Luke 16:1

And hee said also vnto his disciples, There was a certaine rich man which had a Steward, and the same was accused vnto him that he had wasted his goods. Luke 16:1 (KJV)

In Luke chapter 15, Jesus shares three parables: the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Parable of the Lost Coin, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son. These parables emphasize God’s love and rejoicing when sinners repent and turn back to Him. Luke 16 continues this theme of using parables to teach spiritual truths.

The rich man: This character represents a wealthy landowner who symbolizes God. He entrusts his steward with managing his possessions.

The steward: He is accused of squandering or wasting his master’s resources.

The Parable of the Unjust Steward is primarily about stewardship and the right use of resources.

The steward was accused of wasting his master’s goods, implying that he was not fulfilling his responsibilities effectively. This reflects the spiritual truth that God has entrusted us with various resources, including time, talents, and material possessions, and expects us to use them wisely for His purposes.

The rich man asked the steward to give an account of his stewardship, as stated in Luke 16:2: ‘give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.’ This indicates the steward’s imminent dismissal and the need for accountability. Similarly, God calls us to evaluate our lives and make necessary changes, seeking forgiveness for our wrongdoings.

Realizing that he would soon lose his job, the steward made shrewd and self‑interested decisions. He approached his master’s debtors and reduced their debts, likely to gain favor with them for future provision. However, this action may have been dishonest and deceitful, as he was reducing debts that did not belong to him.

Though the steward’s actions were questionable, Jesus commends his shrewdness and resourcefulness. He points out that the steward, who was facing impending judgment, used his temporary position to secure future relationships. Jesus highlights the importance of using worldly wealth to build lasting relationships and emphasizes that believers should be wise and faithful in managing resources entrusted to them.

The parable concludes with Jesus drawing a moral lesson from the actions of the unjust steward. He states in Luke 16:9 (KJV), “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.” This means that believers should wisely use worldly wealth to bless others, invest in relationships, and contribute to the Kingdom of God, knowing that these acts have eternal significance.

In summary, the Parable of the Unjust Steward reminds us of the importance of responsible stewardship and using worldly resources to benefit others and advance God’s Kingdom. It encourages us to be wise, faithful, and diligent in managing the resources God has given us and to prioritize eternal relationships over temporary gains.