Holy Bible Online 
The parable of the unjust steward (also the dishonest manger, or the shrewd manager) recorded in Luke 16:1-13, teaches about the necessity of preparing for the future with God. Jesus uses the example of a dishonest manager who seeks to secure his future by making friends who would help him.
In the same way, we are challenged to use our resources wisely now, investing in actions that will have an impact on eternity, acting as wise stewards to live according to divine purposes.
1Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’
3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg - 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’
5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
6 “‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied.
“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’
7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’
“‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied.
“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’
8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
- Luke 16:1-13
Explanation of the Parable of the Unjust Steward
Jesus told the story of a worker accused of wasting his master's goods. But, shrewdly, he renegotiated the debts with his master's debtors before being fired, in order to maintain good contacts for the future.
In teaching this parable, Jesus does not encourage dishonesty but teaches about the good management of material resources. The central lesson is to wisely use what we have, aiming for a future with God, not for temporary personal gain. Jesus wants us to be prudent with earthly goods to impact our lives here and in eternity.
In the story, the man, knowing he would be fired, decided to use his cunning while still in office to secure the favor of others. He realized the need to make good friendships that could help him later.
The dishonest steward reduced the debts of his master's debtors. To one, he lowered the debt from 100 barrels of oil to 50 barrels. To another, who owed 100 sacks of wheat, he reduced the debt to only 80 sacks. He probably was not completely deceiving his master but discounting from his own commission or lowering the interest on the debts. The master himself praised the shrewdness of the unjust steward.
However, Jesus does not encourage dubious practices like those used by the steward. Instead, He draws attention to the need to focus on the future and invest our intellect and resources in the treasure that truly matters. In other words, we are called to use the means we have to make friendships that will welcome us into heaven.
Lessons from the Parable of the Unjust Steward
The interpretation of this parable can be challenging because Jesus uses a negative illustration to convey a positive teaching about investing in the future. The central point of Christ’s lesson is the importance of focusing on what truly matters: eternal life.
We should be wise and prudent, using temporal resources intelligently to gain greater benefits in eternity. Here are some important lessons:
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Preparation for the eternal future: We must invest our lives in what has eternal value, not waste our resources (time, money, attention, love) on what is fleeting.
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Wisdom in using material wealth: Use what you have for good and for the glory of God.
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Faithfulness in small things: Even with few resources, we should wisely and prudently use them for God's service. This includes investing in God's work, like serving the Church, helping those in need, supporting evangelism, and missions, spreading the Gospel. Every act of love, giving, and service should have the eternal goal of expanding God’s Kingdom and reaching lives for Christ.
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"Losing" in the present to "gain" in the future: While it may seem like a loss in human terms, investing time and resources in God's Kingdom brings immeasurable spiritual gain. When we give with love and generosity for the Gospel’s cause, we are storing up eternal treasures. Christ teaches that if we are faithful in small things, He will entrust us with true riches, rewarding our love and dedication.
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Investing in friendship with Christ and bringing others into God's Kingdom are the greatest riches we can attain: Prioritizing our personal relationship with Jesus and making disciples who follow Him brings a joy that no material wealth can surpass. The true wealth lies in living in communion with God and leading others to eternal life with Him.
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Use money, and love Jesus and people - not the other way around: Our priority should be to invest temporary resources to show love for Christ and others, making friends that last for eternity. Setting our hearts on material wealth distances us from God. But when we use money wisely and generously for Christ, we store up treasures in heaven.
Ultimately, the focus should be on loving God and people, not allowing love for money to control us and pull us away from eternal life.
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