What Does “Being A Shrewd Manager” of Your Finances Look Like?

Understanding what aspects of life to focus on can be tough. The world tells you to focus on so much stuff, that it can be difficult to keep up. Although many tell you to focus on career and money, others suggest family and charity. So, which one do you choose? How are you going to choose to live your life with your power of free will? Are you shrewd enough to make the right decisions?

Being Shrewd

Being shrewd is not a bad thing in life. It simply means you are astute or apt to having sounds judgement in life. Thus, being shrewd is a good thing. So, then how to you become a shrewd person? Well, the answer is more simple than you may think. Often times it takes as little effort as stopping to think before you take an action or make a decision. Impulsive behavior often detracts of positive and logical thinking of a situation. Having other desires also plays a hindrance in this as well. You have to be willing to say no, or to stand for decisions you believe are right for the betterment of all, including yourself.

The Shrewd Manager

The backing behind this comes from Luke 16 in the Bible. It talks of a shrewd manager who was being fired for taking advantage of his masters wealth and other property. As he had been in this position for awhile, he was not described as a manly man, but likely kind of soft. Thus, he would not be apt to labor for work. So, he shrewdly acted to make gestures with those whom his master had debtors with. For the men who owed his master money and property he forgave or diminished the debts as his last ditch effort to have friends when he is out on the streets. Although his master was firing him, he commended the manager for his keen understanding and actions taken to use the last of his powers to make the best out of his situation.

The manager knew what was about to happen, and made the best of it. Sure, it was for personal gain, but it was also helping others in the process. In further studying, it is inferred that the manager was already not dealing with the debtors correctly anyway. He could have been overcharging, heavily taxing, or even highly pressuring these debtors with payments. His actions to make amends was thus approved.

Understanding Your Part

This story can easily be applied to our lives in multiple ways you may want to look at it. Some may see it as a parable to elicit help to others when you are in a better position of wealth or power. Use it to do some good while you have it. Others may see it as a means to be sure to treat everyone fairly. My personal favorite is using what the world plays as a “life game” to other’s advantage.  For example, if you are naturally able to build businesses and acquire wealth, then give it away to those who need it far more than you! Just because the world is telling you to do one thing, does not mean you have to listen to it. Be shrewd enough to understand what is going on and use it to the advantage of helping and benefiting others.