Unrighteous Wealth (8)

Many people who come to Jesus will have unrighteous wealth. They and their family before them will have engaged in activities that are contrary to God’s guidelines for economic life to accumulate wealth.

The message of this parable is that new Christians with unrighteous wealth should give it away immediately. If they hang onto it, they will be corrupted by the unrighteous spirit that clings to it.

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches (Luke 16:10-11)?

If they cannot be trusted to do the right thing with their unrighteous wealth, they cannot be trusted with the treasure of the Spirit. Many people come to faith with significant wealth; think they can use the wealth to advance the kingdom. This does not work. Jesus said,

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Luke 16:13).

Those who try to use their unrighteous wealth for the kingdom will end up serving money.

Righteous wealth can be used for the kingdom. However, we must be careful. It is easy to fall in the trap of trying to convert unrighteous wealth by using it in the Kingdom of God. This is a huge issue for the western Church. If we are open to the Spirit, Christians will realise that more of their assets are unrighteous wealth than they realised.

The shrewd manager knew about Home Churches :-) He adjusted the debts, so that

People will welcome me into their homes (Luke 16:4).

This is the source of Christian blessing. Living close to other Christians, who will share what they have brings greater blessing than unrighteous wealth.