Today’s passage: Luke 16:1-13
Helpful thoughts:
- This parable was spoken to the disciples. This is not a parable of evangelism but instead it teaches how believers ought to live and how believers won’t live.
- In his final act as an employee of the rich man, the manager cost his employer even more money in order to benefit himself. This was not a benevolent act in any way. He showed mercy to the debtors only to provide himself with obligated acquaintances after his work was done. He set himself up to be provided for after his firing had taken effect.
- The commendation in verse 8 is not a good one.
- People of this world are shrewd with each other in order to meet their immediate needs/wants in a way that costs them eternally. The sons of light (God’s children) are the opposite. They are not shrewd for the here and now because their eyes and hearts are hoping in the age to come.
- Christ commands us to use the money of this world (Unrighteous wealth) to “make friends” who will welcome us into eternity. This is evangelism! Our money must be used for the furtherance of the Gospel!
Questions to consider:
- Who is your master? Is Jesus your lord and therefore over the finances at your disposal, or is money ruling your heart? (Verse 13)
- If money doesn’t make us “rich” (Verse 11), then what does it mean to truly be “rich”?
- How does eternity and the promise of being a joint-heir with Christ helps us to see money differently in this life? (Romans 8:17)