Faithful with What You Have

Series: What He Said: The Parables of Jesus Christ #17

Luke 16:1–13 ESV

1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. 10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Introduction:

In today’s world, we see headlines filled with financial scandals—CEOs mismanaging company funds, government officials caught in corruption, people using money for selfish gain rather than godly purposes. But stewardship is not just about money—it’s about how we manage everything God has entrusted to us.

Jesus, in Luke 16, tells one of His most perplexing parables—the Parable of the Dishonest Manager. At first glance, it seems like Jesus is commending shady business dealings. But a closer look reveals that Jesus is teaching us a kingdom principle: how we handle resources—whether money, time, or influence—reveals our spiritual character and determines our trustworthiness for greater things in God's kingdom.

So today, this parable exposes three powerful truths, the first of which is:

Use What You Have Wisely (vv. 1-8)

Be Faithful in the Small Things (vv. 9-12)

Choose Your Master (v. 13)

Use What You Have Wisely (vv. 1-8)

Luke 16:1–8 ESV

1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.

Jesus opens the parable by introducing a "manager" (οἰκονόμος, oikonomos), which refers to a steward—one who is entrusted with managing another’s resources. In ancient Jewish and Roman society, wealthy landowners often had stewards who managed their estate and finances. These stewards had authority but were still accountable to the master.

Jesus tells us this steward was “wasting” his master's possessions. The Greek word diaskorpizōn means to scatter, squander, or carelessly throw away (same word used for the prodigal son in Luke 15:13). This wasn't simple mismanagement—it was reckless living with what didn’t belong to him.

The master calls him in and essentially says, "Give an account of your management, because you’re done."

Knowing he’s about to lose everything, the steward devises a plan—he calls in the master’s debtors and reduces their debts. To one who owed 100 measures of oil (about 900 gallons), he says, "Make it 50." To another who owed 100 measures of wheat (about 1,000 bushels), he says, "Make it 80."

At first, it seems like fraud. But culturally, managers often added their own commission to the debt—so by reducing the debt, he’s possibly cutting his own profit rather than stealing from the master. He’s ensuring that when he loses his job, he’ll have favor with others who will welcome him into their homes.

The Master’s Response

Surprisingly, the master commends the dishonest manager—not for his dishonesty but for his shrewdness (phronimōs – meaning wise, prudent, or acting with foresight).

Application:

Jesus is not teaching us to be deceitful but to be strategic and intentional with what we have.

The world knows how to leverage resources for future gain—how much more should believers use what God has given them to advance His kingdom?

Are you using your finances, relationships, and opportunities wisely, or are you wasting them?

Transition: here is the second principle from the text:

Be Faithful in the Small Things (vv. 9-12)

Luke 16:9–12 ESV

9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. 10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?

Jesus shifts from the story to the lesson: "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much."

Cultural Insight: Money as "Unrighteous Wealth"

Jesus refers to money as "unrighteous wealth" (mamōna tēs adikias), often translated as "worldly wealth" (v. 9). This doesn’t mean money is evil, but rather that money belongs to this temporary world—it won’t last into eternity.

Key Principle: Money is a test.

If God can’t trust you to handle money with integrity, how can He trust you with spiritual riches?

If we are unfaithful with small responsibilities, why would God promote us to greater ones?

Application:

How do you handle what God has given you?

Are you honest in your workplace, financial dealings, and commitments?

The way we manage the temporary reveals whether we are ready for the eternal.

Transition: Our last principle today is this:

Choose Your Master (v. 13)

Jesus concludes with a piercing statement: "No servant can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

Word Study: "Serve" (δουλεύειν – douleuein)

The Greek word douleuein means to be enslaved, fully committed, or in total service. It implies exclusive ownership and allegiance, not partial commitment.

Cultural Background: Roman Slavery vs. American Slavery

We must be careful when we read the word "slave" in the Bible, because in first-century Roman culture, slavery was not race-based, lifelong, or as dehumanizing as the horrors of American slavery.

In the ancient world, many slaves were bondservants—working off debts or seeking economic stability.

Some were highly skilled professionals, business managers, or even teachers.

Many could earn their freedom and had legal rights.

However, a servant or slave was still under the authority of one master—their life was not their own.

Jesus uses this cultural reality to make a kingdom point: You cannot serve two masters at the same time.

Application: Who Owns You?

Jesus is saying that in life, either God or money will own your heart.

Some people claim to serve God, but their real loyalty is to their bank account.

Some say Jesus is Lord, but when it’s time to give, fear controls them more than faith.

Some want the blessings of God without surrendering control to God.

You can’t serve both. You must choose—will you be owned by the temporary or the eternal?

Conclusion: Where Is Your Investment?

This parable teaches us that how we handle earthly resources determines our readiness for eternal responsibility.

Some are wasting what God has given.

Some are manipulating for their own gain.

But some are faithful, strategic, and ready for kingdom investment.

Jesus said, "Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." (Matt. 6:20). Are you using what you have for your gain or God’s glory?

Closing Run:

I don’t know about you, but I want to be found faithful! 🎤🔥

If God has given me a little, I want to handle it like it belongs to Him!

If God has given me a job, a family, a position, or influence, I want to use it for His kingdom!

Because I know that one day, the Master will call me to give an account—and I want to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

And can I remind you of the greatest investment ever made? Jesus Christ gave everything so that we might receive eternal life! On that cross, He paid the debt we could never pay, securing our place in the kingdom.

So I’ve made my choice—God is my Master!

Money didn’t wake me up this morning—God did!

A paycheck didn’t save my soul—Jesus did!

Wealth didn’t die for me—the blood of Jesus did!

And one day, when this life is over, I’m gonna hear Him say: "Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Master!" 🎤🔥

Amen! 🙌🏾