The Gospel of Luke 16:1-13
Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So, he summoned him and said to him, `What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.’ Then the manager said to himself, `What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, How much do you owe my master?’ He answered, `A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ He said to him, `Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.’ Then he asked another, `And how much do you owe?’ He replied, `A hundred containers of wheat.’ He said to him, `Take your bill and make it eighty.’ And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
1 Timothy 2:1-3 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, God, our Master, blesses us with uncountable riches. But, do we squander the opportunities to make friends for ourselves, and our Master, by not using what is given us? God gives us what we have so that we’ll share what we have. And by doing so we earn friends and a home with the sons of light. Failure to do so means an eternal pink slip.
Let us Pray: You entrust us with time, talents, and treasure—not for selfish gain, but for Your Kingdom. Teach us to be faithful in the little things, To honor You in our daily choices, To steward what we have with integrity and compassion. May we never confuse cleverness with righteousness, But seek wisdom that reflects Your truth. Let our lives be a testimony to Your grace, That in both scarcity and abundance, we serve You alone. Amen.
It seems Luke must have been a time traveler to today’s world. His Gospel is like he is here writing about the world as we know it now. Money, power and influence seem to be the hash marks that control our world. Power that leads to unethical decisions. Power that leads to not a scenario that Timothy preaches that those in power should provide. Power that leads to manipulation of record keeping. Manipulation that should require an accounting of their actions. The demand for accounting of our actions signifies a time of judgment and evaluation. In the cultural context, stewards were expected to maintain detailed records of their transactions. This parallels the biblical teaching that believers will give an account of their lives and stewardship before God. Luke 16:1–13 has one of the most provocative and puzzling passages in the Gospels. It features the parable of the dishonest manager, a figure who, after being fired for mismanagement, cleverly reduces the debts of his master’s clients to secure future hospitality. Surprisingly, the master commends him for his shrewdness. Jesus then follows with teachings on faithfulness, stewardship, and the impossibility of serving both God and wealth. The manager’s actions are ethically ambiguous. He manipulates debt records not out of repentance but self-preservation. Yet Jesus praises his shrewdness, not his morality. This invites us to distinguish between cleverness and righteousness. In a world where systems are often unjust, Jesus seems to suggest that strategic wisdom can be harnessed for survival and even for good. Here, stewardship becomes a spiritual discipline. Earthly resources: money, influence, time are not ends in themselves but tests of character. Faithfulness in small things reveals readiness for deeper spiritual responsibility. This gospel isn’t just about money, it’s about loyalty. The ill -gotten wealth represents not just currency, but the seductive pull of power, security, and self-interest. Jesus calls for undivided devotion. The heart must choose between accumulation of wealth or communion, control caused by your wealth or surrender. Who seeks to connect scripture to justice, mercy, and spiritual liberation? This passage invites reflection on how we look at economic ethics, how do we navigate systems that reward cunning over compassion? Spiritual integrity, are we faithful stewards of what we’ve been given, especially when no one is watching? Communal responsibility how do our choices with money and influence affect the vulnerable. As Timothy said: “God gives us what we have so that we’ll share what we have. And by doing so we earn friends and a home with the sons of light”.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, You warned us that no one can serve two masters. We confess how easily our hearts are divided. Drawn to wealth, status, and comfort. Yet You call us to use even worldly resources To build relationships, extend mercy, and prepare for eternity. Grant us discernment to navigate this world with holy cunning, Not to manipulate, but to magnify Your love. Help us to invest in what lasts: Justice, generosity, and the joy of Your presence. Amen.
Reflections by Bob 