Theme: SOME PARABLES OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST
Text: “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.
Comment: The Parable of the Unjust Steward as contained in Luke 16:1-13 centres on a certain rich man who wanted to relieve his steward of his services on account of mismanagement of the master’s resources. Realising that he will soon be rendered jobless and according to him: “I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed” (Luke 16:3) the steward made some shrewd deals by reducing the debt owed by his master’s debtors with the hope of getting favour from them when he eventually loses his job. This act of planning earned him commendation from his master – “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.
It should be pointed out that the parable in no way encourages dishonesty, as this is among the vices that will prevent one from inheriting the kingdom of God fully set up. (Titus 2:9,10; Ephesians 6:5-8) Rather, the moral of the parable according to verse nine is for Christians to make themselves friends of God Almighty and Jesus Christ by means of the wealth God has blessed them with, so that at the time when the world will be destroyed and money will be of no use, God will save them by virtue of the faithful deeds they had done by His grace.