Luke 16:1-13
A Shrewd Manager
Read the passage
1Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
2So he called him in to ask, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in an account of your management, for you cannot be manager any longer.’
3The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg.
4I know what I will do so that after my removal from management, people will welcome me into their homes.’
5And he called in each one of his master’s debtors. ‘How much do you owe my master?’ he asked the first.
6‘A hundred measures of olive oil,’ he answered. ‘Take your bill,’ said the manager, ‘sit down quickly, and write fifty.’
7Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ ‘A hundred measures of wheat,’ he replied. ‘Take your bill and write eighty,’ he told him.
8The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light.
9I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves so that when it is gone, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings.
10Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
11So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?
12And if you have not been faithful with the belongings of another, who will give you belongings of your own?
13No servant can serve two masters. 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 both God and money.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Jesus tells his disciples about a rich man whose manager is accused of wasting his possessions. The master demands an account and tells him that he cannot remain in charge. The manager sees that his position is about to end.
Too weak to dig and ashamed to beg, he plans for people to welcome him afterward. He calls in his master's debtors and reduces their bills: a hundred measures of oil becomes fifty, and a hundred measures of wheat becomes eighty. He uses his remaining opportunity to prepare for what comes next.
The master commends the dishonest manager for acting shrewdly. Jesus draws attention to that foresight, then tells his disciples to use worldly wealth to make friends with an eternal future in view. Money will not last. It should be used for people and purposes that matter beyond the time we possess it.
Jesus immediately insists on faithfulness, even with very little and with what belongs to someone else. The manager's dishonesty is not the example to copy. The lesson is to take the future seriously while using present resources under God's authority. No servant can serve two masters: money will either be something we use in serving God or something that claims our service instead.
Questions
1 Why is the manager called to account?
AnswerHe is accused of wasting the rich man's possessions, so the master tells him he will no longer be manager.
2 What does the manager do after hearing the news?
AnswerHe reduces several debts so that people may welcome him when he loses his position.
3 What does the master commend in the manager?
AnswerThe master commends his shrewd action in preparing for the future. Jesus calls his disciples to use money faithfully with eternity in view.
4 What does Jesus say about serving two masters?
AnswerNo servant can serve both God and money. Competing ultimate loyalties eventually force a choice.
What This Means for Us
The manager acts because he knows his circumstances will change. We also know that money and the opportunity to use it will not last forever. A budget can make room now for a person who needs help or work that shares the good news, instead of postponing generosity until every other wish is satisfied.
Faithfulness in small financial decisions matters because money reveals and trains loyalty. Families can practice transparent stewardship, generosity, and planning that serves people rather than turning wealth into a master.
Prayer
God of truth, make us faithful with small and large responsibilities. Keep money from ruling our household, expose dishonest motives, and teach us to use resources generously for lasting good. Amen.