Luke 16 - "How Do We Sell Eternal Life Insurance?"
Links to Reading and Commentary
Verses for the Day
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?
Commentary:
This is one of the hardest parables to interpret. Why? Because it seems as though Jesus might be praising the manager for his dishonesty. Actually the parable, when interpreted correctly, gives us great insight into how Jesus expects us to manage the resources for his kingdom. So why did Jesus commend this manager?
1. As soon as the steward realized his standing with the master, he acted quickly and decisively to change the situation. As Christians when we get in crisis situation do we take action, or wait around passively?
2. The manager used his relationships and bargaining skills to gain friends, which would be of value in getting right with his boss. When we use our gifts and skills to introduce people to Jesus, we are making an eternal difference.
3. Jesus is writing this as a polemic against the Jews, especially the Pharisees, who were more interested in building their personal kingdoms on earth. How is it Jesus wondered that people of this earth are more productive with what they have been given, than those who have been given the responsibility to manage God's household.
4. Jesus is challenging believers to have the same urgency and resourcefulness with using what they have for God's purpose for us on earth which is the Great Commission.
5. As we are faithful to invest what we are given, no matter how big or small that is, our faithfulness will lead to be given more. God will always fund his mission through those He can trust.
Application:
I spent the five years of my life in the business world. My first two years were as a life insurance salesman. I was on straight commission, meaning f I didn't sell anything, I didn't make anything. So if I wanted to do well I had to figure out to make sales. The statistics were pretty clear how to sell a policy. You had to make so many calls to get so many appointments. From those appointments a certain percentage of those people would buy a policy.
So, if I want to make money where did it all start? Making phone calls. Most people know that life insurance is one of the hardest products to sell, because most people think it only benefits you if you die. So I had to see the living benefits if I wanted to make a sale. The hardest phone calls to make were the "cold calls", meaning this person had no idea of who you were.
The percentage of getting appointments from these people (if they even answered) was very low. But, if you got people to refer you to people they knew, the percentage of appointments you would get and keep went up sharply. Again, more appointments more sales. So, getting referrals from friends, family, and satisfied customers was a huge way to be more succcessful.
So ... the question would be, "I am willing to go to all this effort to make one convert!" I.e. Would I be willing to make calls and/or get referrals from poeple for those who might be seeking God. I.e. You might want to call this "selling eternal life insurance". But the question is would I be as zealous to lead someone to Christ, or sell a life insurance policy.
I think this is the jist is what Jesus is teaching the disciples. He is asking them if the "sons of this world" are shrewd in making business deals, would they be as shrewd in leading people to Christ. If you work in a churchm are you relentlessly pursing people. Are you making calls? I.e. Visiting new people, visiting those who have become inactive, or those who are shut-ins.
Do your staff, volunteers, and church members know this is real measure of success? Do you think one day we will have to give an account to our master? It appears as those our responsibilities in heaven might be bsased on what we did with what God gave us on earth!
Prayer:
Jesus, give us as much passion for your mission as we do the things in this world. Help us to realize that the fruit of our labor for your is eternal in nature. Help our churches to do whatever it takes to bring people to church and share the gospel with them. We know you will do the rest. Amen.
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