Scripture

Luke 16:1-13, New English Translation

Jesus also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who was informed of accusations that his manager was wasting his assets. So he called the manager in and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in the account of your administration, because you can no longer be my manager.’  Then the manager said to himself, ‘What should I do, since my master is taking my position away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m too ashamed to beg.  I know what to do so that when I am put out of management, people will welcome me into their homes.’ So he contacted his master’s debtors one by one. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’  The man replied, ‘100 measures of olive oil.’ The manager said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ The second man replied, ‘100 measures of wheat.’ The manager said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write 80.’ The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their contemporaries than the people of light.  And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by how you use worldly wealth, so that when it runs out you will be welcomed into the eternal homes.

 “The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you haven’t been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will entrust you with the true riches? And if you haven’t been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you your own?  No servant can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.”

Read the passage on Bible Gateway.

Prepare Your Heart

Open yourself to God’s presence. Ask God to speak to you and to reveal Himself through His Word. Then read the passage again.

Reflect and Write

What do you think Jesus meant in verse 10 (“The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”)? In your own experience, have you found this principle to be true?

What do you think Jesus meant by “true riches” in verse 11 (“If then you haven’t been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?”)?

How can you show God that you can be trusted with “true riches”? How are you currently managing the spiritual blessing God has given you?

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The NET Bible, Journal Edition equips you to spend time savoring God’s Word as you journal through different passages of Scripture. This Bible edition has extra-wide, lined margins and extra-thick paper that makes this Bible perfect for journaling your reactions and insights, writing your prayers, listing your questions, and more.

The journal prompt from this article is taken from the NET Abide Bible. With built-in Scripture Engagement practices (like journal prompts), the Abide Bible is designed to bring you into a closer, intimate relationship with God’s Word.