Being smart looks nice. Even Jesus would have praised smart people, wouldn’t he? Now, read this:

Jesus said to his disciples, “There was once a rich man who had a manager. He got reports that the manager had been taking advantage of his position by running up huge personal expenses. So he called him and said, ‘What’s this I hear about you? You’re fired. And I want a complete audit of your books.’
“The manager said to himself, ‘What am I going to do? I’ve lost my job as manager. I’m not strong enough for a laboring job, and I’m too proud to beg … Ah, I’ve got a plan. Here’s what I’ll do … then when I’m turned out into the street, people will take me into their houses.’
“Then he went at it. One after another, he called in the people who were in debt to his master. He said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
“He replied, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’
“The manager said, ‘Here, take your bill, sit down here — quick now — write fifty.’
“To the next he said, ‘And you, what do you owe?’
“He answered, ‘A hundred sacks of wheat.’
“He said, ‘Take your bill, write in eighty.’
“Now here’s a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way — but for what is right — using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.” (Luke 16: 1 — 9, from the Message Bible)

What the heck is he trying to tell us? True, it’s very relevant. The world knows no shortage of those smart people. Still, can you believe this passage is straight from the Bible? It’s so un-Jesus-ish to give such blatantly brutally evil advice, isn’t it?

I was confused when I first read the passage. The confusion never subsides. Of course, I’ll be glad to emulate the manager that the master praised so much. Anytime, my Lord. My pleasure, sir. Why not? It’s in my blood. I had such difficult time concealing such impulse. Any help? Please don’t throw at me some spiritual bullshit. Please…