The Shrewd Manager

by LA UBF   01/30/2016     0 reads

Question

The Shrewd Manager

Luke 16:1-12

Key Verse 8

“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.”

1. Read verses 1-7. What was a manager accused of and what was a rich man going to do? (1-2) What did the manager plan before losing his job? (3, 4) What did he tell each one of his master’s debtors to do? (5-7)

2. Read verses 8-9. Why did the master commend the manager? (8a) In what respect are the people of this world more shrewd than the people of the light? (8b) How did Jesus advise his disciples to use their worldly wealth and why? (9)

3. Read verses 10-12. What would happen to those who could be trusted with very little and those who were dishonest with very little? (10) What will happen to us if we are not trustworthy in handling worldly wealth? (11). What do ‘true riches’ refer to? What further warning does Jesus have for us? (12)

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Message

Use worldly wealth to gain friends

Luke 16:1-12

Key Verse 9

““I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

Today’s passage is Jesus’ teaching about money. It was given to his disciples. Come to think of it, it is very interesting to know that Jesus never taught his disciples about how to make money. But he taught them many times about how to use money. It sounds like his disciples would not have any problem to have money. Why do you think Jesus only taught them about how to use money instead of how to make money? We know that the whole world is focusing on how to make money. But Jesus’ focus is not how to make money but how to use money. Why is it so? The answer is ‘God will give them money if we use it according to his will.” It makes sense because God is the Great Provider. So today we want to learn how to use money. My message has two parts. Part I. Shrewd manager (v.1-9) Part II. Who will trust you with true riches? (v.10-12)

Part I. Shrewd manager (v.1-9)

Look at verses 1-8.

“Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ 3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’ 5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 “‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’ 7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’ 8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” 

The audience of today’s passage is mainly Jesus’ disciples. Other audience would be the Pharisees and teachers of the law, and the tax collectors and sinners, because Jesus’ teaching is the continuation of his parable of the prodigal son.

Now in today’s passage, you may be confused when you look at ‘the master commended the dishonest manager because of his shrewd act’. It is because the Bible never promotes dishonesty. But rather it teaches us complete honesty, complete one, I say. Because only complete honesty brings true healing and restoration of our relationship with God and our brothers and sisters. If we are not complete honest with ourselves, with God, and with our neighbors, something is wrong inside of us. Something is still being rotten inside of us. And eventually it will be shown with its ugly head with terrible smell.

So why does the master commend the dishonest manger? It is because of his preparation for his future. Jesus did not honor dishonesty. But he wanted to point out that the shrewd manager prepared his future using his master’s money. Preparation for the future with the money is Jesus’ point of teaching.

Why does Jesus have to teach the importance of preparation through money so much to the point of using such an example of ‘dishonest’ manager?

It is because people, especially believers, do not use money to prepare for their future as much as unbelievers do. Unbelievers use their money to prepare their future but their future is not eternal one. They invest in savings, stocks, retirement funds, and properties. But believers do not prepare themselves for their true future as much as unbelievers prepare their future on earth. That is what Jesus wanted to teach.

Unbelievers prepare for their future a lot. Once one of wise men said, “People cannot live 100 years. But they want to pile up 1,000 years portion of food.” Unbelievers’ preparation lasts 100 years maximum. They always worry about money but they do not worry about their eternal dwelling because they do not know it. But believers know it. Therefore believers should use their money to prepare for their eternal dwelling.

So Jesus said in verse 9.

“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

Here, ‘worldly wealth’ means ‘money’. The phrase ‘when it is gone’ ultimately refers to the time ‘when we die’. Money will be gone anyhow no matter how much we have. When we die we cannot take any money. So it will be wise to use money for something eternal. It is the best investment because we gain something eternal from what is temporary. To use our money to gain friends is the way to carry out money into our eternal dwellings.

You can use your money to prepare for eternal dwelling. You can purchase your eternal property with your money which will be gone sooner of later. So Jesus said, “use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

People are crazy to make money. Missionary John Choi’s boss asked him to make false financial statement in order to make more money. So msn John Choi had to quit his job. People in the world are crazy in order to make money. Some people are ready to do anything including lies as long as they can make money. But ironically, believers are not as crazy as the unbelievers to prepare for their eternal dwellings. So Jesus said in verse 8. “For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” The people of the world are shrewd in preparing for their future. They even cheat other people for their own benefit and preparation for their future. The dishonest manager in the parable is one good example. They prepare their future very shrewdly. They prepare their future even with other’s money if possible.

But the people of the light, believers, may not be shrewd as much as unbelievers in terms of preparing their future with their money. They know they need eternal dwelling. That does not mean they will actually use their money to prepare for their eternal dwelling. There is a huge gap between ‘knowledge’ and ‘doing’. Indeed there is usually a huge difference between ‘knowledge’ and ‘doing’. So we see what others are doing rather than what they say.

Believers know that they needed to use their money for their eternal dwellings. But they do not do. Or at least not as much as unbelievers do for their future. That is why Jesus has to teach his people about ‘how to use money’ again and again. Believers are even worse than unbelievers in terms of the gap between their ‘knowledge’ and their ‘doing’.

So Jesus said in verse 8 and 9. “For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” [9] I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

Here ‘gain friends’ means to ‘use money for people’ according to God’s will. Missionary Philip is a good example about how to use money to gain friends. He has friends in Boston like Jeremiah Yang, and New York like Jing and Ryan. So he planned out spending two weeks in Boston in order to visit them. He purposely extended his business trip to have fellowship with them and encourage them spiritually. Now for his friends in Brazil UBF in San Paulo, he spent 10 days there. He spent time with missionary Nathan and his wife and Brazillian coworkers who are his friends. In order to do so, he had to use his vacation time for 10 days. He had to leave his four beautiful daughters at home with the care of his wife who works on full time too. He has to pay for his airplane tickets. He had bought gifts for them. He even purchased gift for some of us even when we did not give him any gift or support. He did all by himself with his own money. Missionary Paul Lim also did the same when he attended African directors’ conference for me. He used his own money for the trip. In this way, msn Philip and Paul gained many friends.

Money goes away. We cannot keep our money although we may want. Jesus’ advice is to use our money to gain friends. Missionary Mari uses her money to gain friends, visiting UCLA in order to invite students to bible study and have 1:1 bible study. It takes a long time to go to UCLA especially when there is traffic. I specifically remember that it took 2.5 hours from UCLA to Downey taking freeways around evening traffic hour. Now parking in UCLA is not easy. The parking fee is expensive. It was like $8.00 a day and it keeps increasing whereas it is $2.00 in LBCC. Also to walk from parking lot to the building for the bible study is far away in UCLA compared to LBCC. But she does all this to use her wealth to gain friends.

Sh. Terry opens his house every Sunday evening for dinner for all our coworkers and he invites us. It is another wonderful way to use his money to gain friends. Is he rich? You can ask him. But I don’t think so. He is not rich. But he still uses his money to gain friends. So lot of us became his friends. According to Jesus sh. Terry secured his eternal dwelling with many friends who will welcome him after his life here on earth. For him to live in eternal dwelling will be a sweet experience.

Part II. who will trust you with true riches? (v.10-12)

Jesus was teaching one more point about how to use our money in verses 10 through 12.

10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?”

Here, ‘little’ or ‘worldly wealth’ or ‘someone else’ property’ refers to money. ‘Much’ or ‘true riches’ or ‘property of your own’ probably refers to ‘the kingdom of God’.

And the issue here is the issue of ‘trustworthiness’. Jesus teaches us the importance of being trustworthy of money. If anyone can be trusted with little money he can be trusted with much money. The opposite is true. If anyone is dishonest with little money he will be dishonest with much money. The fundamental truth about Jesus’ teaching here is ‘money’ belongs to God. It is not our money. Although we earn money by our labor it is God’s money because God gives us life and strength and wisdom and everything that can be used to make money.

Jesus wants us to be people whom God can trust with his true riches. And the testing ground would be to see how we use our money. How can we present ourselves to God that we are worthy to take care of his true riches which is God’s wealth? By being trustworthy of our worldly wealth, our money, which is described as ‘little’. If we prove ourselves that we are trustworthy in our handling of our money, God will bless us with true riches, his own kingdom. He will bless us with our own property which is our own place in his kingdom.

Jesus said in John 14:1-4. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

‘Our place’ refers our own property in the kingdom of God. If we are trustworthy of our money God can bless us with true riches of his kingdom. So how to use our money is so important that Jesus had to teach us about it many times. People focus on how to make money. But Jesus focuses on how to use money.

Why did Jesus suddenly teach his disciples about how to use their money as if they will have no problem to have money? It is because they will have times in the future when they have money and possibly even a lot. Jesus knew his own disciples would be tempted at that time like the Pharisees and teachers of the law who loved money and become hypocrite. He knew that his disciples were not exempt from such temptation which is ‘deceitfulness of wealth’. Indeed Jesus’ disciples will have money and they can be tempted. It was seen even in the life of apostle Paul.

Philippians 4:10-13

“I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Even apostle Paul had a time to be well fed and had a plenty. Since he had been so hungry and poor most of the times he could be tempted even more to be greedy and stingy. He might not want to lose his wealth and keep it for himself when he had it. But he learned how to be content in every situation. He learned that he could do all this through Jesus who gives him strength. And that is how he could use his money to gain friends continually. He has many friends, world mission coworkers, throughout the whole world because he used his money to gain friends.

Financially we are not so bad either although some of us were once very poor in our pioneering stage. About 30 years ago I went to Chicago. I found that Chicago elders at that time had their houses and I could not believe it. It was because at that time missionary Isaac was working as apartment manager and LA Times delivery man. And I was working at Taco bell and I was ready to work at gas station at night. I remember my first interview for an accounting job in Century city. I prayed, “Lord, if you give me this job I will offer you $500.00 for my monthly offering’. The job was only $7.00 an hour and my monthly salary would be little over $1,000.00. God was pleased to hear my prayer and I got that job. I believe by God’s grace alone I kept my promise to God. Time passed by and I found that many of our coworkers have houses and reliable cars including myself. We may not be rich like Bill Gates, but we are rich enough to take care of ourselves. Now do we use our money to gain friends? Or do we use it for ourselves alone?

In our society ‘money’ means ‘freedom’ and ‘convenience.’ Money is so good that it competes with God in many people’s lives. Money talks and it shows a lot of things about us if we look at how we use our money. It shows who we are and what kind of attitude we have for money, how we view our money and how we use it. Do we see our money as our money or God’s money entrusted to us for a while? Do we use it for God or us? Do we believe God will provide with money as long as we use it for his purpose? Or do we worry about how to make money? As today’s passage teaches Jesus never taught about how to make money but only how to use money. It is because God will give us money as we use it for his purpose. Jesus wants us to be trustworthy in the use of our money so that we can be trustworthy of true riches from God.

One word: use worldly wealth to gain friends

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Biblenote

The Shrewd Manager

Luke 16:1-12

Key Verse 8

“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.”

Introduction

In this passage Jesus teaches us how to use our wealth to be welcomed into eternal dwellings and be rich with true riches. The wealth that we have was given by God and we are His stewards who are supposed to manage wealth according to God’s will. May God help us to know how to please God with our wealth.

1. Read verses 1-7. What was a manager accused of and what was a rich man going to do? (1-2) What did the manager plan before losing his job? (3, 4) What did he tell each one of his master’s debtors to do? (5-7)

1-1. Read verses 1-7.

Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’6 “‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’7.“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe”? “‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

1-2. What was a manager accused of and what was a rich man going to do? (1-2)

Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.

  • Jesus told his disciples the following story.

  • A manager wasted his master’s possessions. The rich man whom the manager worked for was going to fire him.

  • A manager was a steward in charge of money or property.

  • The rich man wanted the manager to “Give an account of your management/stewardship”

  • All people must give account in some way, and we will give account to God.

  • For each of us, our time of stewardship will one day come to an end.

1-3. What did the manager plan before losing his job? (3, 4)

“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

  • The manager considered how to survive after losing his job.

  • He didn’t have enough physical strength to do construction work or farming even though these kinds of jobs might have been available if he was really willing.

  • It was also too shameful for him to beg for money.

  • This former manager was about to become homeless.

I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

  • His plan was to stay at other people’s houses.

  • We can say many negative things about this manager:

  • He was wasteful and dishonest.

  • He was lazy, saying “I’m not strong enough to dig.”

  • He was proud, saying, “I’m ashamed to beg.”

  • There are many negative aspects to what this man was doing, but we have to give him credit for one thing: he was shrewd.

  • He realized that he was about to be fired, but he had not officially been fired yet. He had his pink slip, but he hadn’t yet cleared out his desk.

  • For a short period of time, this man still had authority as a manager.

1-4. What did he tell each one of his master’s debtors to do? (5-7)

“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 “‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied.“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’7.“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe”? “‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

  • He called in each one of his master’s debtors and cut down the amount of their debts significantly by changing the amount of their debts.

  • According to US dollar value, 1 gallon of olive oil is worth about $65. So 900 gallons are worth about $58,500.

  • 400 gallons are worth $29,250. So about $28,950 was discounted. (http://www.organicinfusionswholesale.com/olive-oil-extra-virgin-cp/?medium=tsa&gclid=CMmE7dOit8oCFYqGfgodV20PEg&gclsrc=aw.d)

  • Cutting down a significant amount of debt was a great favor towards the debtors. We can imagine how happy the debtors might have been after their debts were reduced.

  • The debtors must have appreciated the manager’s help. They might have been willing to do any favor for the manager in return for his mercy.

  • The manager solved his problem about how to survive without a job, using the master’s money.

  • He wasted the rich man’s money again by cutting down on the debtor’s debts. But he succeeded in buying favor from the debtors which would be beneficial for his future life.

  • By buying favor from the debtors, this man managed his master’s money shrewdly, while the money was still under his management.

2. Read verses 8-9. Why did the master commend the manager? (8a) In what respect are the people of this world more shrewd than the people of the light? (8b) How did Jesus advise his disciples to use their worldly wealth and why? (9)

2-1. Read verses 8-9.

“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

2-2. Why did the master commend the manager? (8a)

“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly.”

  • He knew he would be called to account for his life and he took that seriously.

  • We Christians should think seriously about the fact that we will be called to account.

  • The manager took advantage of his present position to make preparation for his future.

  • ‘Commend’ means to ‘praise’. The master praised the manager because of his shrewd act.

  • Even though the manager had to reduce the original amount of debts, the master recognized the manager had acted shrewdly to prepare for his future life and to survive.

  • Especially the master praised the manager because he had used his money to turn the debtors into his friends, so that these people might help him later.

  • The manager could have used the master’s money for a different purpose but he used it to get people’s favor and make friends. It was a very shrewd act.

  • The manager looked forward to things to come and prepared for it.

  • We should look forward to the world to come, which is the eternal kingdom of God.

  • We should use all our wealth to provide ourselves eternal dwellings.

Luke 12:29-34 reads,

“And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom,and these things will be given to you as well. 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

2-3. In what respect are the people of this world more shrewd than the people of the light? (8b)

For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.

  • ‘The people of the light’ are the people who have the word of God and believe in Jesus who is the light of the world.

  • The people of this world are the people who live seeking money instead of seeking and trusting God.

  • The people of this world are more shrewd than the people of the light in terms of making money and using their money for their personal benefit.

  • They know better how to invest their money and how to maximize their profits, for they believe that money is the only security and source of happiness.

  • They manage money very shrewdly for their life security here on earth.

  • For instance, people put away for retirement. People are working for 30 to 40 years to save up money for retirement, so they can enjoy the good life.

  • But the average live expectancy is 75-80. They work all of their lives to provide for their last 15 or 20 years.

  • They work all of their lives to pay off a mortgage. But, by the time they pay it off, they are old and maybe ready to die.

  • They only live for their generation, yet they plan for it very well. Think about how many good investment tools are available.

  • The original Greek of verse 8 doesn’t really say “their own kind” but “their own generation.” A wise man of the world makes a plan for his short life here on earth.

  • The diligence of worldly people about the things of this world is better than the diligence of believers about the things of eternity.

  • It is great shame that believers don’t work for treasures in heaven as much as the people of the world work for their earthly treasure.

  • We should learn from the people of the world who are doing their best to get what they want.

  • For instance, Coca-Cola is more widely distributed than the gospel of Jesus Christ.

  • If we work for the kingdom of God with less zeal than we work for the things of this world, we should repent.

  • Children of God should have more diligence and zeal for God’s work than any other people of the world.

  • We should be better than them in doing the work for God’s eternal kingdom.

2-4. How did Jesus advise his disciples to use their worldly wealth and why? (9)

I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

To use worldly wealth to gain friends

  • It means to help or serve others who are in need using our wealth so that we may build up friendships with them.

  • We have to use our wealth to gain people and help them to be saved.

  • We have to consider what we are going to use our money for. The best way to use our wealth is to use it to serve people and help them to be saved.

  • God entrusted worldly wealth to us. We are the managers of the wealth. We should use our wealth shrewdly to help and save people.

“You will be welcomed into eternal dwellings”

  • Those who use their wealth to serve and save others will be welcomed into the eternal kingdom of God.

  • Using wealth to serve others is the way to store up true wealth and treasure in the Kingdom of God.

  • Those who hope for the kingdom of God don’t keep their wealth only for themselves.

  • Rather they serve others with their wealth hoping for the eternal kingdom of God.

  • We should use our money for our eternal future, because the end of our life on earth will surely come.

  • Jesus himself shows the best example of how to make friends for eternity.

  • He was known as a friend to sinners and tax collectors, because he invited them to repent and have new life. He offered them eternal dwellings.

  • He called his disciples his friends as well. He wants to be your friend as well. To make friends for Jesus was costly.

  • In order to do this, Jesus had to come to this earth and give up heaven.

  • To invite his friends into eternal dwellings was also costly for Jesus. He would have to die on the cross before we could enter the gates of righteousness.

2 Corinthians 8:9 reads,

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”

  • When we consider how Jesus gave up so much to make friends out of sinners such as ourselves, we can know how to use our riches. We must use our riches to make friends of sinners, so that we will see them again in eternity.

  • We can offer our time and money to serve the weak, and the lowly and the sinful.

John 14:2 reads,

“In my Father’s house are many rooms. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”

  • These eternal dwellings are wonderful – they are described in Revelation 21, the New Jerusalem.

  • A city with streets of gold and gates of pearl and foundations of precious jewels. But that is not all.

  • A city where God wipes away every tear and makes his dwelling with men.

3. Read verses 10-12. What would happen to those who could be trusted with very little and those who were dishonest with very little? (10) What will happen to us if we are not trustworthy in handling worldly wealth? (11). What do ‘true riches’ refer to? What further warning does Jesus have for us? (12)

3-1. Read verses 10-12.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

3-2. What would happen to those who could be trusted with very little and those who were dishonest with very little? (10)

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

  • Those who can take care of small things can take care of many things.

  • We should be able to take care of small things first to be in charge of many things later.

  • Taking care of small things are the best test of one’s character.

  • Unfaithfulness in small things is a symptom of the bad condition of one’s heart.

  • Someone who is faithful with small things will be faithful with many things.

3-3. What will happen to us if we are not trustworthy in handling worldly wealth? (11)

So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?

  • We should be trustworthy in handling worldly wealth first by using our wealth according to God’s purpose and managing it wisely.

  • God doesn’t entrust his riches in those who are not trustworthy for worldly wealth.

3-4. What do ‘true riches’ refer to?

  • ‘True riches’ refer to the riches that belong to God and can make us spiritually wealthy, for we are blessed with the word of God, the gospel message, the kingdom of God, faith and righteousness.

Revelation 3:17-18 reads,

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

  • The wealth of this world is just temporary but the true riches are eternal.

  • When we are trustworthy for our wealth in this world, God can entrust true riches to us.

3-5. What further warning does Jesus have for us? (12)

And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

  • Worldly wealth or money is someone else’s property because it passes from one to another and is never truly our own.

  • But true property of our own is the possession that we can have eternally and is given by God. This is what ‘true riches’ is most likely referring to in the previous verse.

  • Spiritual property and eternal riches are our own property that will never be taken away from us.

  • When we are trustworthy with someone else’s property, God gives us everlasting property that we can have for all eternity.

  • But if we are not trustworthy with the property of this world, God would not give us true and everlasting property as our own.

Conclusion

Through this passage we can learn the importance of using/managing our worldly wealth according to God’s purpose. We should be friends to others by others’ by using our wealth to serve them according to their needs. When we manage our worldly wealth in a way that pleases God, He entrusts us with true riches gives us eternal possessions.

One word, “Who will trust you with true riches?”

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