WHAT WILL YOUR ANSWER BE?

Who Do You Work For?

“Who do you work for?” Actor Keifer Sutherland’s TV character demanded an answer from a potential enemy. Given his role—racing against the clock to dismantle bombs, thwarting potential kidnappings, and various other crises—the request was reasonable.

Ironically, when we look at the many adverse, high-stakes situations happening in our world today, we need an answer to this relevant question.

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Jesus told this parable: “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.’” (Luke 16:1-2, NKJV)

This shrewd man, as Jesus later calls him, didn’t balk. Didn’t argue. Didn’t even try to deny the charge. He knew his master had him dead to rights. The steward began an internal assessment of his skill set and future prospects. No one would hire him as a steward—he was untrustworthy. He was too proud to beg and too weak to dig.

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So, the man called all of his master’s debtors, sat them down, and had them pay off their accounts “quickly.” This steward not only knew who owed what, he knew how much each debtor could afford to pay there and then.

Determination seems the one resource this clever man hadn’t cheated on or owned in short supply. He had the resolve, Jesus says, to do what he could so that when his employment ended, he’d still be welcomed into friends’ homes.

It’s interesting that this evildoer apparently had no concern for his employer and/or friends until the moment he was called on the carpet. We don’t hear of his remorse or see his repentant heart. What we do see are his actions and his clever application of them.

“…be sure your sin will find you out.” (Num. 23:32b, NKJV)

Jesus goes on to tell us that we can’t serve two masters.

We’ll be loyal and loving to one and despise the other. And isn’t that what we see in the world today? Greed, deceit, corruption, excuses, and cover-ups. After all, don’t we owe it to ourselves to come out on top? Live for the moment. Take what we want, what we deserve? Who’s going to know? Everyone’s doing it…

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Why do so many revere and emulate these characteristics (cheating, corruption in the government, identity theft, embezzling, etc., etc., ad nauseam)? Don’t they know these actions and traits come from the father of lies?

Like the shrewd steward, one day we’ll all be called to give an account.

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It’s time to decide.

Who do you work for?