Shrewd as Serpents

https://odb.org/MY/2021/10/23/wise-christians

Jesus taught before that as He sends us out to the world that we should be as shrewd as serpents but innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). Some translations use the phrase wise as serpents and harmless as doves. This is because when we are in the world we are akin to sheep among wolves, thus we must balance our innocence with shrewdness. Or else we will be like lambs being led to slaughter.

In Luke 16:1-9, Jesus told us a story of how a manager about to lose his job started discounting the bills of his customers as a means to gain friends. Jesus commended the manager’s shrewdness although He did not applaud his dishonesty. The point is that it is wise to use our position, influence and wealth to gain friends or build a network while we still have our position, influence and wealth. The point goes deeper but I’ll come to that in a while.

I have a friend who treated me very well while I was only a prospective customer. Bought me dinners every now and then, and we got to know our respective families when I visited his country once with my family when I was there for a vacation. This went on for a number of years but I couldn’t help him as his product pricing was not within our acceptable levels. In other words, my business could not afford his premium top quality products. He didn’t get the business but in the process, he gained a lifelong friend. In fact, he told me that was his intention too so that when we are both retired, we can visit each other at our respective countries. When we have an expense account, we spend to promote our products and acquire new business opportunities but in the process we also gain friends.

At a deeper level, the principle expounded by Jesus is to use whatever influence we have, the money we have, our position to reach out to others, to help or bless others. When we use money, we are not “losing” money. When we use money to bless others, we are sowing on earth for God’s purposes while sowing towards our heavenly fortune. Money is earned to be saved but also used. When used wisely, we are investing for our future. But we can also use it wisely to invest for God and His kingdom purposes. Till today I still recall the kind hospitality given by a medical couple when my wife and I were still in university where we had a chance to have nicer meals. Those meals were out of our budget then but we were privileged to enjoy them because of the kind couple.

I think that the key takeaway today is not to be stingy with our money and influence. Do things properly and within rules, don’t be dishonest but be shrewd. Be wise but harmless. Use our money and influence while we still have them for God’s purposes. Use them to bless others, to gain friends for the Kingdom of God. We will not have money and influence forever. The time will come for us to retire as we grow old. But while we still have money and influence, don’t waste the opportunity to use them to bless and help others. The friends we gain will be lifelong and if they accept Jesus into their lives, their friendships will be eternal!