“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”
(Luke 16:11, NKJV)
The last couple of teachings discussed the parable of the unrighteous manager in Luke 16. This aided us in understanding our desire for possessions, which we identified as covetousness, a manifestation of the spirit of perversion. We saw that the parable is widely misunderstood based on the fact that the stylistic elements found in the text (sarcasm and irony) are not considered by readers and theologians. The previous teaching concluded with the corrective statement Jesus makes in verses 10-13, which demonstrates the true gospel and attitude of heart that God expects concerning the matter.
Earlier in the gospels Jesus already made clear what his position is when it comes to earthly possessions: “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.” (Matt. 6:19-21).
Over time we have become so accustomed to this saying that we forget that it is truly one of the most “revolutionary teachings of our Lord” (William MacDonald’s Believer’s Bible Commentary). But Jesus takes it even further than this. His answer to the young man in Luke 18:24-25 is absolutely earth-shattering: “And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, ‘How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’” (In the following teaching we will discuss this statement in greater detail.)
Take note: we are not only speaking of covetousness here, but specifically of rich individuals. Obviously this implies what Ecc. 5:10 spells out in aphoristic terms: “He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver ….”, although we know: “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it” (Prov. 10:22). Although wealth obviously implies more than just financial abundance, someone’s monetary abilities are commonly seen as the most important marker of riches. Ecc. 5:19 however provides a different perspective on wealth: “As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.” Wealth thus does come from God, NOT TO ENRICH THE PERSON, BUT TO MAKE HIM/HER A FINANCIAL BLESSING FOR OTHERS. In this lies the snare of wealth, of thinking: “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Rev. 3:17).
The guideline from the parable of the unrighteous manager is found in verse 11: “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”
- Selah: Are you faithful in the unrighteous mammon?
- Read: 2 Kings 18:1-8; 2 Chr. 29-31; Ps. 48.
- Memorise: 48:8.
