Unjust Manager

In the parable, why was the unjust steward dismissed from his job according to the Bible?

The unjust or dishonest manager of the household (Luke 16:1–13) was dismissed from his job because he was unjust and dishonest. I would imagine that he did not deal properly with any of the accounts of his master’s house.

The idea of being unjust meant that he did not treat anyone with righteousness. I’m sure there were many people who dealt with the house from servants to friends of the Master who owed him money who did not like the manager because he was unrighteous in his dealings with them.

When he discovers that he is going to lose his job as the manager of the house he turns around and deals with mercy to each of the people who are indebted to the master. If only he had dealt that way the entire time. This is probably why he was released from serving the master and that house.

Jesus gives several applications of this parable at the end of it (Luke 16:10–16). These are:

  1. The test of a small amount shows our character. If we are faithful in little we will be faithful in much. If we are dishonest in the little things, we will be dishonest in the greater things.
  2. We must be faithful in the little things to be entrusted with greater things.
  3. We cannot serve two masters. This applies to money and our own desires and ourselves. If Jesus is Lord over us, our desires come second if they are not of his will.

I would add to these that we should never wait until it’s too late to be righteous and just with everyone we come into contact with. Don’t wait until you have already lost your processes or job to treat people the way Jesus expects.

Jonathan Srock

Rev. Jonathan Srock is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God since 2010. He received two Bachelor’s degrees in Biblical Languages and Pastoral Ministries, as well as a Masters of Divinity from Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. Jonathan was privileged to be the Lead Pastor of New Life Assembly in Shillington, PA for five years before suffering sudden paralysis in 2013. Jonathan has been a Christian since 1988.

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