Make Friends by Unrighteous Mammon

"So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.“And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Luke 16:8-13 NKJV 

In this unusual story of Jesus, many may be puzzled by what this parable mean. There is no question that the manager is wasting, unrighteous, and shrewd. Here the theme of story is not the man but money, more specifically how to handle money. Money is not evil, but the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Money is necessary commodity for living. But as we came forth to earth with nothing, so will we be back to earth. However, there is a lasting thing depending on how to handle the money. It's friends which survive death. 

In this parable, Jesus is revealing a crucial and fundamental truth with regard to money. Money is an elementary thing God provides in order for us to learn a very important truth. There is close tie between money and spiritual realm. Do we use it for making friends, or for storing on earth? Jesus taught his disciples in the sermon on the mount regarding our attitude on treasures [money]. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV)

The whole revelation of story is given in this phrase, "Where your money is, there your heart will be also." No man can serve two masters, money and God. It's the royal law which reveals the naked reality of life. If we love treasures on earth, whatever they are, then we are hating [less loving] God. For many, it may be difficult to capture the truth. But it is true just as our Lord Jesus underscores here. 

What do you think of making friends? What do you think of laying up for yourself treasures in heaven?