Shrewd Manager

A blues retelling of the parable of the Shrewd Manager from Luke 16:1–13. This parable is not about praising dishonesty. It’s about urgency, foresight, and knowing what truly lasts. When the manager realizes his time is short, he acts decisively. Jesus uses this story to challenge us: Are we as intentional with eternal things as we are with temporary ones?

Scripture: Luke 16:1–13

16 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. ²So 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— ⁴I 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. ⁹I 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. ¹¹So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? ¹²And 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.”

Lyrics

Verse 1
I was countin’ another man’s money, let it slip right through my hands
Yeah, I was countin’ another man’s money, let it slip right through my hands
Boss said, “Son, your time is over — gotta give an account where you stand”

Verse 2
I said, “I ain’t strong enough for diggin’, and I’m too proud to beg”
Lord, I ain’t strong enough for diggin’, and I’m too proud to beg
So I started thinkin’ real fast, ‘fore they kicked me out that gate

Verse 3
Called them debtors one by one, said, “Sit down, let’s make it right”
Yeah, I called them debtors one by one, said, “Sit down, let’s make it right”
Cut them numbers in a hurry, while I still had borrowed might

Refrain (turnaround-friendly)
‘Cause when the door gets ready to close, you better know where you’ll land
Yeah, when the door gets ready to close, you better know where you’ll land
This world don’t last forever, better play wise with what’s in your hand

Verse 4
My master shook his head, but I saw a crooked grin
Yeah, my master shook his head, but I saw a crooked grin
Said, “You done wrong, but you done smart — you knew the shape you was in”

Verse 5
Money talks but it can’t love you, won’t save you when night comes down
Yeah, money talks but it can’t love you, won’t save you when night comes down
If it owns your heart, son, you already lost that crown

Final Verse / Outro
You can’t serve two masters, one gon’ chain you tight
No, you can’t serve two masters, one gon’ chain you tight
Use what you got for tomorrow, while you still got today’s light

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