Shrewdness

Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into their eternal homes” (Luke 16:9).

            When I was in High School I had a classmate who saw himself as being shrewd. He was constantly trying to get the best deal possible for himself and would do almost anything to do so. Every time he made a promise, he would always include an escape clause so that if the result did not work to his favor he would not have to keep his word. It did not take long for individuals to stop trusting him, which meant he made few deals.

            In this passage from Luke, Jesus tells his Disciples the Parable of the Dishonest Manager and then comments on the significance of shrewdness in one’s earthly dealings. By doing so, he suggests a similar attitude is required when a Disciple considers Spiritual issues.

            During Christ’s lifetime, slaves sometimes assumed important responsibilities within the households of their masters. These individuals supervised the work of other servants and insured their subordinates received their provisions. They also negotiated contracts in the marketplace on behalf of their master which bound him or her to its terms. In some situations, the slave received a commission for this work which became his or her property. For this reason, shrewdness was a desirable quality in those charged with this task so their master obtained the best deal. However, the possibility of personal benefit occasionally resulted in a conflict of interest with the master if the commission earned came from a contract which gave the master an inferior result. Through the Parable of the Dishonest Manager, Christ demonstrated how shrewdness in earthly activities yielded clear benefits: the slave’s immediate future was secure. Yet was it also true for the long term? Was dishonesty the means of entry into God’s Eternal home? For the Disciple, shrewdness meant a clear understanding of the best result for both his master (God) and him/herself (Eternal Life). It also required the Knowledge of how the attainment of that outcome was possible. Since the best outcome for both God and Disciple was the same there was no conflict of interest. In the same way others employed shrewdness to pursue their interests in earthly activities, the Disciple shrewdly sought the personal benefits of Eternal Life through obedience to Jesus.

            Our Society likes shrewd people. The Investor who buys stock in a Technology Company which then increases rapidly in value because of its revolutionary new product is admired by the Business Community. The Hockey Scout who identifies the potential of a young player who later helps the team win a championship is valued by his colleagues. A Teacher who assists a Student from a disadvantaged background excel at School and win a scholarship to University is highly regarded by his or her peers. Yet, the rewards for such shrewdness are measured by the Material or Social gain of the individual: money, awards or prestige. They are only recalled until another person surpasses their achievement. As those who live in this world, Catholics and other people of faith are conscious of the need for shrewdness when dealing with this world. They must guard themselves against the dishonest who will take advantage of them. Since their personal situation may be difficult, they need to find the best deal possible in the marketplace. But their perspective is not rooted just in this world. Their purpose in this life is to enter the next one. This means they must act with honesty and integrity in their dealings. They recognize a deal in which they benefit at the expense of their values is not worth much. Over time, others will probably take advantage of them. Catholics may miss out on the deal of a lifetime because of their Faith. However, since their reward is not in this life that missed opportunity does not mean much. With their attention focused upon their ultimate goal and how they reach it, Catholics can reveal a shrewdness equal to any found on earth.

            As I learned in High School, shrewdness used to gain a personal advantage at the expense of others can have negative consequences: like the loss of one’s credibility. However, as Christ indicates in this passage from Luke, it can also be used to benefit not only oneself but others and God. Like all qualities, when used appropriately shrewdness in Spiritual matters can have Eternal rewards.

 

September 18, 2022