Daily Devotional for November 19

 

November 19                                                         Luke 16:1-13

      "The master commended the dishonest steward for
                               acting shrewdly... ."

Sitting beside my friend, the stream, I consider the parable of
the dishonest steward. "What was so shrewd about him?" I
ask. "He went right on wasting his master's goods!"

After a long silence the stream replies, "His shrewdness con-
sisted first in facing the truth that he had wronged his master
and had been found out." After another long silence the stream
speaks to me, asking, "And how would you respond to the
words, 'Turn in the account of your stewardship'?"

The question takes me by surprise; then I recall that one day
I, too, will have to render an account of my life and actions.
Reflecting on this truth, I admit to my friend, "I will be in the
same situation as the dishonest steward was, for my faithfulness
has certainly not been perfect."

"Then learn from the parable and be as shrewd as the dishonest
steward was," the stream coaxes.

"But what does that mean?" I ask. "The dishonest steward went
out and cancelled the debts of his master's debtors."

"You do the same," the stream says gently. "Just as the
dishonest steward averted disaster by forgiving his master's
debtors, so will you. That is why Jesus taught that 'if you forgive
others their trespasses, your Heavenly Parent also will forgive
you; but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither
will God your Father and Mother forgive your trespasses.' (Mat-
thew 6:14-15) Therefore, be shrewd and learn the power of
forgiveness."

Sitting beside my friend, the stream, I consider the parable of
the dishonest steward. In my heart I summon my master's
debtors one by one, and I say, "Take your bill, and write on
it: FORGIVEN."

​

From The Road to Emmaus - An inclusive devotional Edited by Joseph W. Houle

Emmaus House of Prayer - Washington D.C