In Luke 16, Jesus is teaching a parable about a wealthy business owner whose steward is accused of wasting his goods. Jesus says that money is the least important thing!

He Had Done Wisely

And the lord commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. – Luke 16:8 KJV

The children of this world know they are in control of their own lives. So many Christians, including the author of this post, have wasted valuable time waiting for God to do something for them.

God’s written word, the Bible, tells us to take responsibility to receive everything God has already provided. This includes control and authority of ourselves and our world.

The Mammon of Unrighteousness

And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. – Luke 16:9 KJV

Money is not good or bad. It is amoral. The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Jesus is teaching us in this parable not to covet after money but to use it to make friends. When we follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness, we are seeking first God’s kingdom (1 Timothy 6:11). And God promises to provide all the resources by blessing us to be blessings (Matthew 6:33, Genesis 12:2).

Money is the Least

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. – Luke 16:10 KJV

Jesus is telling us in this parable that money is the least. He then explains that only when we are faithful in the least can we know that we will be faithful in true riches.

The unjust steward had been stealing money and blowing it on the lust of his flesh. He didn’t have anything to show for all the money he had been stealing. But now, his master is commending him for being wise with his stewardship. Now, he is storing up treasure in heaven with his master’s money (Matthew 6:19-20).

True Riches

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]? – Luke 16:11 KJV

What are true riches? People! In Philippians 4:19, Paul is telling his supporters, “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Jesus tells us in Luke 6:38 that men shall give into your bosom with the same measure you choose to give. Your soul and my soul are His riches!

Faithful in the Least

And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? – Luke 16:12 KJV

Jesus explains this concept in the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 and the Parable of Money Usage in Luke 19:11-27.

Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34 record Jesus explaining that where our treasure is there our hearts will be also.

King Solomon asked for wisdom so that he would be able to rule well. God blessed him with everything. Proverbs 8:10, 19, 16:16 explain also that is better to invest in wisdom and understanding. God promises that when we invest our time, money, and other resources into wisdom and righteousness, we will receive exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:19-20).

Our Choice

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. – Luke 16:13 KJV

Are you choosing to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33, Hebrews 11:6)? Or are you falling for the lie, “One day, when I have…, I will…”

God wants us to do what we can with what we have trusting that when we start sowing or even just make up our minds to start sowing, He will provide the seed (2 Corinthians 9:10).

He Gives Seed to the Sower

Again, money is the least of these! God’s incorruptible seed is His word that we can begin sowing in our hearts and others’ (Luke 8:5-8, 1 Peter 1:23).

The Pharisees Were Covetous

The hypocrites will come! They are doubters, unbelievers, and even haters. You can tell by their fruit (Matthew 7:17-19, 13:26, Ephesians 5:9-10, Galatians 5:22-23).

And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. – Luke 16:14 KJV
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. – Luke 16:15 KJV

What Is Unbelief?