Bible Parables S2E2: The Parable Of The Unjust Steward
This is a live session recording where we delve into the timeless wisdom of The Parable Of The Unjust Steward and its practical application in our daily lives. This session is part of an ongoing series where we explore how biblical teachings can guide us in living fulfilling lives. In this session, we will explore the deeper meaning behind the parable and offer practical insights for bringing more compassion and connection into our daily lives. This session includes a guided reflective meditation which will gently lead you through a journey of inner reflection and healing. Come prepared to reflect on your own journey, engage with thought-provoking ideas, and leave inspired to create a life filled with purpose and abundance. This session is welcoming to all, regardless of religious background or familiarity with the Bible.
Transcript
The parable of the unjust steward 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 dissolved 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 yourself 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 truth it is?
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.
So this parable,
The parable of the unjust servant,
It teaches a very nuanced and a very multifaceted lesson.
And the lesson is about the wise use of the sources,
It's about adaptability,
It's about preparation for the future,
Both spiritually and materially.
And the parable can be a bit challenging to implement and we will go now into a line by line interpretation of the parable.
And the parable starts,
There was a certain rich man who had a steward and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.
Life entrusts us with resources,
Time,
Talents,
Relationships,
Opportunities.
The rich man symbolizes the divine and the steward represents each one of us.
How do or how are we being the steward of our life?
Are we using the gifts that we have?
Are we using the resources that we have with intention?
Or are we letting them slip away to negligence?
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.
And there comes a time when we are called to account.
Whether it's true life challenges,
Whether it's true self-reflection,
Whether it's true divine promptings,
What we can do is ask ourselves how we are managing our life and our blessings which are entrusted to us.
And how are we living our lives?
Are we living our lives in alignment with a higher purpose?
Then the steward said to himself,
What shall I do?
For my master is taking the stewardship away from me.
I cannot dig.
I am ashamed to beg.
And this is a moment of crisis that the steward was facing because there is this risk of him losing the stewardship.
And similarly in our lives these crises come up.
Many crises come up where we need to confront our limitations,
Where we need to confront our fears.
In this parable the steward acknowledges what he cannot do but he begins to consider his options.
And this is a reminder that when we are faced with uncertainty we need to move into creative problem solving.
So anytime you find yourself in a crisis,
Instead of asking yourself what you cannot do or instead of focusing on what you cannot do,
Try to make the shift to asking the question what can you do instead?
Start to focus on what is possible rather than dwelling on what is not possible.
I have resolved what to do that when I am put out of the stewardship they may receive me into their houses.
And in this sentence the steward recognizes the importance of relationships.
He recognizes the importance of having a supportive network.
He wanted to be welcomed into their houses.
And spiritually this is a call for us to invest in meaningful connections,
To indulge in acts of generosity,
To sow kindness and goodness,
To create that goodwill in our daily lives.
Because when we do this,
These bonds create safety for us in times of need.
So he called every one of his master's debtors to him and said to the first,
How much do you owe my master?
Taking stock of debts.
Both literally and symbolically this teaches us the value of reconciliation.
Who in your life is spiritually indebted to you?
And is it possible for you to offer forgiveness,
For you to offer compromise in order to lighten their load?
Because when we release others,
We release ourselves.
And he said a hundred measures of oil.
So he said to him,
Take your bill and sit down quickly and write 50.
Oil symbolizes anointing and spiritual abundance.
And by reducing this debt,
The steward is showing mercy and generosity.
It's a call for us to be generous,
To be compassionate,
To be kind in areas where we hold power,
Sometimes even when it comes at a cost to us.
Because those small sacrifices that we make can create peace.
They can open doors.
And he said to another,
And how much do you owe?
And he said a hundred measures of wheat.
And he said to him,
Take your bill and write 80.
Wheat signifies sustenance.
It signifies life's essentials.
Wheat is what is used to make bread,
The essentials of life.
And this act that he does,
It's kind of a reminder for us to release our attachment to material gain in order to focus on sustaining relationships.
A question that we can ask ourselves is,
In what areas can I be less rigid?
And in what areas can I be more forgiving in dealing with others?
And this is where the,
In the next sentence is where the story kind of takes a twist.
So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly.
And essentially,
When someone is misusing my resources,
There would be some retaliation from my side.
But in this parable,
What happens is the master recognizes that the steward is shrewd in his dealing and he goes forward,
Goes further and commends him for that.
And possibly because the steward's actions show wisdom,
It shows adaptability,
Even though his motives were self-serving.
It can be seen as a call for us in our life to be more resourceful,
To be more proactive in seeking solutions.
It can also be a call for us to start looking at solutions outside the box.
Spiritual growth requires practical intelligence.
We should continuously try to learn to align our worldly skills with our divine principles.
What the steward was doing in this case is he was reducing the material debt that was owed to his master in order to get goodwill,
In order to create goodwill for himself.
So,
Forsaking of material goods for spiritual health.
For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.
And this can be seen as a call for spiritual seekers to balance idealism with savvy action.
It is a reminder that as spiritual seekers,
As we continue to pursue higher truths,
We need to remind ourselves that navigating the physical world skillfully is a part of our journey.
Use your earthly experiences to further your spiritual path.
And I say to you,
Make friends for yourself by unrighteous mammon that when you fail,
They may receive you into an everlasting home.
In this parable,
The unrighteous mammon refers to money and material resources.
What we need to remember is that money and material resources are tools.
They are not an end in themselves.
So,
We should use our money,
We should use our material resources wisely to build connections,
To support others,
To contribute to the collective good.
Because these acts of generosity have got eternal value.
They transcend the temporary nature of wealth.
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.
Every small action,
It reflects our character.
Every small action that we do,
It reflects our character.
Cultivate integrity in the seemingly insignificant areas of your life.
How you treat a stranger,
How you honour your word.
Because these habits,
These small actions,
They ripple into greater responsibilities.
And as these small actions ripple,
It leads us towards spiritual growth.
Therefore,
If you have not been faithful in the righteous mammon,
Who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Material wealth can be seen as a test and a training ground for spiritual maturity.
Treat money,
Treat material wealth with respect.
But don't let it rule you.
Don't get attached to it.
When we are able to master our relationship with money,
We automatically open ourselves to receive deeper spiritual insights,
Deeper treasures.
And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's,
Who will give you what is your own?
And this is humility and stewardship.
To honour the roles,
The responsibilities,
The resources given to us by others.
Whether it's at work,
Whether it's in the community,
Whether it's in building relationships.
Because the more trustworthy we prove ourselves to be,
The more will be given to us.
No servant can serve two masters,
For he will hate the one and love the other,
Or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.
And ultimately,
We need to choose our highest allegiance.
Will we serve the transient pursuits of wealth,
The transient pursuits of the ego,
Or will we align with what work our soul is calling us to do?
Will we serve the transient pursuits of wealth and ego,
Or will we align ourselves with what work our soul is calling us to do?
And you can let this guide your daily decision.
To choose love,
To choose purpose,
To choose divinity,
Over materialism and fear.
This is an interesting parable,
Right?
Because it has got so many facets and it has got so many levels to it.
And the confusing part about it is,
Why would the master commend the steward for acting unfairly against the master?
Some possible reasons why this parable was shared by Jesus in this way is,
Possibly,
One is to encourage resourcefulness and foresight.
Because the steward was praised for his shrewdness,
Not for his dishonesty.
So the emphasis in this parable is on acting wisely and resourcefully,
Especially in difficult circumstances.
It's kind of highlighting the value of using ingenuity and foresight to prepare for what lies ahead.
It also teaches stewardship of resources.
The parable points to the idea that material wealth and resources,
Which are referred to in the parable as unrighteous mammon,
These are tools,
These are not ends in themselves.
So we are called to reflect on how we use our possessions.
Are we using them for selfish purposes or are we using them for the collective good,
To build relationships,
To help others,
To invest in our kingdom?
This parable also highlights the temporary nature of worldly wealth.
By showing how the steward uses material wealth to secure future benefits,
What is underscored is that earthly riches are fleeting and your earthly riches should be directed towards purposes that have lasting value,
Investing in eternal homes.
This parable also challenges conventional thinking.
Many of the parables in the Bible are thought-provoking.
They challenge the existing perspectives of the time.
The steward's behavior seems confusing but it forces us to wrestle with the deeper truths about morality,
About wisdom,
About priorities.
The parable also addresses accountability.
The steward is accountable to his master.
And this is a reminder that at some point in our lives we are all accountable for what actions we are taking.
It's not about the afterlife.
It is we are accountable at some point.
We become accountable for the actions we have done,
Whether it's in the work that we do,
Whether it's in our relationship,
Whether it's in our diets.
Accountability is always there.
So it's a kind of a reminder for us to make good use of time,
To act wisely,
To act responsibly because the time that we have is a gift and the resources that we have are transient in nature.
They are here today.
They may or may not be there tomorrow.
So it's about using these effectively.
The parable also invites us to reflect on our spiritual priorities.
It ends with calling us to be faithful in both small and large matters and also to choose who we serve,
Whether we serve wealth or whether we serve the collective good of the universe.
So you will now go into a reflective guided meditation.
If you are seated,
Let yourself sink into the chair.
If you are sleeping,
Feel the surface that you are sleeping on support you.
Feel it cradle you.
Close your eyes and bring your focus to your breath.
Simply become aware of your breath as you inhale and exhale.
Simply know that you are breathing.
Allow your body to relax and let your mind become still.
This meditation will guide you through the spiritual wisdom of the parable of the unjust steward.
It will create the space to reflect on how to wisely steward your life and your inner and outer resources.
Imagine yourself seated in a quiet ancient room.
In front of you is a wise teacher who begins to tell you a story,
A parable.
Visualize the steward in the story.
He has been accused of wasting his master's goods.
He is about to lose his position.
Feel his initial anxiety as he contemplates his uncertain future.
Reflect on a time in your life when you felt this kind of pressure,
A moment when your resources or your security seemed to be slipping away.
As you breathe,
Acknowledge any similar fears or uncertainties in your life at this moment.
Allow them to surface.
Let them surface without judgment.
Now see the steward pause and center himself.
He devises a plan.
He acts decisively and shrewdly.
He reduces the debts of his master's debtors,
Forging connections that will sustain him in the future.
Notice how his fear transforms into resourcefulness.
Reflect on your own life.
Where can you act creatively to transform challenges into opportunities?
How might you realign your mental and spiritual accounts to secure a more harmonious future?
The steward's master commends him,
Not for his dishonesty but for his wisdom and foresight.
Feel the energy of approval and encouragement.
Recognize that even imperfect actions when guided by wisdom and intention can lead to growth and transformation.
Ask yourself,
How can you be a more conscious steward of your thoughts,
Emotions,
And resources?
In what areas of your life can you act with greater decisiveness,
With greater wisdom?
The parable reminds us that worldly resources are temporary but they can be used to cultivate eternal treasures,
Love,
Connection,
And spiritual growth.
Visualize yourself wisely managing your inner and outer resources to build a life rooted in these lasting values.
How can you use your current situation to strengthen your spiritual foundation?
What small,
Faithful actions can you take today to align with a higher purpose?
Once more bring your attention to your breath,
Slowly returning to the present moment.
Bring to mind a sense of gratitude,
Gratitude for the lesson of the steward,
Gratitude for your ability to grow,
And gratitude for the resources you have to manage in your life.
And when you are ready,
Open your eyes and carry with you the wisdom and the clarity you have received from this meditation.
So action,
Call to action.
Firstly,
Reflect on your inner stewardship and this is a central theme that keeps coming up whether it's in the Bible sessions that I do,
Whether it's in the Life Balance sessions that I do.
Reflection.
Reflection on how you manage your thoughts,
How you manage your emotions,
How you manage your other sources.
Some strategies for reflection are journaling,
Journaling at the end of the day.
Action-based journaling.
So reflecting on our inner stewardship,
Spending some time in self-reflection.
Are we acting shrewdly?
And I'm talking about shrewdly in the context of this parable.
Are we acting shrewdly?
Are we making effective use of what we have in our life?
Are we behaving well with others?
What is the nature of our self-talk?
So this is our inner steward.
We can journal,
We can engage in practicing affirmations,
Visualization,
Meditation simply to align our mental and emotional state with what outcomes we want to see in our life.
Secondly,
Use your resources wisely.
Material wealth,
Time,
Energy.
These are tools that have been given to us for spiritual growth,
For service to others.
The steward,
He used worldly wealth to build relationships for his future.
So how can you use your resources,
Whether it's time,
Whether it's money,
Whether it's skill,
Any skill you have,
To benefit others and also to further your spiritual journey?
We don't need to do grand gestures.
Even small actions,
Even little actions,
The littlest of actions,
They compound over time.
Another action that comes out is act with faith and integrity.
The steward acted with decisiveness and in turn the master praised him for his wisdom.
One of the takeaways from this parable is that faithfulness in small things can lead to trustworthiness in greater things.
In which areas of our life can we show more consistency,
More integrity in small actions?
Because these small actions over the period of time,
They build up to larger,
More meaningful outcomes.
And then transform challenges into opportunities.
This one action,
Transforming of challenges into opportunities,
The moment you implement this across all areas of your life,
You will have a completely freeing experience.
Free experience of life.
Transforming challenges into opportunities.
Look at any challenge you face in your life as an opportunity.
And the moment you are able to do that,
The complete landscape of your life can change.
The steward,
He turned a seemingly negative situation into an opportunity for the future.
In the same way,
Our challenges can be reframed as opportunities for growth and spiritual advancement.
Any challenge can be reframed as an opportunity.
Whenever you're faced with a difficult situation,
You can pause and you can apply a reframe.
You can ask yourself,
How can I use this moment to grow?
How can I use this moment to serve others?
Or simply asking yourself,
What is the lesson to be learned here?
And based on what insight you get,
Take action.
And finally,
Cultivate a sense of gratitude and faithfulness.
The steward's ability to secure his future was built on his ability to make wise decisions and connections.
So in the same way,
If we can nurture a sense of gratitude,
A sense of faithfulness with the resources and the opportunities that we already have,
We will automatically attract more blessings in our life.
It's one of the basic laws of the universe.
It's the law of attraction.
The more you are grateful for,
The more you will get to be grateful for.
So gratitude.
And gratitude also comes up across different sessions that I do.
Gratitude.
Spending a few minutes each day practicing gratitude.
Acknowledging the resources you have and understanding how you can use them for your personal growth and to serve others.
And the amazing thing about gratitude is that gratitude takes you out of a sense of lack.
It lets you focus on what you have as against focusing on what you don't have.
And we all know that what you focus on expands.
So practice gratitude.
Thank you everyone for being here.
Love.
Light.
Blessings.
Namaste.
