The Parable of the Clever Steward

16:1 Jesus1 also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who was informed of accusations2 that his manager3 was wasting4 his assets. 16:2 So5 he called the manager6 in and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you?7 Turn in the account of your administration,8 because you can no longer be my manager.’ 16:3 Then9 the manager said to himself, ‘What should I do, since my master is taking my position10 away from me? I’m not strong enough to dig,11 and I’m too ashamed12 to beg. 16:4 I know13 what to do so that when I am put out of management, people will welcome me into their homes.’14 16:5 So15 he contacted16 his master’s debtors one by one. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 16:6 The man17 replied, ‘A hundred measures18 of olive oil.’ The manager19 said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write fifty.’20 16:7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ The second man21 replied, ‘A hundred measures22 of wheat.’ The manager23 said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’24 16:8 The25 master commended the dishonest26 manager because he acted shrewdly.27 For the people28 of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their contemporaries29 than the people30 of light. 16:9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by how you use worldly wealth,31 so that when it runs out you will be welcomed32 into the eternal homes.33

16:10 “The one who is faithful in a very little34 is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 16:11 If then you haven’t been trustworthy35 in handling worldly wealth,36 who will entrust you with the true riches?37 16:12 And if you haven’t been trustworthy38 with someone else’s property,39 who will give you your own40? 16:13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate41 the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise42 the other. You cannot serve God and money.”43