Faithful with Little: What Jesus Teaches About Money, Trust, and True Riches (Luke 16:1-18)
Jesus often taught using stories that made people stop and think. One of those stories is found in Luke 16, and it’s all about a man who gets into trouble at work—and how he finds a smart way out of it. But more than that, it’s a lesson about being wise, honest, and faithful with what we’ve been given.
Let’s take a look at what happens and what it means for us today.
A Story About a Clever Manager
Jesus tells a story about a rich man who hears that his manager is wasting money. So, he calls the manager in and tells him he’s about to lose his job. The manager panics—he’s not strong enough to do hard labor, and he doesn’t want to beg. So he comes up with a plan.
Before he’s officially fired, he goes to the people who owe his boss money and reduces their bills. He’s hoping they’ll be grateful and welcome him into their homes once he’s out of work.
Surprisingly, the boss praises him—not for being dishonest, but for being smart and thinking ahead.
What Does This Mean?
Jesus explains that while the manager in the story wasn’t exactly honest, he was wise in planning for his future. Jesus says that we should also think ahead—not just about life now, but about eternity.
He encourages us to use the money and things we have in this life to do good, help others, and make a lasting impact. These things matter more than piling up wealth for ourselves.
Trust Starts Small
Jesus goes on to say that if we can be trusted with small things, we can be trusted with bigger ones. But if we’re not honest or careful with little things—like money—how can we expect to handle greater responsibilities?
This reminds us that everything we have is a gift from God. He wants to see how we manage it, even if it’s not much. Are we generous? Are we honest? Are we using it wisely?
You Can’t Serve Two Masters
Then Jesus makes it very clear: you can’t serve both God and money. One will always win your heart. It’s not wrong to have money, but if money becomes the most important thing in our lives, it can pull us away from God.
We’re meant to serve God first, and use money as a tool—not the other way around.
The Pharisees Didn’t Like That
Some religious leaders who loved money heard Jesus talking and made fun of Him. But Jesus saw right through them. He said, “You try to look good on the outside, but God sees your heart.”
It’s a strong reminder that God cares more about what’s inside—our intentions, our honesty, our love for Him and others—than how wealthy or successful we seem on the outside.
A Word About Commitment
Jesus also talks briefly about how God’s laws still matter. He uses marriage as an example to show how serious commitments are to God. He isn’t changing the rules—He’s calling people to live faithfully and honor God in every area of life.
Final Thoughts: What Are You Doing with What You’ve Been Given?
This part of Luke challenges us to think about how we use what we’ve been given—our time, our money, our influence. Are we using it to love others, serve God, and make a difference?
It’s not about having a lot. It’s about being faithful with whatever you have.
So today, take a moment to ask yourself:
Am I being faithful with what I’ve been given? Am I using it in a way that honors God and blesses others?
If the answer is yes, keep going. And if not, it’s never too late to start.
Luke 16:1-18 (WEB)
16:1 He also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 He called him, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’3 “The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg. 4 I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from management, they may receive me into their houses.’ 5 Calling each one of his lord’s debtors to him, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe to my lord?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred batos of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’8 “His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light. 9 I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents. 10 He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 If you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to one and despise the other. You aren’t able to serve God and Mammon.”14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they scoffed at him. 15 He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.16 “The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the Good News of God’s Kingdom is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tiny stroke of a pen in the law to fall.18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.