“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.” (Luke 16:13)
Jesus taught a parable about an unjust and dishonest manager or steward. When faced with dismissal, the man took steps to insure his future by making friends with the his master’s debtors and probably securing a new position. He did this by reducing the amounts that the debtors owed. This was dishonest because he was altering the account books and defrauding his master of his property, money and the interest due him on the resources he loaned or sold. Jesus does not commend him for his dishonesty but for his shrewdness in insuring future security. If the wicked can do this with their money, so should the righteous: to build up treasures in heaven.
Jesus spoke this parable in order to instruct His disciples in the way that God expects them to use their money, wealth and resources. Despite what we think or feel or what the world would have us believe, all the resources, money and property we have belong to God, not us. He expects us to manage them wisely for His purposes. We are not to squander or waste them but we are to use them to advance the Kingdom of God. We are to give freely expecting nothing in return. In addition we are to forgive freely, to extend mercy, grace and compassion to all those in need. Often this is difficult and costly but our desire should be to lead the lost, the downtrodden, and the broken-hearted to faith in Jesus.