Universal Utterings

for September 21, 2025

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09-21-2025 Luke 16 v0108 Master Commends Dishonest Steward

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The Gospel of Luke Chapter 16 Verse 1 thru 8

1 Then he also said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. 2 He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’ 3 The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.’ 5 He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’ 7 Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘One hundred kors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.’ 8 And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.

In Luke 16:1-8, we encounter the parable of the dishonest steward, a story that has perplexed and intrigued readers for centuries. The steward, faced with dismissal for mismanaging his master's assets, takes a clever approach to secure his future. He calls in his master’s debtors and reduces their debts, not out of a sense of justice or restitution, but rather as a shrewd maneuver to gain favor and ensure his own well-being after losing his job.

The steward’s actions do raise questions about morality, particularly whether he was returning what he had manipulated to steal. While there is a sense that he may have been dishonest in the first place—possibly by inflating debts for personal gain—the reduction of these debts appears more strategic than ethical. He seeks to curry favor with the debtors so they will welcome him into their homes when he is out of work. Thus, the act of reducing the debts can be viewed as self-serving rather than morally redemptive.

Interestingly, the master commends the steward for his shrewdness, not for his honesty. This might provoke contemplation among readers about the nature of wisdom and resourcefulness. While the steward’s behavior is far from virtuous, it underscores the need for discernment in our dealings, urging believers to be as practical in their lives as the steward was in his.

In conclusion, the dishonest steward's debt reduction is not about restoring what he had wrongfully taken but rather about securing personal advantage in a desperate situation. This parable invites reflection on our own motivations and actions, as well as the wisdom of navigating life's complexities with shrewdness and integrity. Amen.

Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.

At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.

I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.

I am a poet obedient to Christ,

Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins

†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®

Ephesians 6:17-20

09-21-2025 Luke 16 v0108

**Master Commends Dishonest Steward**

In a town where shadows weave and sway,

A steward faced the end of his day,

His master's wealth in careless hands,

A fate foretold, his future unplanned.

With debts in hand, he felt the heat,

The weight of loss beneath his feet,

What should I do? Despair, or scheme?

His thoughts ignited like a fleeting dream.

He called the debtors, one by one,

"Reduce your debt; let's have some fun!

A hundred measures? Make it fifty!"

With clever lips, he spun his nifty.

Though hearts might frown on crooked ways,

The master watched, his praise ablaze,

“For shrewdness is a trait indeed,

In worldly matters, wise men lead.”

Yet, deeper truths this tale will tell,

Of earthly gain and living well,

What profit lies in cunning art,

When honesty is set apart?

So heed the lesson, wise and meek,

In every heart, let truth still speak,

For shrewd as we may seek our gain,

Integrity's light must ever remain. Amen.

© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins

September 21, 2025 @ 05:37 AM EST

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