich man recognized Lazarus when he was in Hades, so he remembers that he walked by Lazarus on a regular basis and had an opportunity to help him out, and neglected to do so. How many people do we walk by regularly and neglect to help out? Jesus said in Matt 25:40, "whatever you do for the least of these in my name, you do to Me". This rich man asked if God could send Lazarus back to warn his brothers. Jesus said, " If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead." Jesus raised the other Lazarus and the widow's son from the dead and He Himself rose from the dead, but still people don't believe. People don't believe because of signs and wonders, they believe because of faith and as Rom 10:17 says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, which is as stated in Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart". When we share our faith, we need to use the Word. People will or won't receive it because it reveals their heart. Papa God, please use Your sharp sword to perform Your divine surgery and discern all the intents of my heart. Search me, O God, and know my heart;Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.