Luke 16:1–15
Jesus’ parable of the shrewd manager is one of His most surprising teachings. In the story, a wealthy master discovers that his manager has been wasting his possessions. The manager knows he will soon lose his position, so he acts quickly. He calls in his master’s debtors and reduces what they owe, hoping they will welcome him when he loses his job.
At first, the story is unsettling. The manager appears dishonest, yet the master commends him.
Jesus is not praising the man’s dishonesty, but his foresight. The manager understood that his time was limited and used his remaining opportunity to secure his future. Jesus’ point is that people who live only for this world often show more determination in preparing for their future than believers do in preparing for eternity.
From this parable, Jesus teaches an important truth: faithful stewards use temporary wealth to pursue eternal treasure.
First, we must remember that we are managers, not owners. Everything we possess ultimately belongs to God. As Psalm 24:1 reminds us, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” Our money, time, abilities, and opportunities are entrusted to us by God. We are stewards of His resources.
Second, our stewardship has a time limit. Just as the manager in the story had to give an account, we too will one day stand before God. Life is brief, and the opportunities we have now will not last forever. Scripture repeatedly reminds us of the shortness of life and calls us to live wisely.
Third, our stewardship has eternal consequences. Jesus tells His followers to use worldly wealth to make friends who will welcome them into eternal dwellings. Money is temporary. It fades, fails, and eventually slips from our hands. But when it is used for the sake of Christ—for the poor, for His people, and for the spread of the gospel—it becomes an instrument of eternal good. What we invest in God’s kingdom today will still matter when this world is gone.
Money itself is not evil, but it reveals what controls our hearts. Jesus concludes the passage with a clear warning: “You cannot serve God and money.” Wealth can be a useful servant, but it is a terrible master.
When we recognise that everything belongs to God, our perspective changes. His resources become tools for His glory rather than possessions for our own purposes. By using temporary wealth wisely, we invest in something far greater—treasure that will last forever.