Then he also said to his disciples, "A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, 'What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.' The steward said to himself, 'What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.' He called in his master's debtors one by one. To the first he said, 'How much do you owe my master?' He replied, 'One hundred measures of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.' Then to another he said, 'And you, how much do you owe?' He replied, 'One hundred kors of wheat.' He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.' And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. "For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. (Lk 16:1-8)
A rich man is rich because he does not allow his stewards to squander his property. For the rich man the steward is not important so also any worker (for that matter any person). For the rich man his property in more important than anything else. He looks for stewards will think and work like him. The rich man does not even think of correcting the steward by giving him one more chance.
This steward is also different from the others. Because he has been a steward for sometime he has lost his own will and ability to do work. Because he has been a steward he has gained some status in the society. So to go back to work like the other men he would find it difficult and ashamed. And much more so to be a beggar.
The steward invents a new way of being useful and respectful in the society. He calls all the debtors of his masters. It is said that the stewards are due to get something from the debtors. This steward forgoes what was due to him from the debtors. Because of this sacrifice that he makes he regains his position in the society and respect in the society. It is for this reason that the steward is commended.
