Introduction
In last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells the Parable of the Dishonest (or Unrighteous) Manager. At first glance, this parable is puzzling. Why would Jesus use a dishonest man as an example? And what does He mean when He says, “Make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth”?
Beloved in Christ, let’s take a closer look at this passage and discover what Jesus is teaching us—not only about money, but about the heart of the Gospel.
The Text
Jesus tells a story about a steward—a manager entrusted with his master’s property—who is caught wasting his master’s resources. When the master finds out, he tells the steward to turn in his accounts because he’s about to be fired. Faced with losing his job, income, and security, the steward acts quickly. He reduces the debts of his master’s clients, hoping to earn their favor so they’ll welcome him into their homes when he’s out on the street.
Surprisingly, the master commends the steward—not for his dishonesty, but for his shrewdness. His cleverness. His ability to act decisively and wisely in a moment of crisis.
And then Jesus makes His point: “The people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” In other words, worldly people often take more initiative with temporary, earthly matters than God’s own people do with eternal matters. That should give us pause.
Malady
And it does give us pause—because we’re not so different from that dishonest manager. While we may not cook the books, we often mismanage what God has entrusted to us. Like the steward, we forget that we are not the owners of our lives, our wealth, or our time—we are simply stewards. And like him, we waste what isn’t ours.
God gives us everything—our time, our talents, our treasures—and too often we use these gifts selfishly or carelessly. We spend time pursuing our own goals but neglect prayer and the Word. We use our talents for our own gain and not to build up the Body of Christ. We hoard wealth or use it for temporary pleasures while neglecting the poor, the church, and the mission of the Gospel. We act like owners when we are only stewards.
Lacking
And even worse, we often lack the urgency of the dishonest manager. He acted quickly to prepare for his future. But how often do we procrastinate when it comes to eternal things? How often do we treat the Kingdom of God as an afterthought, something we’ll get around to “someday”?
Jesus is showing us that our greatest failure is not simply misusing what we have—but living as if this world is all there is.
Gospel
But here’s the Good News: Jesus is the faithful and righteous Steward who did everything right. Where we are wasteful, He was obedient. Where we are selfish, He was generous. Where we use what isn’t ours for our gain, Jesus gave up what was His—for our sake.
He didn’t just reduce our debt of sin. He paid it in full. With His perfect life and innocent suffering and death on the cross, Jesus settled the account. Completely. Nothing left for us to pay.
“Christ Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for all.” “It is finished,” He cried—and it truly is. The record of your wrongs, the list of your failings as a steward, your guilt and your shame—it has been nailed to the cross and erased by His blood.
And now, Jesus, the true and faithful Steward, welcomes you into eternal dwellings, not because you earned it, but because He earned it for you.
Reflection
So, what now?
Jesus says, “Make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into eternal dwellings.” That means: Use what you have now—money, time, and use your energy generously.
Beloved, let us remember: we are not perfect stewards. But we are forgiven stewards. And the same Spirit who brings us to faith in Christ is also working in us to make us wise and faithful with what we have.
You and I can use our time, talents, and treasures for God’s kingdom. Supporting the preaching of the Gospel. Helping those in need. Investing in things that last forever. This is what it means to be faithful stewards.
Conclusion
And one day, when all wealth fails, and our time on this earth ends, you and I will be received into the eternal dwellings Jesus has prepared for us. Not because we earned it. But because Jesus gave it. That is the grace of God. That is the joy of the Gospel.
And that is what we proclaim—not just with our words, but with our lives in Jesus.
Amen