What did Jesus mean when he said "And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings ... the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it." (Luke 16:9,16)?

Well we first read in Luke 15:2 that Jesus was originally addressing the self-righteous and unmerciful heart of the Pharisees revealed in their complaining that Jesus ‘receives sinners and eats with them’ (v.2). So he uses three parables about lost things (lost sheep, lost coin, and lost sons) to teach them that they’re lack of joy in life is a direct result of their lack of mercy towards those who are lost. But God the Father enjoys showing mercy to those who are lost and rejoices when they are found.

Then we read in the beginning of chapter 16 that Jesus addresses his disciples and begins with a parable of a rich master and his shrewd manager. Jesus now switches the subject and instead of confronting the Pharisees heart towards sinners and their lack of mercy, he now confronts their heart towards possessions and their love of money. Jesus wants to teach his disciples about the correct way to view and use money and possessions (a theme already quite extensively developed in the gospel of Luke by this point). But now lets look at the parable and the application …

The Parable

Jesus tells the story of an unfaithful steward who, in view of losing his job because he squandered away his rich master’s possessions, now uses the people who owe his master money to serve his own interests and they become ‘paid off friends’ to prepare for his own future. The surprise of the parable (and Jesus’ parables usually end in some sort of surprise) is that the unfaithful steward is praised by his master in the end (8a). This is shocking, but Jesus is making a point. Both the rich master and the unfaithful steward represent the unbelieving world and their view towards money – willing to do whatever it takes to get money and use it to protect their own interests. So, in essence, the old phrase rings true, ‘it takes one to know one.’ The rich master is basically saying, ‘I would have done the same thing if I was in your situation.’

The Application

Then comes Jesus’ commentary and application of the parable in the end of verse 8 and following. And the only way we can make sense out of what Jesus is saying is by first looking at the surrounding context. Notice in verse 10 and 11, Jesus is highlighting faithfulness versus dishonesty. That’s the reason Jesus gives us the parable of the manager who acts shrewd only because he was originally unfaithful. And so the emphasis that Jesus is trying to make is that what characterizes the world’s way of dealing with money is dishonesty which to the world may look like shrewdness, while the Christian way of dealing with money is faithfulness which to the world may look like foolishness. Shrewdness is the vice, while faithfulness is the virtue.

We can see then the overall emphasis of Jesus is to contrast the rich man and the unrighteous manager with the way we ought to use our possessions, but He does begin by drawing some similarities that we can compare to and model after in a godly way. 

1. Our Minds and Money

The first principle that Jesus draws is that just as unbelievers use their minds to love themselves and think and conjure up ways to use the people in their lives to serve their own purposes, so believers (sons of light) should use their minds but instead to love God and think hard about how we can give our money to others in serving God’s purposes. 

2. Our Friends and Finances

The second principle that Jesus draws by way of comparison is that just as the dishonest and unrighteous steward, seeing ‘his days’ were numbered, used his master’s money to make friends because he knew they would outlast his money, so Christians should understand that their days on this earth are numbered, and yet we have an opportunity to invest our Master’s money (God’s) in a way that makes ‘friends’ who will one day gladly receive us in heaven.

The Point

Jesus’ point is that just like the shrewd steward understood the basic truth that friends outlast finances, so we should remember that heaven is where our friends are. Our friends outlast our finances. So the question becomes … are we going to serve God and sacrifice our money for the salvation of others who will gladly receive us in heaven (see 1 Thess. 2:17-20), or are we going to serve money and use people to save our skin and pad our own comfort here on earth? That’s why we see in the next few verses (13-14) why the Pharisees could not love God as they should, because they lacked mercy and they loved money.

The Challenge

Although shrewdness may seem more appealing and win the approval of the world, God calls us and challenges us to sacrifice which will look stupid to the world, but in view of this parable and in light of eternity will eventually be seen as wise.

The Forceful Entry 

Then, in verse 16, Jesus is explaining to the Pharisees that if you were truly on board with the Master’s mission of mercy and use of money in opening the kingdom of God to all who repent and believe no matter what they have done or haven’t done, then people would be ‘drawing near to hear you’ (15:1) as well. Jesus’ point is that the rush of sinners that you see near me are like a heard of poor people forcing their way into a narrow door that they understand leads into a great banquet of free food (mercy and grace). In other words, the gospel is being proclaimed, and the sinners you see around me are eagerly, intently and purposefully pursuing entrance into it. These sinners understand their need and are not afraid to push their way to get to me … the door of the sheep (John 10:7). 

What should be the purpose in approaching the pulpit to preach on Sunday morning? I believe Scripture sets forth three primary purposes:


I. To Exalt the Acts of God:
First, the purpose of preaching is an exaltation of “… real objective events … a declaration, not a debate … the proclamation of the mighty acts of God.”[1] The pulpit is not a place to exalt in what man has done, but rather to exalt in what God has done. The purpose is to preach the creative and redemptive acts of God which culminate in the gospel of his saving grace. After all, the gospel is not a good theory or a good idea; the gospel is good news – the greatest act in the history of the world in what God the Son accomplished once and for all in the person of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the purpose is to “proclaim him” ( Col. 1:28 ) and preach as first importance (1 Cor. 15:3-4), his perfect life, his substitutionary death, and his triumphant resurrection from the dead. Exalting the acts of God, then, will always point to or point back to the finished work of Christ revealed in all of Scripture (John 5:39). A preacher fulfills his Master’s command (Mark 16:15) by exalting the truth of what God has done to redeem and rescue his chosen people from sin and death, which is the power of God for their salvation (Rom. 1:16).

II. To Exposit the Truth of God:

Second, the purpose of preaching is an exposition of God’s truth by faithfully explaining (2 Tim. 2:15) his living and active word (Heb. 4:12-13) for the sanctification of his people. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth” (John 17:17). Only when the truth of God’s word is clearly set forth will people truly hear God’s truth as food for their lives. Jesus told Peter three times, “If you love me, feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). And we know that his sheep must be fed “not by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4, Deut. 8:3). Thus, the purpose of preaching is to bless God’s people with God’s truth which will unfold “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8). As Jay Adams points out, “He [God] has not promised to bless our word; that promise extends only to his own.”[2] The preacher sets out, in season and out of season, to exposit the whole council of God for the people of God.

III. To Exhort the People of God:

Finally, the purpose of preaching is an exhortation for the people of God to observe God’s truth for their new lives lived in Christ. When the pulpit is filled with an exalting exposition of God’s work and word, the Holy Spirit begins to “effect changes among the members of God’s church that build them up individually and that builds up the body as a whole.”[3]Preaching should exhort God’s people to walk in newness of life – to love God and their neighbor in Christ, to find their joy and hope in Christ, to carry their cross by faith for Christ and to live lives that are set apart in Christ. It should encourage them not to forget what they saw in the mirror (James 1:24-25), but to remember and reform their lives to God’s word as the Holy Spirit works to conform their lives to God’s Son.


[1] James S. Stewart, Heralds of God (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 1979), 63.[2] Jay Adams, Preaching with Purpose (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1982), 19.[3] Adams, 13.

Preaching and Teaching:

• Is the Gospel being proclaimed faithfully or does it encourage “easy-believism?”

• Is the Word of God being taken out of context or handled correctly?

• Are the people of God being exhorted from the Word of God to live holy lives?

• Are the people falling more and more in love with Christ?

• Are the people learning more and more about the power of God or the power of positive thinking?

Worship and Church Culture:

• Are the Scriptures being read in the worship service?

• Is prayer and Christ-centered songs an integral part in the worship service?

• Are the sacraments (Baptism and Lord’s Supper) being rightfully administered?

• Does the atmosphere reflect a church that is full of love and grace in truth?

• Is there a spirit of joy and reverence for the presence of God?

• Is the glory of God the motive behind the worship or the entertainment of people?

Evangelism and Discipleship:

• Is the church growing numerically? If so, do these new people know the gospel and are they being discipled?

• Is there a plan to make disciples? If so, are the leaders intentional about discipling every member?

• Are the leaders equipping the saints for the work of the ministry?

• Is there church discipline? Are the leaders willing to admonish people and kick people out if necessary to protect the sheep from the wolves?

• Are the elders and deacons godly men of humility and integrity who are involved in the work of the ministry?

Leadership and Church Government:

• Are there checks and balances (accountability) in place for the leaders?

• Is there a constitution and by-laws (some sort of standards) that the leaders are held to?

• Is the statement of faith visible on paper and also in practice?

• Do the leaders foster a culture of apathy towards applying the truth of God’s Word to everyday living or do they create an atmosphere for growth?

Outreach and Cultural Mandate:

• Are the widows, orphans, and the poor being cared for in word and deed?

• Is the church reaching the nations and the local community with the gospel?

• Are the leaders willing to speak openly about the issues of our day?

• Are there gospel-centered ministries to unbelievers in need?

• Are the leaders intentional about teaching people a biblical worldview and influencing culture?

All these questions can be summed up with one question …

“Can I stand before the Lord Jesus Christ and honestly say that this local church is the best place I could find to care for my and my family’s soul?”

Several months ago, Lindsay and I and our dear friends, Ron and Connie, met a man outside Panera who made me realize just how much I need to learn about evangelism. Let's call him "Jack."

Jack, was a self-professed, part-time Jew who cracks backs for a living and couldn't help overhearing our conversation we were having outside about hell (ya know, just your typical 'Friday night conversation'). Well, we noticed him, noticing us and we began talking to him and invited him to pull up a chair. He had much to talk about, but it was what he wouldn't talk about that continued to frustrate me.

Everytime we began to address such topics as God, Sin, Christ, Truth, the Bible, etc., Jack would dodge the subject and dart down a different path. This became very frustrating, but we all did our best to speak lovingly and openly about such things, yet with conviction. We spent approximately 45 minutes trying to maintain a logical conversation, but to no avail.

We shared as much as we could, trying to share the gospel through any crack in the conversation we could find. Ultimately, Jack was satisfied in experiencing God in many ways and not taking "the easy way out" as he called it, in identifying with Christ. In his words, "we agreed to disagree," but ended shaking hands, exchanging business cards, and committing to pray for him.

Here's a few things that I learned as we walked away from an otherwise frustrating conversation:

1) Evangelism is First, a Proclamation

Before we said goodnight, after we had parted ways with Jack, the four of us (Ron, Connie, Lindsay and myself) prayed and thanked God that he would grant us the opportunity to bear witness and proclaim Jesus Christ as the only Lord, God, and Savior. Evangelism is extremely frustrating if we only view it in terms of invitation. It is first, a proclamation of who Christ is and what he has done to save sinners. The Spirit of God does the converting. Our work is the communicating.

2) Steering the Course is more important the Staying the Course.

In our effort to stay the course and spend time learning more about Jack and the things he had to say, we lost ground by not steering the course of the conversation back to the questions that he wouldn't answer and the topics that he didn't want to discuss. When it comes to conversations, some people are clever and some people are logical. Jack was very clever. When we speak with the "Jacks", we must remember that evangelism is most effective when we focus on the direction of the conversation more than the duration.

3) Always Seek to End on a Prayerful and Positive Note

Although we can't confuse love with being soft-spoken about Christ, it's also true that we should try not to leave a conversation with an attitude of anger and hostility. An effective goodbye is more than just agreeing to disagree at the end of the conversation. It's expressing a thankfulness to the person for taking the time to talk and asking how we might pray for them.

Pray for our friend, the Jewish Chiropractor, and all those who are seeking to be faithful and better witnesses in proclaiming God's Truth about God's Son to a world that desperately needs him.

In the quiet morning hours, the sun doesn't rise right away. It doesn't suddenly break through the wall of darkness; it doesn't arrive in an instant ... it slowly chisels its way through. It asks you to wait for it. It tells us,

'Here I am. But be patient. I will rise and give you the ability to see. You just wait.'

God asks you to do the same.

'Be patient. I'm here. Trust me. I will rise over the situation you're in. I'm more faithful than the sunrise I established. You just wait.'

"Light dawns in the darkness for the upright. He is gracious, merciful, and righteous" (Psalm 112:4).

Our world is an anxious and worried world, yet Christians are called to “Be anxious for nothing.” But why? Why should we be filled with joy and peace in all circumstances? And how? How do believers discover personal peace when the dark clouds of uncertainty and adversity have blown into their lives? Now, more than ever, people have found themselves in a state of anxiety and fear, asking themselves …

Will I be fired for that mistake at work?
Will this business deal ever go through?
Will my son or daughter end up with the right person?
What will become of the economy?

The list goes on. But our desperate dilemma is solved in God’s decisive answer. So what is that answer? What is God’s answer to our anxiety? Paul knew it and thankfully he shared it with us in Philippians 4:4-7.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:4-7 NASB).

From this text we learn that in all circumstances, Christians are called to …

1. Make Our Joy in Jesus Known at all Times (v. 4).

What brings the two words, "Rejoice" and "Always" together? “In the Lord.”

The attitude of joy, and the frequency of joy can only be brought together in the Lord … and Paul is being very purposeful here. He is using the saving and sovereign name of “Lord.” And it’s the name for Jesus. Just 2 chapters earlier in the same letter what does Paul tell us? That one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is “Lord” (Phil. 2:10-11).

Paul is teaching us that the way to have joy in every type of circumstance we face is to keep our eyes fixed upon the saving and sovereign work of Jesus Christ …

The further our minds wander from the Lord of the cross and the Lord of our circumstances, the further our hearts will wander from joy.

The presence of joy in our lives (especially in the worst of times) points others to Jesus in our lives.

2. Make Our Gentle Spirit Known to all Men (v. 5).

After giving them the positive command to “Rejoice in the Lord always …”, he explains in verse 5 how this can be seen in the life of the believer.

The Greek word for gentle spirit is very unique and can be translated also as yieldedness, forbearing, or reasonableness. What Paul is teaching us is that there is an attitude that is characteristic of the believer in days of difficulty … and that is joy, but the expression of that joy is not always jumping up and down. Sometimes it is. But often it’s simply that gentle spirit that is willing to yield to the providence of God in our lives.

What bears witness to our joy in the Lord, is our gentle spirit that is yielded to the sovereign will of the Lord. For we know … “the Lord is near.” Knowing Christ’s personal presence and leading in our lives reminds us that everything is going to be okay.


3. Make Our Requests Known to God (v. 6).

Notice the contrast. “Be anxious for nothing;” well, how do we do that? We pray about everything. Notice what Paul is not saying. He’s not saying don’t be anxious because you’re circumstances are good. No he’s saying “don’t be anxious because God is good and he is ready to hear your requests …. So pray!”

Be anxious for nothing; pray about everything!

Paul is using 4 Greek words for prayer that overlap and compliment one another. He uses “Prayer, Supplication, Thanksgiving, and Requests.” By prayer he is speaking generally about humbly approaching God, but the use of supplication and requests is important. These are the specific details of the believer’s life. What we see here is that we are to come to the throne of grace with specific prayers about specific needs ….

“The quickest way to get on your feet is to get on your knees.”

But the key to the whole prayer process is to come “with thanksgiving.” A spirit of thanksgiving is the ingredient in our prayer life that changes everything. When we are brought to a point where we can thank God for this trial and this testing, when we can do that, something inside will break and the flood of God’s peace will fill our soul. That’s the promise … God’s peace in Christ.

4. God Will Make His Peace Known to Us (v. 7).

When we pray specifically with a humble and thankful spirit, and make our requests known to God, He promises to make His peace known to us.

And the peace of Christ will come to us in such a way that it is beyond comprehension. It’s not a peace that comes because our situation has changed. That's why we won’t be able to explain it. Something has changed on the inside … but not necessarily on the outside. It is the peace of Christ which comes to guard our hearts and minds.

The Greek word for guard here is “Phroureo,” and it means “to hold the fort against all enemy assaults.”

When God makes His peace known to us, it will protect our emotions and thoughts from being torn apart from the assualt of anxiety.

When we are focussed on Christ (v. 4-5) and have faith in Christ (v. 6), we will experience the peace of Christ (v. 7). It all comes back to our need for Christ and our need to pray.

Anxiousness is our problem; Prayer is our prescription; Peace is our promise!!

Whatever you might be going through, rejoice in Jesus Christ! For it is the saving and sovereign work of Jesus that gives us the reason to be joyful at all times and gentle hearted to all men. It is Christ who gives us the access to God in prayer, and the peace that we can’t explain in the day of adversity.

I recently called up my parents, and I was speaking with my dad, who’s an elder at their church in New Hampshire. I called him up to talk about the challenges that lay before Lindsay and I in church planting and I guess he could tell right away that I seemed anxious over the phone …. and I was. I was searching for some answers and I began right in by telling him all my questions I had for him … he just paused and responded with a question of his own … He simply asked, “How’s your prayer life, son? How’s your prayer life?”

I thought the answer to my anxiety was in talking with him; he knew the answer was in talking with God. In other words, "go to the throne, instead of the phone."

Have we lost our center as Christians? Instead of the center point of our lives being the truth of Christ, is our center merely our feelings and experiences? If so, then we probably have lost the ability to have bad experiences. What do I mean? We go places ... to plays, concerts, movies ... even church, and the purpose is not to seek and savor Christ and His truth ... but to seek and savor experiences for the purpose of feeling good.

And because this is the end goal: To have good experiences ... we often won't allow someone, based on their conviction of Christ and His truth, to tell us that they had a bad experience when we felt good about it. Why? Because it threatens our perception of the experience and feelings. Truth? Who cares if the play's message didn't align with God's truth, who cares if the musician didn't share the gospel? Who cares if the movie was off-color or the sermon off-line ... "it made me feel good! And you can't take that away from me."

The first step to revival in the church today is for the church to get over ourselves, our goals, our dreams, our feelings. It's not that these things are bad and need to be repressed, its just instead of springing from entertainment or emotionalism, they need to spring from truth - instead of being grounded in a love of self, they need to be grounded in a love for the Savior. When we lose ourselves in seeking Christ, we find ourselves for the first time in life.

In the cartoon strip, "Calvin and Hobbes." Calvin is a little boy with an overactive imagination and a stuffed tiger, Hobbes, who comes to life as his imaginary friend. In one cartoon strip, Calvin turns to his friend Hobbes and says, "I feel bad I called Susie names and hurt her feelings. I'm sorry I did that." 
Hobbes replies, "Maybe you should apologize to her." 

Calvin thinks about it for a moment and then responds, "I keep hoping there's a less obvious solution." 

Too many of us keep looking for an alternative to forgiveness!

From "Taking the Risk Out of Dying," by Lee Griess