Happy Aloha Friday, October 3rd, 2025. Have you ever met someone who seems to plan out everything? The kind of person who uses coupons in alphabetical order, has airline miles down to a science, or starts Christmas shopping in July? Meanwhile, the rest of us are frantically Googling discount codes at the checkout line. In Luke 16, Jesus commends someone who plans ahead, but not for the reasons we’d think.
Today's Reading:
Ezra 5,6; Psalm 138; Luke 16
Scripture
“‘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.’” (Luke 16:8)
Observation
Jesus gives a parable about a dishonest manager—not to applaud his dishonesty, but to highlight his shrewdness. When he realized his job was ending, he immediately thought ahead and leveraged what he had to secure his future. Jesus says people of this world often think ahead better than people of the light.
He’s not saying, “be sneaky.” He’s saying, “be strategic.” Believers should be just as wise, thoughtful, and intentional with what God has entrusted to them—but with clean hands and kingdom motives. It’s sinless shrewdness: holy strategy with holy integrity for the sake of eternity.
Application
More and more, I’m realizing the Apostle Paul was a master of sinless shrewdness. He didn’t just wander from town to town—he aimed for key cultural centers like Ephesus, Corinth, and Rome. He used his Roman citizenship to get through doors others couldn’t. He used cultural and religious references to sway hearts and minds. He even appealed to Caesar—not to save his skin, but to bring the Gospel straight to the empire’s heart.
Paul was shrewd, but always with a kingdom purpose. So I have to ask: Am I applying that same sinless shrewdness? Am I being intentional with the resources, opportunities, and influence God has given me? Or am I winging it spiritually and loosely calling it “living spirit-led”?
The world plans for retirement; Paul planned for eternity.
Eternal impact requires sinless shrewdness.
Prayer
Lord, teach me to think like Paul—wise, strategic, and Spirit-led. Help me steward every opportunity with eternal vision. Help me live with a strategy that serves You. Give me a sinless shrewdness. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
—Chris Kiriakos