Christ did not only deepen his disciples into the love of the heavenly Father, but also taught them how they should deal with money on earth that the order of heaven might overcome the disorder of our world. The words "unrighteous" and "unjust" appear five times in this reading, for possession and management of money are more attributable to unrighteousness than anything else.
God is the Possessor of everything, and all men are his stewards (15:31). Therefore the simplest service we can do to God is to build his eternal kingdom by our money, times, minds, and possessions. Every man who lives for himself robs God, and every spiritual shepherd who shepherds himself and not the flock, which is committed into his hands, is unjust. We are all like the unjust steward, for we toil first for our own benefit, and then we think a little of what is God’s. Man builds houses, and spends his money and time for his planning, but he rarely makes setting up the kingdom of God and hallowing his fatherly name his first aim.
Woe to us unjust stewards! We have to give an account, for we are guilty debtors. Yet the unjust steward, in Christ’s parable, was so clever that he made friends to himself by the money deposited to him, for fear of the consequences of the judgment to come. Since all your money are God’s property in principle, the Lord suggests that you should give at least a part of the money to the needy that you may win friends. Abandon a part of the money they owe you, give them a sufficient work and not alms, help the sick until he recovers, pray that the Holy Spirit may fill you with light, for you have to sacrifice tangibly for the sake of preaching the kingdom of heaven. All your money is God’s. When are you going to use it according to his will?
Jesus called all kinds of money "unrighteous mammon", for curses, cheat, tears, and injustice are stuck to every paper money or coin. Depart soon from unrighteous mammon lest you abide in the darkness of evil. Christ commands you to offer practical sacrifices that you may carry out the services of love by means of unrighteous mammon, for through offerings unrighteous mammon becomes sanctified. But do not think that yourself to be good through offerings, and do not try to win paradise through great sacrifices, for your donations are not true sacrifices on the ground that all what you have is God’s possession. So if you present some of it, you have used some the money according to his will, and this does not help to justify you, nor does it concede to you the reward of heaven, for that is a duty.
However, if you do not sacrifice your money, time, and strength for Christ, many of the poor and needy will complain against you in eternity, and say to their Lord: "This stingy man lived for himself, having a hard heart. He did not see us or care for us, though you put in his hands a lot of money and times."
You may say, "But I must live and earn money to provide for my family, then how can I sacrifice what I have?" The Lord says to you, "First, be aware that you are a small steward of God, and all your services in the factory, school, and family are divine worship. So be faithful in spending every penny, for your dealing with big amounts does not show your characters, but your dealing with small amounts shows what you are. What do you do with the stamps, nails, apples, and other things, which belong to your employer? Are you faithful in what is least with respect to your handwriting, clothes, and arrangement of your office works? Is all your life arranged through the Holy Spirit who is also the Spirit of arrangement? The faithfulness of God is willing to arrange all your life that you may become faithful as he is, so examine all your past and present matters, for your future on earth and in heaven depends on your fidelity in small matters. Every experienced manager examines his employees and workers throughout the years, how they deal with small matters, before he gives them jobs involving more trust and responsibility. Similarly, the Lord of heaven first gives you simple services in his kingdom, and watches your faithfulness in your prayer for others, how you prepare for Sunday school, and how often you advise your friends to edify themselves on the strength of faith. Faithfulness in what is least is the essence of heaven dwelling in the heart of believer.
Christ pierces you to your innermost depth, saying, "Do not love money, but love me. I am the security of your life. Money does not help you, but I save you. Do not rely on your muscles, your mind experience, or your funds, but hold fast to me as a branch in a vine. Do not collect money to build your future, and do not fall into the claws of the devil. Money rules the world. He who centers himself in money leaves Christ and soon hates him. No one can serve two masters. You will either be a servant of money or a child of God.