1. How to use money and why (1-9)

A rich man found out his manager was wasteful, so he called him to give an account and fired him. This manager knew himself: he was weak and proud. He did not know what the debtors owed his master! But he was shrewd. One by one he authorized steep discounts on their debt with one goal in mind: 'When I lose my job, people will welcome me into their houses!' His master commended his shrewd act. Jesus' point is: 'Use worldly wealth to gain friends.' This is how to use money. Jesus values friendship more than money, jobs, and reputation. He gave up everything to be friends of sinners like you and me, to be with us eternally.

2. You cannot serve both God and money (10-15)

We are to be trustworthy, and money is a way God tests us in this. All that we have is not our own but has been entrusted to us by God. How we use money reveals who our master is: God or money. Pharisees, who loved money, used their resources to maintain religious and political power, crushing others. It is easy to justify ourselves before people, but God sees our heart.


Application: Father, thank you for Jesus who gave his life for his friends. Help me follow his example.
One Word: Gain friends for eternity