Luke 16:1-13 (NRSV)
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Chapter 16Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. Verse 2So he summoned him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' Verse 3Then the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. Verse 4I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.' Verse 5So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' Verse 6He answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' Verse 7Then he asked another, 'And how much do you owe?' He replied, 'A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill and make it eighty.' Verse 8And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. Verse 9And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. Verse 10"Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. Verse 11If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? Verse 12And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? Verse 13No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
Devotion
In this parable, Jesus challenges us to consider who or what we serve in our daily lives. Worldly wealth is limited and temporary, while in Jesus God offers the true and lasting riches of the kingdom. Rich landowners often profited at the expense of the poor, charging high interest that burdened them. We see the manager’s actions as a reminder of the unexpected ways God’s grace can work through imperfect people.
Generosity, compassion, and wise stewardship—no matter how humble—can become instruments of hope for others. Imagine meeting someone in heaven who says “You don’t remember me, but I remember you. You bought me a meal when I was hungry” or “you helped me land back on my feet.” Wise stewards consider how to use their resources effectively for God, whose economy puts people over profits, grace over worldly gain. Generosity becomes a form of praise, reflecting God’s priorities and divine love in our everyday choices.
Prayer
God of abundance, teach us to be trustworthy stewards of all you have entrusted to us. Turn our hearts from serving earthly wealth to serving you alone, that our lives may reflect your wisdom, generosity, and grace. Amen.
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