In 1985, Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, was fired from the very company he built. At just 30 years old, he lost everything—his job, his influence, and his sense of purpose. For a time, he was devastated. But instead of giving up, Jobs took this moment as a wake-up call. He adapted, founded new companies like Pixar and NeXT, and eventually returned to Apple stronger than before. His greatest setback became the foundation for his greatest success.  

This idea—that loss can lead to wisdom—is at the heart of Jesus’ parable in Luke 16:1-9, where a shrewd but dishonest manager gets fired and, in his crisis, makes a bold move to secure his future.  

The parable begins with a manager who is accused of wasting his master’s possessions. He knows he’s about to lose his job. Panic sets in—he’s not strong enough to dig ditches, and he’s too ashamed to beg. In other words, he’s run out of easy options.  

How many of us wait until we hit rock bottom before we truly start to change? We ignore signs of trouble in our finances, relationships, or spiritual life until a crisis forces us to wake up.  

But what the manager does next is surprising. Instead of sulking, he gets strategic.  

Knowing he’ll soon be jobless, the manager quickly calls in his master’s debtors and reduces their bills. Was this dishonest? Maybe. But it was also shrewd. By cutting their debts, he earns their goodwill—ensuring that when he is unemployed, he’ll have people willing to help him.  

Gospel’s point isn’t to praise dishonesty but to highlight wisdom in action. The manager saw the urgency of his situation and acted swiftly. He adapted.  

How often do we sit in denial when life shakes us? Do we cling to pride instead of adjusting?  

Jesus contrasts the “children of this world” with the “children of light.” He notes that worldly people are often more strategic, more urgent, more intentional than believers.  

If businesspeople plan for retirement and athletes train for trophies, why do so many of us neglect our spiritual investments? We assume we have time to grow in faith, mend broken relationships, or pursue God’s calling. But what if our setbacks are wake-up calls from God? 

Is there an area of life where we’re resisting change?  Are we ignoring signs that God is nudging us to wake up? What would it look like to use our time, energy, and resources wisely—for eternal things, not just temporary success?  

God often allows loss, setback and pain not to destroy us, but to redirect us. The question is: Will we recognize the wake-up call before it’s too late?