In this chapter, Luke recorded Jesus’ continued teaching. After telling the parable of the prodigal son, he continued to tell the parable of the dishonest manager. He told this to his disciples, but the Pharisees could clearly hear him.
16:1-13
The Dishonest Manager
This story is about a man who was the manager of the estate of a rich man. It came to light that the man was wasting the rich man’s estate. The Greek word for “waste” in verse 1 is the same word translated “squandered” in the story of the prodigal son. (15:13) Jesus referred to him as a dishonest manager. (8)
The rich man fired the manager and demanded an accounting. The manager called in his accounts and wrote them down, showing that the debtors owed less money than they really did. The rich man commended the manager for his shrewdness. (8)
Shrewdness is being astute or clever in practical matters. The manager was clever to see that he could make friends out of his master’s debtors and those friends would receive him into their houses after he was fired from his job as manager.
Jesus pointed out that those who do not follow Jesus, called sons of this world, are more shrewd that the sons of light, or Jesus’ followers, in dealing with people concerning money.
What did Jesus mean by that?
Jesus meant that worldly people are more focused and skillful in handling money according to worldly standards than believers in handling money according to God’s standards and with eternity in mind.
Jesus wants to to arouse believers to think more about what belongs to the future life and not to close their ears to his teaching about the place of money in our lives.
Jesus’ instruction was to make friends with money so that when it fails, they will receive you into eternal dwellings. (9) When Jesus says “unrighteous wealth”, he does not mean ill gotten gain, he means worldly wealth. So, he was saying, use your worldly wealth to make eternal friends.
The picture here is that those we help will welcome us in heaven. These are people we helped when they needed it. It includes the person who asked you for bus money or lunch money, the people who received relief from agencies we supported, including our churches. It could be the family whose kid had expensive surgery. They will receive you in heaven.
There was a song popular in the 1980s with a line that went “thank you for giving to the Lord; I am a life that was changed”. It talked about a guy going to heaven and being greeted by those to whom he gave his time and money on earth, even people he did not know. This is what Jesus was taking about.
Of course, these acts of generosity also please the Lord, who will reward us in heaven.
Faithfulness
16:10-13
Jesus went on to talk about faithfulness, something the dishonest manager did not demonstrate. He said one who is faithful with a little is faithful with much, and the same is true for one who is dishonest. If he is dishonest with a little, he will be dishonest with a lot.
More money does not create better character. In fact, it usually magnifies what you are. Therefore, your dishonesty in small amounts becomes greater dishonesty on larger amounts.
Jesus pushed it even further. He said, if you have been unfaithful with unrighteous wealth, who will entrust you with true riches? In other words, if you were unfaithful with the money you made on earth, I will not entrust you with riches in eternity.
How are you dishonest with your money on earth? First of all, if you hoard it or spend it only on yourself. God does not say you cannot have money from hard work or enjoy nice things. But, he expects you to deal with your money recognizing that you are a steward of it. It is really God’s money. He lets you hold it and use it. We see this from verse 12, where he said if you are not faithful in that which is another’s, he will not give you your own. Just like the manager in the parable, the money you have does not belong to you and should be used as your master desires. He wants you to use it to further the kingdom and to help those who do not have enough money.
Second, you could make your money at the expense of others. You might misrepresent what you sell or make, or take advantage of the buyer’s need.
What will you get that is “true riches” or is “your own”. This refers to what happens in eternity after this world is remade. The Bible says we will reign with him. What we reign over will be based somewhat on what we did with what he gave us in this life.
The thing is, money can actually own you. You think you own it because you have it in accounts, investment and properties in your name. But it can easily own you, dominating your thoughts, taking your time and making you protective of it. When someone tells you their wealth is a burden, this is what they mean, whether they know if or not.
If money is your master and you serve it, you cannot serve God. Jesus said that plainly in verse 13. You can only love and serve one master.
If God is your master, you love and serve him. You keep money in its place. You use it as God desires. We see this, for example, when a wealthy church member steps up and donates a large some of money to pay off a church debt, or repair a building, or support a ministry. Often they will say the believed God told them to do it. The Holy Spirit led them to use their money for the kingdom.
I cannot tell you where to draw the lines between spending and giving. But, I can advise you to be honest with yourself and with God. Seek his will and do it.
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