Today, we read of the parable of a dishonest steward who was praised by his master (Luke 16:1-13). Whenever I hear this parable, I always recall a similar story in Chinese history. In my valedictory speech in the 2007 Biblical Institute Graduation Ceremony, I made "An attempt to explore God's revelation in Chinese Culture" its title and mentioned a probable relation between this Chinese story and the Lukan parable. Let me quote it in full.
初，馮驩聞孟嘗君好客，躡蹻而見之。孟嘗君曰；「先生遠辱，何以教文也？」馮驩曰：「聞君好士，以貧身歸於君。」孟嘗君置傳舍十日，孟嘗君問傳舍長曰：「客何所為？」答曰：「馮先生甚貧，猶有一劍耳，又蒯緱。彈其劍而歌曰『長鋏歸來乎，食無魚』。」孟嘗君遷之幸舍，食有魚矣。五日，又問傳舍長。答曰：「客復彈劍而歌曰『長鋏歸來乎，出無輿』。」孟嘗君遷之代舍，出入乘輿車矣。五日，孟嘗君復問傳舍長。舍長答曰：「先生又嘗彈劍而歌曰『長鋏歸來乎，無以為家』。」孟嘗君不悅。
居朞年，馮驩無所言。孟嘗君時相齊，封萬戶於薛。其食客三千人。邑入不足以奉客，使人出錢於薛。歲餘不入，貸錢者多不能與其息，客奉將不給。孟嘗君憂之，問左右：「何人可使收債於薛者？」傳舍長曰：「代舍客馮公形容狀貌甚辯，長者，無他伎能，宜可令收債。」孟嘗君乃進馮驩而請之曰：「賓客不知文不肖，幸臨文者三千餘人，邑入不足以奉賓客，故出息錢於薛。薛歲不入，民頗不與其息。今客食恐不給，願先生責之。」馮驩曰；「諾。」辭行，至薛，召取孟嘗君錢者皆會，得息錢十萬。乃多釀酒，買肥牛，召諸取錢者，能與息者皆來，不能與息者亦來，皆持取錢之券書合之。齊為會，日殺牛置酒。酒酣，乃持券如前合之，能與息者，與為期；貧不能與息者，取其券而燒之。曰：「孟嘗君所以貸錢者，為民之無者以為本業也；所以求息者，為無以奉客也。今富給者以要期，貧窮者燔券書以捐之。諸君強飲食。有君如此，豈可負哉！」坐者皆起，再拜。
孟嘗君聞馮驩燒券書，怒而使使召驩。驩至，孟嘗君曰：「文食客三千人，故貸錢於薛。文奉邑少，而民尚多不以時與其息，客食恐不足，故請先生收責之。聞先生得錢，即以多具牛酒而燒券書，何？」馮驩曰：「然。不多具牛酒即不能畢會，無以知其有餘不足。有餘者，為要期。不足者，雖守而責之十年，息愈多，急，即以逃亡自捐之。若急，終無以償，上則為君好利不愛士民，下則有離上抵負之名，非所以厲士民彰君聲也。焚無用虛債之券，捐不可得之虛計，令薛民親君而彰君之善聲也，君有何疑焉！」孟嘗君乃拊手而謝之。【孟嘗君列傳‧史記‧卷七十五】
I always admire the wisdom of these stewards. They are worldly and, to a certain extent, crafty. In the Chinese version, the steward was a great adviser of economics and diplomacy for his master and served him well. Of course, the master in the Gospel is God and who can be God's adviser (Isaiah 40:13)? Yet, God commented this dishonest steward. God is able to see good things even in dishonesty! We sinners have a lot to learn from God.
Dear Lord, we are taught to love righteousness and hate evil. And You want us to love sinners as well. Our hearts are too narrow. Teach us to love more, You and sinners. Amen.
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