Bribery In Subtlety

As we conclude, the question before us as posed earlier, dealt with whether or not there was bribery in what took place between the master’s steward and the master’s debtors. Look at it again. This dishonest, most unfit and unfaithful steward was living all along with his master’s debtors. He was the steward and he never spoke a word of concern to the rich man about those debtors.

Suddenly, when his own position was in jeopardy, quickly, when he knew that he was about to be thrown from such a secure, respectable and comfortable position as steward, he decided to show concern for those debtors. He goes to all, not a few, nor the majority, but to all his master’s debtors and drastically cuts their debts. Each debtor shares this unbelievable goodness and mercy, and no doubt, feels great about it. Two things are going on here at the same time.

On the steward’s part, there is open bribery, for he is doing this, paying off those debtors, as it were, for this reason. Listen to his unscrupulous, selfish and most dishonest words. I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. Luke 16: 4. Don’t forget, a bribe is any inducement, which is offered to a person or persons, bribing them into some action that will serve the briber’s need or cause. Don’t you see clearly, how that steward has offered the debtors a deal, to ensure that he and his needs will be adequately met, when he loses his lucrative position as steward? Indeed he has bribed them all, for his own selfish gain.

On the debtors’ part, this is most sad, to say the least, for they are examples of those who see, but who have been blinded by the bribe. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see. Those debtors know full well that they are sharing in what is grossly dishonest. They know that the steward is not being honest to his master in this even. They know that he is cheating the rich man of his goods. 

I ask you, do you really believe that the calling of the master upon his steward to give an account of his stewardship is secret, undercover knowledge? Do you honestly think that those people who owed the rich man so much, would not know that the steward was not a faithful and honest worker? Perhaps, if he were, some of them would not have been allowed to incur such huge debts in the first place. Additionally, the manner in which this debt forgiveness was carried out was enough to alert the debtors to the fact that these were not honest, just transactions. This is what I mean.

The unjust steward, knowing that his time was up, hurried to do his wicked work. Here is every single debtor, being suddenly called by the steward. There, each offender is asked one basic question. How much do you owe my master? The response is truthfully given and then each is told to sit down quickly and write a false amount on the transaction sheet. The haste in which this was done was enough to indicate dishonesty, in no small measure. The steward, without rhyme or reason, was cutting people’s bills as he felt. A bill for a hundred measures of oil was slashed to fifty. Another bill for a hundred measures of wheat was cut down to eighty. Note also, the steward never doctored any person’s bill. He got them to do it themselves, so that all the changes were in the handwriting of the debtors. How shrewd and crafty can the evil one be!

The debtors accepted the bribes, no doubt feeling good and smart with themselves, but sharing any dishonesty never comes to good in the long run.

Here is the fourth huge warning that has been plucked from the text.

Do not share any kind of good offered by the Lord’s disloyal servants or stewards.

Do not share in dishonesty even if it offers you some temporary freedom and good. God is not a God of the dishonest and bribes are an abomination to Him.  

From the onset we were given this field, these two highly highlighted verses of Scripture, from Jesus’ parable on the Unjust Steward. And he said, A hundred measures of oil. So he said unto him, Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty. Then said he 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. Luke 16: 6 – 7

Haven’t we been given unmeasurable spiritual treasure, all related to, Do Nots? We were encouraged to pick whatever we wanted; eat whatever we desired; take away as much as we were able to carry and share generously with others, as we had been given.   

Do not pick fruit from the Lord’s dishonest servants or stewards.

Do not eat or partake of produce from the Lord’s deceitful servants or stewards.

Do not take any kind of bribes from the Lord’s despicable servants or stewards.

Do not share any kind of good offered by the Lord’s disloyal servants or stewards.

Who is a Provider like God the Holy Spirit, to supply us with such needed wisdom? Who is a leader and Teacher as He, to grant us unlimited learning?

Holy Spirit, Thank You for every, Do Not. Enable us from these treasures, to pick, eat, take and share with others, all to the honour and pleasure of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus. Amen!