Word In Life Study Bible
A SHREWD MANAGER
Luke16:1-13
What is the point of the parable in Luke 16:1–13? Was Christ commending the manager (or steward) for cheating his boss (16:8)? No, He was merely observing that people go to great lengths to secure favorable treatment when they are in legal or financial trouble. They may cheat others or pervert the law to do it, but in a way their conduct reveals a certain wisdom, a prudent concern for oneself. If only they took similar pains with their eternal destiny (16:9–12)!
Verse 9 speaks of “unrighteous mammon.” Jesus was not implying that money (mammon) is inherently evil, only that ma-terial wealth is temporal in nature and will not go with us into eternal life. It will “fail.” Therefore, we should use our wealth wisely in this life. In fact, we should “make friends” with it—that is, use it in a way that brings others into the kingdom of Christ (16:8–9).
Jesus’ words in verses 10–11 make it plain that He is not denouncing money. On the contrary, our level of responsibility in His kingdom will depend on how we manage the resources that God gives us in this life. In fact, we might ask: What condition are our finances in? Are we overseeing our material resources prudently and faithfully?
The “bottom line” of this passage is found in verses 12–13. All our earthly goods ultimately come from God and belong to Him. They are not really ours; we only manage them on His behalf. Any other outlook leads to a divided mind. We can’t serve God if we’re convinced that our money and property belong to us. We’ll inevitably end up serving them.
Study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible, copyright 1993,1996, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. The study notes from the Word In Life Study Bible appearing at this web site are for personal use only.
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