Play This Verse Study
Narration uses an AI-generated voice.
Scripture • World English Bible
Luke 16:1–13
1He also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions.
2He called him, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’
3“The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg.
4I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from management, they may receive me into their houses.’
5Calling each one of his lord’s debtors to him, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe to my lord?’
6He said, ‘A hundred batos of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’
7Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’
8“His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.
9I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents.
10He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
11If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12If you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
13No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to one and despise the other. You aren’t able to serve God and Mammon.”
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
Reflection
Jesus tells a shocking parable about a manager who squanders his master’s goods yet shrewdly secures a place among people who will welcome him after his dismissal (Luke 16:1–8). The paradox is not an endorsement of deceit but a lesson in the priority of faithful stewardship. Christ contrasts the children of this world—wise in using worldly wealth for survival—with the children of light, who often fail to use temporal resources to advance God’s purposes (v.8–9). The point is decisive: faithfulness in small things reveals our character (v.10), and how we handle “unrighteous mammon” proves whether we can be trusted with true, eternal riches (v.11–12). Finally, Jesus forces a choice: no one can serve both God and Mammon (v.13). Our allegiance shows itself in where we invest our time, money, and loyalty. True discipleship means using earthly wealth to form friends of the kingdom, to welcome the lost, to care for the needy, and to show that our hope rests in God’s riches, not our bank accounts.
Putting Faith Into Action
- Identify one area of your finances or schedule where you can steward resources for the kingdom this week; set a specific, small change you can make and do it.
- Invite a man who doesn’t yet follow Jesus to a meal or coffee this month and ask about his story; listen and look for openings to share the gospel and practical help.
- Choose one responsibility at work, home, or church you’ve been neglecting; make a clear, measurable plan to follow through and report back to a brother for accountability.
Prayer
Father, give us eyes to see our stewardship as service to you. Help us be honest and faithful in small responsibilities so you can entrust us with greater things. Break the love of wealth in our hearts and teach us to use our money, time, and influence to welcome, serve, and bless others for your kingdom. Give us wisdom to act with integrity, courage to repent where we’ve been dishonest or lazy, and faith to trust you more than mammon. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Memory Verse
Luke 16:10 — He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. (WEB)
“He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”
Bible Context
Read all of Luke 16
+
Bible Context
Read all of Luke 16
Luke 16
World English Bible • WEB
1He also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions.
2He called him, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’
3“The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg.
4I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from management, they may receive me into their houses.’
5Calling each one of his lord’s debtors to him, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe to my lord?’
6He said, ‘A hundred batos of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’
7Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’
8“His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.
9I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents.
10He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
11If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12If you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
13No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to one and despise the other. You aren’t able to serve God and Mammon.”
14The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they scoffed at him.
15He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
16“The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the Good News of God’s Kingdom is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
17But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tiny stroke of a pen in the law to fall.
18“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.
19“Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.
20A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores,
21and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
23In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.
24He cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’
25“But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But here he is now comforted and you are in anguish.
26Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that no one may cross over from there to us.’
27“He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house—
28for I have five brothers—that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’
29“But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’
30“He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31“He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’ ”
World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain
Share Frontline Faith
Share this devotional
Copy the public link to share this devotional.