Should The Church Use Business Strategies?

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

16 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ 3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’ 5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 “‘Nine hundred gallons[a] of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’ 7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “‘A thousand bushels[b] of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’ 8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? 13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

In chapter 16 Luke spends most of the chapter on Jesus' teaching on the use of money, or what he calls "wordly wealth". Jesus tells a story about a manager who was not doing a good job, and in fact was in danger of losing his job.  So he reasons that when he loses his job if he gives his clients a discount, they might give him a job.  Though we don't know if he lost his job after his creative accounting, he is commended even though he is characterized as the "dishonest manager".  So what is Jesus teaching here?  

First, although Jesus may have not approved of the dishonesty, he uses the parable to note a principle.  He shows us that this man knew he would be accountable for what he did with what the master had given him.  In the same way, we are all given gifts and we will be accountable to our master, Jesus Christ.  Secondly, what he is commended for was shrewdness.  He made the most he could out of a bad situation.  

So what is the point Jesus is making to his disciples and to those listening?  Do we in the church give us much effort to running the church as a CEO runs a business for profit?  Do we invest and train people to be the best and brightest to reach the next generation for Christ.  Do we accept mediocrity?  Are we allergic to the principles that create a productive organization?    

For instance, if an effective business strategy might help the church to reach more people in our neighborhood should we not use it for God's glory?  There is nothing "unholy" about using a strategy proven to be successful in the world to help mobilize the church to reach its highest potential and to make an impact on the world with eternal consequences. 

We all have been given gifts by God to use to build his kingdom.  One day we will be accountable to our MASTER as to what we have done with them.  Let's be shrewd and diligent to use them to their highest and best use for God's glory. Amen.