Seating For One

Jesus’ audience for this parable includes His disciples (v1) and the Pharisees (v14). The setting is a rich man who audits his dishonest estate manager before firing him. In desperation, the manager acts to secure his financial future by making friends with those who might be future employers; he grants borrowers unexpected debt relief…after all, he’s technically fired and has nothing more to lose with the rich man. The estate owner actually commends the manager for his financial foresight given his looming dismissal. Jesus then transitions into textual application, calling His disciples to be opportunists and generous (i.e., faithful) with earthly mammon in service to His kingdom and to people in need. Everything “we have” really comes from and belongs to God anyways; we are simply managers entrusted with the proper use of His goods. The reality: none of us can serve two masters – both God and earthly mammon, for every human heart only has seating for one.