This man is corrupt but wise – Bishop Zwanini
KWALUSENI –Newly consecrated Bishop Zwanini Shabalala yesterday gave an insight of a story of a corrupt but wise servant
The new bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, said some people might not understand why Jesus Christ observed wisdom in a corrupt man.
He was speaking during his consecration as the 6th bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, held at UNESWA’s Sports Emporium yesterday.
The service was attended by pastors from various denominations who included Reverend Johannes Mazibuko, the senior Pastor of the Mbabane Alliance Church, Bishop Nash Shongwe, the founder and senior Pastor of Divine Healing International and former Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Gideon Dlamini.
CORRUPT STEWARD
Bishop Shabalala made it clear that Jesus relayed the parable of the rich man and his corrupt steward not necessarily to condone or praise corruption.
He said it was probable that people would not understand the parable because corruption remained an unwanted practice in society as much as Jesus did not want it. The story of the unjust but shrewd servant is relayed by Luke in the 16th chapter.
In the story, it is said that there was a rich man who had many business holdings, including assets, based on what people owed him. The rich man sent word to his steward to prepare a report on how his businesses were going.
This made the steward very nervous, for he feared he would be fired when the master found out what he was doing. He said to himself: “What shall
I do? For my Lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.”
According to the Bible, the steward devised a plan to ensure he would not be left destitute. He decided to use
his position of trust to negotiate some business deals for his own benefit.
He offered to discount the debts of his master’s business partners in return for their friendship and generous future considerations for himself.
The interesting part of the parable, according to Bishop Shabalala, came when the rich man commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely.
The bishop said the unjust man acknowledged that he had wronged people and devised a plan to make peace with them. Realising that he would soon be without a job, the steward made some shrewd deals behind his master’s back by reducing the debt owed by several of the master’s debtors in exchange for shelter in case he was eventually put out.
WICKED SERVANT
When the master becomes aware of what the wicked servant had done, he commended him for his ‘shrewdness.’ In His application of the story in the remaining verses, Jesus began by saying, “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.
Effectively, this could mean that unbelievers are wiser in the things of this world than believers are about the things of the world to come.
He said there were people who abused their position of authority and influence by overcharging others for personal gain. He described this practice as ‘kukhotsakhotsa’ (kickbacks).
He urged believers to properly manage their attitudes towards their possessions, which could be wealth, power, authority and gospels. Bishop Shabalala mentioned that people would account for what God gave them. He said the manner in which they used their possessions, as given by God, would have an impact on their lives, particularly as they related to