True Riches: How To Get it, Where To Find It….

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager as told by Jesus is recorded in the Gospels.

In this write up, we consider Luke’s account…

“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. “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Luke 16:1‭-‬13 NKJV

Picture of the Shrewd Manager In Luke 16

What can we say about the steward in this parable? My thoughts…..

1. No genuine regard/respect for his master (...”this man was wasting his goods”).
2. He trusted in the power of money.
3. He was proud and lazy (…”I cannot dig, I am ashamed to beg”)
4. He was a cheat and a wicked person.
5. He was most likely just privileged to be in his role; no prior training or experience with making money for himself
6. He was wasteful.
7. He was selfish; didn’t really care about anyone except himself. His motive for playing charity with his master’s wealth was only personal and selfish; for the comfort that money could bring him.

Above are my thoughts on verses 1-7.

There doesn’t really seem to be much to be admired about this steward. So why did he get a commendation? (verses 8-9). Well, I think his master thought; ‘hey, you’ve acted true to type. You’ve confirmed the accusations brought against you. You are truly shrewd, dishonest and selfish. You’ve acted smartly for yourself. Now, I am justified to fire you.’

I want to believe though that this was the last time this shrewd man saw this rich man. Whatever the rich man lost may not have meant much to him……he was rich! However, to stay rich; he’ll be shooting himself in the foot if this manager continued in his business. Fired!

Interestingly, Jesus thought we (Christians) could learn a lesson from the shrewd manager……(verses 9-10). The lesson here being; don’t be too complacent, turn adversities into benefits, only do it without hurting anyone (selah).

The Central truth of the Parable of the Shrewd Steward

Different lessons come out from this parable, one thing I think is fundamental is that; followers of Christ need to exemplify accountability, integrity and excellence. Money is not true riches, true riches is not money. So, contrary to the saying; “cash is king“, Jesus is saying…. “cash/money is least“.

I believe there can be different levels of application of financial integrity for a Christian. We discuss some below…

Financial Integrity in Personal Finances.

Throughout the scripture we find that managing our resources well entails, tithing, giving of gifts and offerings (to God and other people), savings, as well as meeting our wants and needs. Budgeting helps us here.

There is no gainsaying that in our walk with God, the tithe represents the primary level of personal financial accountability we must establish with God.

In May 2018, I published “The Tithe Is A Holy Thing“. Some highlights from that article include that the Tithe is Holy and it belongs to God. So when we withhold our tithe, we are robbing God (Malachi 3:9-10). The tithe is Holy and it is to be exclusively used in running and maintaining the House of God (Malachi 3:9-10). I think it is important to maintain holiness in Giving out the Tithe to God as well as in its Utilization (Selah). A holy thing is sacred, consecrated, dedicated, devoted and not to be defiled.

As we read the Epistles, we find that the Early Church seems to have placed more emphasis on members bringing gifts and offerings for the running of the Church. That’s understandable, when we realize that not much is said about Tithing in those times. Like I said in The Tithe Is A Holy Thing, Jesus did not discourage tithing, meaning tithing remains relevant in this dispensation of grace (Matthew 23:23).

So remember, the first 10% of our increase belongs to God. That’s the Tithe. Don’t rob God.

Now, tithing is not the only giving God expects from us, scripture encourages us to give offerings and gifts (Malachi 3:9-10, 1 Timothy 5:17, Luke 6:38, Luke 18:22-25, 2 Corinthians 9:9, Luke 21:3-4, Luke 7:37-50, James 1:27, etc).

Personally, I see my offering to God as an act of worship and thanksgiving (1 Chronicles 29:3), and my offering to other people as an expression of love. Surely, God blesses and rewards every good seed sown on good soil. God’s timeless principle of seed time and harvest, sowing and reaping, giving and receiving, will not change (Luke 6:38, Genesis 8:22).

As we already know, we don’t necessarily give to be blessed; we are already blessed (Genesis 1:28). However, without seed, we leave God with nothing to cause to be “fruitful and multiply“. Our seed make the blessing evident (Mark 4:30-32).

So if we release the tithe, give out offerings/gifts, can we then have the rest of our earnings to ourselves? Well, here is an article published on my blog by one of my senior colleagues; COVID-19: Make Every Dollar Count. I learnt something about financial management from it, I believe you will too. Savings should never be excluded from our budget. Below are 2 scriptures to think on……

“Go to the ant, you sluggard!Consider her ways and be wise,7. Which, having no captain,Overseer or ruler, 8. Provides her supplies in the summer,And gathers her food in the harvest.” Proverbs 6:6-8. NKJV

“There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.” Proverbs 11:24. NKJV

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.” Proverbs 13:22. NKJV.

Financial Integrity In Business and Workplaces

With God, financial integrity is not just about faithfulness in tithing and giving offerings.

Do you know that thieves can be faithful with tithes and offering? Actually, I know people who say they’re Christians, but show no sign of righteousness (1 John 3:10). Some of them don’t even try to. They believe that their Tithe, Offering and Service to God will count as righteousness before God. These are the ones Jesus spoke about in Mattthew 23:23. They neglect justice, mercy and faith rather focusing on gaining righteousness through works.

How are you doing your business? Can people trust you in business or would they rather deal with an unbeliever? Can you be trusted to be fair, just and merciful? Or will you always protect your own interest like the shrewd manager?

As an employer, can your employees go to sleep knowing that you’ll always have their backs? Could you have been as generous and kind to the shrewd manager as the rich man or would he surely have ended up in jail?

You are a Business Owner right? do you deal treacherously and in deceit or do people trust that you’ll be fair, just and merciful in your dealing?

Would God say that you are financially upright in the way you manage your Church or Godly Project?

Christian employees can have a reputation for being financially trustworthy too…

In my work as a Healthcare Manager, I’ve had countless opportunities to manage funds at different levels. For programs, short-term projects, incentive payments to different levels of people, etc, etc. I remember a very recent audit by UNICEF in my establishment. Just before that audit, UNICEF sent an email to about 5 concerned Program Managers (including me and my boss). One of the lines in that mail read; ‘some aspects of your fund retirement did not balance out, hence the need for the audit‘.

Now, it is not what UNICEF wrote that caught my attention, it is what my boss said …… ‘Dr. Obomanu, have you seen UNICEF’s mail? “I am sure that it does not apply to your program area, but just to be safe, please take a second look“. I loved that! Somehow, I wasn’t physically present during that audit but my financial records were enough to clear my program. And I can tell you, I’ve had 3 bosses in the last 8 years and I believe that none of them will give a contrary comment (interestingly some of them are subscribed to my blog) ?

These things didn’t just happen. Over the years, I set boundaries, I declared my stand and position on things early. I declare my loyalty to God early.

No one can serve both God and Mammon (verse 12). Whose side are you on? A little leavening leavens the whole lump (Galatians 5:9).

I believe that being faithful in “what is another man’s” (Luke 16:12), applies in all spheres of life, not just to our Christian setups. And this ‘faithfulness‘ speaks more to excellence, accountability and integrity than anything else (my personal thoughts).

What Is True Riches and How Do We Access it?

You know, I’ve been reading Luke 16:1-13 over and over in the past one week, seeking answer to this question: ‘What is True Riches? (Verses 11 and 12). I recognize the riches of grace, righteousness, faith, etc we have through Christ. However in the context of this study I like Genesis 13:1-2 and Genesis 26:12-13….

“Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. 2. Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold” Genesis 13:1-2. NKJV

“Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. 13. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; 14. for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants.” Genesis 26:12-13. NKJV

I do not believe that the kind of riches Jesus spoke about in this portion of scripture is just for personal wealth. It is not about acquiring another ride, house, designer bags, shoes, not for vacationing etc.

Let’s look at a few scriptures…

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”
I Corinthians 3:6‭-‬8 NKJV

“And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”
Genesis 1:28 NKJV

“The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22 NKJV

“And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.”
Mark 4:26‭-‬27 NKJV

From the above, I want to believe that True Riches (as spoken of in Luke 16) is embedded in The Blessing, it is freely given by God for fruitfulness and multiplication. It is not so much our planting/sowing that brings true riches, however and importantly, our seed is necessary for the blessing to be expressed.

Seed, What Seed?

Many times teachings on sowing seeds centre on 2 things; the Word and Giving/Offerings. But are there other things we can find in the Bible that were described as seed?

1. The Seed of the Word of God: 1 Peter 1:23, Luke 8:1-11,
2. The Seed of Offerings/Gifts: 2 Corinthians 9:6, Luke 6:38, Ecclesiastes 11:6, Proverbs 11:24-25, 2 Corinthians 9:10,
3. The Seed of One’s Actions/Choices: Galatians 6:7-8,
4. The Seed of the Works of our hands (labor): Genesis 26:12-13,
5. The Seed of Service: Remember those rewarded for faithful service; Jacob/Laban, Joseph/Portiphar,
6. The Seed of Preaching the Gospel: 1 Corinthians 3:6-8.
7. The Seed of the words of our mouth.

What seeds have you been sowing?

My Final Thoughts on This….

In recent times, Deuteronomy 8:18 and Isaiah 48:17 have added to my log of favorite scriptures….

‘“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” ‘ Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJV

“Thus says the Lord , your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go“. Isaiah 48:17 NKJV

And like I wrote in God’s Word Will Not Change;…. “..for ourselves He became poor that you through His poverty might become rich” will not change because we’re experiencing lack, but we can learn how to make wealth by believing that God gives us the power to make wealth as a way of establishing His Covenant with us.“

Just like we read in the Parable of the Shrewd Manager, when God (not man) establishes our financial integrity, He will entrust us with True Riches to enable us manage whatever Project and Resources (human, material, financial) He (already) planned and designed us for.

Gave my loyalty a long time ago…..

Jesus noted 2 masters in the parable oftheshrewd manager: God and Mammon (Money). So make no mistake about it; money is a master. And oh! how much power money really has….both for good and evil! A piece of paper, coin, whatever?

Money itself is not evil it is the value we place on it that can be bad (love of money is a root of all evil). Money is only a means to an end; the attainment of certain heights in society, the possession of material things, building of homes for homeless people, home for elderly folks, preaching the gospel, etc, So money can become whatever we want it to become.

“For the love of money is a  root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:10

I gave my loyalty a long time ago, and no, it wasn’t to money. Jesus got me.

So are you truly ready for true riches? ?. Like Jesus said, we have to pass the financial test to move on. Make a decision today to be financially transparent, accountable and trustworthy.

Sow good seeds on good grounds. Whatever your seed is, after planting it, water it (speak the blessing over it- be fruitful and multiply, speak the Word of God over it), then watch God do His part…..He will give the increase. Work hard, with excellence and enthusiasm, say beautiful things about your job, be positive in service, not grudgingly, bless your gifts/offerings, etc.

We can start today.

My Love Always ❤

AboutGrace Obomanu

Grace obomanu is a Christian Blogger and Founder; 'Grace Obomanu Foundation'. Grace is an inspiring writer who intentionally projects the truth of God's word by sharing simple yet profound truths from the Bible. She writes with a revelational thrust, sharing wisdom, insights relatable to everyday living with particular emphasis on Victorious Christian Living. Her foundation, a non-profit trustee, continues to make impact, adding value to people's lives through outreaches, mentorship, bible teachings and counseling, partnerships. Grace has a diploma in Ministerial Training (with emphasis on Spiritual Leadership from Rhema Bible Training Center Nigeria. She trained as a medical doctor and has years of experience in Health Systems Management. She also holds a master's degree in Public Health from the University of Liverpool.