In this perplexing parable of Jesus I think we are supposed to see that the shrewd manager managed the debtors of his master to his advantage and pleased his master who it appears was none the wiser about his dishonesty and even commended him! I wonder if the hearers entered into the dramatic irony and were amused.

But here is the thing, we are all in receipt of abundant grace from our heavenly father and through us he chooses to give. As shrewd disciples we must be generous and give to all. It is intriguing how the ones who use dishonest wealth to gain friends are welcomed by them into eternal homes. I see this as a call to generosity to all, the deserving and the undeserving, that those who receive from us are blessed and our generosity heralds them into the kingdom where they receive us with thanks giving.

The wealth the manager had charge of was the dishonest wealth which he was commended for stewarding. In our daily work we may find ourselves compromised, but through generosity we can be shrewd and ensure all are blessed despite the source of the wealth maybe. The rest of the teaching is wisdom indeed after gaining our attention.