MEDITATIONS FROM THE PARABLES OF JESUS
THE UNJUST STEWARD
Read Luke 16:1-13
With this parable, Jesus instructs us concerning the use of the money and earthly goods which are entrusted to us by God. While Jesus does not commend the wickedness of the unjust steward, He does hold up the wisdom of this unjust steward as an example for us. When this unjust steward saw that he would lose his position as steward or manager of his lord's goods, he used the short time he had left as steward to reduce the bills of his lord's debtors so that they would show kindness and care for him when he was no longer steward. In this way, the unjust steward wisely used the money and goods entrusted to his care to provide for his future well-being.
During our earthly lives, God also entrusts us with money and goods to use wisely for Him. Like the unjust steward, we ought to consider our eternal future and use this money and these goods in a way which looks ahead to that day when our earthly life comes to an end and we stand before God's judgment. Certainly we cannot buy our way into heaven with the unrighteous mammon of this world; but since God freely gives us forgiveness of sins and everlasting life in heaven for Jesus' sake, we should use the unrighteous mammon entrusted to us to make ready for everlasting life in heaven. Jesus says, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" (Matthew 6:19-20). As Christians, we should use the money and goods entrusted to us in this world to advance God's kingdom of grace, to spread the Gospel of forgiveness and life eternal in Jesus Christ. Then our treasure will be in heaven, where we also will be received by the grace of God in Jesus Christ.
Lord of Glory, who hast bought us with Thy life-blood as the price, never grudging for the lost ones that tremendous sacrifice, give us faith to trust Thee boldly, hope, to stay our souls on Thee; but, oh! best of all Thy graces, give us Thine own charity. Amen. (TLH, Hymn #442, Verse 5)