Conclusion of Provide For The Future With Practical Wisdom

Jesus is not commending the steward for his unrighteousness but for his farsighted, practical wisdom. Often "the sons of this system of things" shrewdly use their money or position to make friends with those who can return them favors. So God's servants, "the sons of the light," also need to use their mater assets, their "unrighteous riches," in a wise way to benefit themselves.

But as Jesus says, they should make friends by means of these riches with those who may receive them "into the everlasting dwelling places." For members of the little flock, these places are in heaven; For members of the "other sheep," they are in the Paradises earth. Since only Jehovah God and his Son can receive persons into these places, we should be diligent to cultivate friendship with them by using any "unrighteous riches" we may have in support of Kingdom interests. then, when material riches fail or perish, as they surely will, our everlasting future will be assured.

Jesus goes on to say that persons faithful in caring fro even these material, or least, things will also be faithful in caring for matters of greater importance. "Therefore," he continued, "If you have not proved yourselves faithful in connection with the unrighteous riches, who will entrust you with what is true [that is, spiritual, or Kingdom interests]? And if you have not proved yourselves faithful in connection with what is another's [the Kingdom interests with which God entrusts his servants], who will give you what is for yourselves [the reward of life in everlasting dwelling places]?"

We simply cannot be true servants of God and at the same time be slaves to unrighteous riches, material riches, as Jehovah concludes: "No house servant can be a slave to two masters; for, either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves to God and to riches." Luke 15:1, 2; 16:1-13; John 10:16.

Next time:The Rich Man And Lazarus

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991