The Shrewd Lettings Agent is based on Luke 16: 1-9
During Covid there was a rich landlord, whose lettings agent was accused of wasting his money. So he called up the agent and said, “I’ve looked into this. I want the accounts, and I want them today. Then take a month’s pay in lieu of notice and go, because I won’t have you running my lettings any more.”
So the lettings agent put the phone down and said to herself, ‘What am I going to do? My job’s gone and my flat’s a company flat. Who’s going to hire me as a lettings agent if it gets round I was fired for mismanaging things? What am I supposed to do, get a job on a building site? I can’t even claim Universal Credit!’
She sat and thought, then an idea came. ‘I know what I’ll do,’ she said to herself. ‘Then when I’m out of work, people will be happy to help me out, maybe let me stay in their home.’ So, before she sent the accounts to the landlord, she phoned up all his tenants to come into the office straight away.
When the first one came in, wondering what this was about, she asked him, “Your rent is?”
“£1000 a week.”
“And you’re on furlough. Well, while you’re on furlough, it’s going to be £800 a week. Sign here, and here and here…”
The second came in and she asked her, “How much is your rent?”
“£800.”
“During any lockdowns it will be £600. Sign here, here and here…”
When the manager got the accounts at the end of the day and saw what had happened, he laughed and shook his head. “I knew she was sharp,” he said.
“You see,” Jesus said, “People who know the way the world works know how to handle people like themselves a lot better than the saintly do.” Then he added, “Use worldly money to make friends. Then, when it’s all gone, you’ll be welcomed into an eternal home.”
Commentary on The Shrewd Lettings Agent
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