Money is ethically neutral. It is neither good or bad. It all depends on what you do with it. Jesus gives us this – on the surface, at least, complicated – parable to encourage us to use our financial resources wisely.
THE PARABLE – 16:1-8a:
When this parable begins in verse 1, Jesus is speaking to His disciples. When we read beyond our parable, 16:14, we see that the Pharisees were lovers of money and scoffed when Jesus told them this parable. So, the parable has to do with money, with the proper use of it.
The manager was fired (1-2) for wasting his employer’s goods.
The manager makes a plan (3-4) and verse 4 tells us the reason for the plan. He wanted to be in the good graces of the clients so that they might give him a job when he leaves the current position.
The manager implements the plan (5-7) – reducing one client’s bill by 50% and another by 20%. It has been suggested that the amount forgiven was either the manager’s commission or interest which was illegal to charge, based on the Law of Moses. One other possibility is that the manager acted “deliberately and disgracefully”, robbing his Master (see Geldenhuys, 415).
The owner praises the manager (8a) – The “wealth of unrighteousness” (NASV) stands in contrast with the “true riches.” In other words, the manager praises this steward, not for his dishonesty, but for his forethought and his promptness.
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THE APPLICATION – 16:9-13:
Jesus gives us three points of application…
First (verse 9) – Make good use – generous use – of your resources here on earth.
Second (verses 10-12) – Faithfulness in this life is the basis of the reward for heavenly riches.
Third (verse 13) – Christians owe their highest allegiance to God, not material wealth.
Use your financial resources for godly purposes.
–Paul Holland
