The prayer meeting was very good. We started it slowly, but the Holy Spirit came and increased our pace. We had no other option than to follow. We shared a wonderful testimony of supernatural provision in time of need. God is never too early or too late. We praised God! We prayed two by two, one for another. Our prophetic season is to climb higher in the mountain of God. We shall meet with Jehovah Jireh, God the Provider. This is our confession of faith!
Then the message came:
“So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly…” (Lk 16:8)
This is the parable of the shrewd servant (Luke 16). A rich man had a steward who was in charge of his goods. It is a position of trust. He was possibly a former slave who was set free and now he works for his master One day, the master calls him to give an account for his job is terminated. Immediately the steward thinks of a plan so that he can benefit even in the absence of his job. He knows that his present situation is terrible. But he can do something to secure his future. He calls his master’s debtors and he reduces the amount they owe to the master. He knows that they will be grateful and will remain his friends for life. Favor is repaid with favor. He cheats his master to gain favor with men. He knows that he can end homeless. By blessing his master’s debtors, he secures for himself a place to stay in the future, a home, a family and the fellowship of friends.

There are some things in common we have with this steward. First of all, as believers we are stewards over things God has given in our care and also over the Gospel we preach. Secondly, we all need to deal with money. Thirdly, we need to make the best with the limited resources we have, especially in times of crisis. The steward represents us. We have a limited time to live on earth. The choices we make in investing our present resources will determine our future. We are to think of the future, of heaven and the account there.

Why does Jesus commend this deceitful man? Not because he was cheating his master. But because he uses what he got at the present to invest in a better future. Jesus said that this man was shrewd. He knew that he has a limited time to use the master’s resources. The wealth and position will eventually ‘fail’ him. He could have wasted his few hours at the office in weeping for his loss, or begging to stay. Even in the crisis he did not give up. He found a plan to gain something for the future. He sponsored his future dreams. He invested in his hope.

Please take note: the shrewd servant is not worried in a negative way about his future. We are commanded ‘not to worry about tomorrow’ (Mt 6:34). This is the definition of Worry: a mental nervous tension, to be over anxious and uneasy about the future, which potentially can be dangerous; to disturb your peace of mind; to struggle mentally and be choked emotionally. To worry is a very negative emotion that destroys any desire to plan ahead. You cannot be worried and shrewd in the same time.

To be shrewd means to be prudent and wise; to apply common sense to spiritual things. In Greek the word shrewd means to be intelligent, thoughtful, to be wise and, to be diplomatic and to have practical skill in life. It also means to be discerning, seeing the depth and the difference between things. A shrewd man is discreet, showing good sense in action and especially in speech. He knows when to start and when to stop doing something, when to talk and when to keep silent.

The root of the word ‘shrewd’ comes from ‘the shrew’. There is an animal called ‘the shrew’. It looks like a long nose mouse and lives in the forest. He has an extremely high metabolism. So it is always hungry. He eats its body weight of food every day. So it needs to be very creative looking for food without being detected by the enemies. If the shrew is lazy careless or a coward he will surely die. Either hunger or external enemies will kill him. The God who created the shrew and who feeds the shrew is your God. He knows that your needs have increased. Marriage, children, ministry, old age…these and many more challenges put a pressure on your faith. Be like the shrew and trust God to supply for all your needs. Let your faith increase! Jehovah Jireh is greater than all your (increasing) needs! He is God the Provide, from your childhood until the last hour on earth! Do not worry! Trust God!