Shrewd wisdom

Jubilee Preaching Aid for September 21, 2025

The parable of the dishonest manager has long puzzled readers and preachers. A manager is accused of squandering his master’s property. Facing dismissal, he quickly calls in the master’s debtors and reduces their bills, hoping that he will then be able to call in favours with them. At first glance, this looks like dishonesty. And yet, the master commends the manager for his actions. Why?

The key lies in the word translated as “shrewd.” In Greek, the word is phronimos (φρονίμως) which can also mean “wise” or “prudent.” The manager is not praised for cheating but for acting wisely and decisively when time was short. He saw the crisis facing him and took bold steps to prepare for the future.

This is where the parable connects with the biblical vision of Jubilee (Leviticus 25). Jubilee was Israel’s radical reset: debts forgiven, land restored, and the enslaved set free. It declared that everything belongs to God and that no one should remain trapped in cycles of poverty. In a way, the manager stumbles into Jubilee. By reducing debts, he brings relief—even if his motives were self-serving. His wisdom lay in using wealth not as a master, but as a tool to build relationships and open doors for freedom.

Wisdom for Jubilee Living

Jesus’ teaching challenges us to use what we have with the same kind of wisdom. Not dishonestly, but creatively, urgently, and generously. If wealth cannot be our master, then we are free to use it in service of God’s reign. That is what it means to act phronimos—to live wisely, with Jubilee vision.

1. Debt Relief – Around the world, unjust debt continues to crush individuals and nations alike. Some countries in the Global South spend more repaying interest than they do on education or healthcare. In this year of Jubilee, churches in Canada and around the world have joined in calling for international debt cancellation so that communities can flourish. Jubilee also calls us as individuals of faith to engage with governments at all levels to work to relieve the burden of unjust debt.
2. Restored Relationships – Jubilee is not only economic; it is also relational. Many of us carry the weight of unresolved wrongs. Choosing to forgive, to seek reconciliation with those we have harmed (especially as we look toward Orange Shirt Day on September 30th), and to make amends may seem costly, but it is wise in God’s economy. It releases us and others from chains of resentment and bitterness. Practicing forgiveness and reconciliation is Jubilee at the personal level.
3. Creation’s Rest – We know that Jubilee, as set out in Leviticus 25, also declared rest for the land. Jubilee was God’s way of reminding Israel that the earth itself belongs to the Lord. Today, we see the consequences of exploiting creation without rest—climate crisis, soil depletion, loss of biodiversity. To act wisely in our time is to recognize limits, reduce exploitation, and work toward ecological justice. Especially in this Season of Creation, Jubilee means honouring creation as God’s gift, not our possession.
4. Hospitality and Sharing – The dishonest manager shrewdly used his authority to reduce burdens; we can do the same by opening our homes and church communities. Every community, food pantry, or clothing drive that welcomes all without cost is a glimpse of Jubilee. Hospitality is one of the wisest ways we can embody God’s abundance in a world of scarcity.

The shrewd manager acted quickly and with wisdom because he knew he had little time to do so. Jesus calls us to live with that same urgency and wisdom. The kingdom of God is breaking in—now is the time to embody Jubilee.

Jubilee wisdom means asking not, how much can I accumulate? but how much can I help lift the burdens of others? It means using our resources—our money, influence, and creativity—not for self-preservation but for liberation.

We cannot serve both God and wealth. We know we as people of faith are called to serve God wisely. Acting with shrewd faith and wisdom, we live as people of Jubilee—agents of freedom, forgiveness, and hope in a world longing for release. Amen.

Rev. Marianne Emig Carr is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC), serving the two-point Brockville-Caintown Pastoral Charge in Eastern Ontario. Prior to becoming a minister, Marianne was a corporate lawyer for 19 years at General Motors of Canada. Marianne serves on the Steering Committee of KAIROS, is a member of the PCC Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee and has been actively involved in refugee sponsorship efforts.