Test of Stewardship

“And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the Mammon of unrighteousness; that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” Luke 16:9

By Means Of – What Jesus says is so confusing that we often skip this verse.  We think that engagement in the ways of wealth in this world are directly opposed to Jesus’ call for self-denial and simplicity.  We can’t understand why He would tell us to make friends through something that stands opposed to God’s ways.  Of course, we are almost right.  Jesus does call us to self-denial.  So what in the world is He saying here?

Part of the problem lies in the translation.  Until certain discoveries among the Dead Sea scrolls, the Greek in this verse was translated as you see it here, with the phrase “by means of.”  But now we know that this should be translated “from.”  Jesus is pointing to a test of stewardship; a test that is demonstrated from our handling of possessions (that’s what Mammon means here).  In other words (reading verses 11-12), if you don’t demonstrate God’s principles in the way you manage unrighteous possessions, why would you expect God to place righteous possessions under your control?  The test of stewardship is not found in the way that you handle spiritual matters.  It is found in the way that you handle worldly possessions.  Unfaithful management of the worldly possessions that God puts in your hands only demonstrates that you cannot be trusted with the management of His greater responsibilities.  So, make friends from unrighteous possessions.  Treat them according to God’s principles.  Then you show yourself ready for something greater.

In this verse Jesus deals a fatal blow to two popular misapplications of spiritual principles.  First, He destroys the idea that God is interested in filling our lives with material goodness.  Prosperity is not the solution to our problems.  In fact, in this passage Jesus comments that those with great prosperity are in real mortal danger.  Possessions are deceptive.  The purpose behind possessions is the test of stewardship, not a plan of accumulation.  The prosperity gospel is bankrupt.

Secondly, Jesus demolishes the idea that Christians are not to engage in worldly possessions.  This is the flip-side of the prosperity gospel; the idea that ownership in the unrighteous world is sinful.  Once again we see that the point is not rejection of possessions but rather godly management of possessions.  It’s still the same test.  Possessions are not evil (neither is money, by the way).  They are merely the means by which we demonstrate our faithfulness to God’s glory.  Making friends from possessions means converting their potential animosity toward God into congenial service for God.  We are the ones who determine the ultimate use of power and money, and our faithfulness is measured by how we do that.

There are two dangers:  that accumulating possessions becomes our purpose or that the denial of possessions becomes our mantra.  Both are wrong.  Both fail the test.  We are supposed to be in the world, but we are not supposed to be of the world.  So, take what you have.  Make something from it.  But never sacrifice loyalty to the Father in the process.  How you manage what you have been given reveals your trust in the Father.  Make it count!

Topical Index:  Possessions