Who is an unjust steward?
Read the parable of Jesus in Luke 16:1-13
" Jesus 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 "'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.' ""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 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." NIV "
"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. "
Jesus seems to be telling us to make friends with unrighteous mammon as a security against failure! This is what many Christians some times do. Verse 10, starts to get to main point of this story
"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?"
In verse 10 our Lord Jesus exposes the unjustness and unfaithfulness of the servant. Being deceitful and dishonest in another persons business is a trait that will ruin you wherever you go. It will also disqualify you form being trusted with heavenly (or true) riches.
True riches are the gifts and callings of God upon our life.
How reliable, committed and faithful are you in your secular job?
What about in your church and ministry?
What about in your home and among your friends?
You see, the whole point of Jesus teaching was this - These who live by worldly principles, playing the rules (of cheating and lying) well, will benefit in the world. They are shrewder than those who are part of God's kingdom yet don't obey God's rules.
Being honest and committed in whatever we do is the key to having God's favour in our life. You either live by the world's principles or God's principles. Jesus put it this way. Luke 16:13
"13 No 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.""
Take another look at your life. THEN ASK YOURSELF: AM I A JUST STEWARD??