Hi Rob,
Your post/question sure got the brain cells working overtime
I think your question stems from the following verse:
Luke 16:9
And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.What the dishonest manger did was preempted on the decision he made in verse 4.
Luke16:4
I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. Obviously, the decision please the Master, for we are told in verse 8 that:
Luk 16:8
And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. Therefore, there must be a significant spiritual parallel that Christ made with this story.
So what does "
for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light" mean in a spiritual context?
It cannot be advocating dishonesty, for we are told in verse 10 that: "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much." So instead of rewarding the dishonest manager, for being unjust; Jesus used this story to illustrate the practicality and wisdom (of this world) used in order to obtain his future after the managers job was gone.
Therefore, I believe that the spiritual meaning behind this parable is that, we should use the Spirit of Truth wisely. It would seem that this includes in this life, money, which is not really ours for it cannot be passed to the next life. Therefore, as mere holders of material objects, we should use such wisely along with the truth of the spirit to help and comfort others in the hope that they will see the spirit of truth in our actions and that we seek not gain, but rather praise and honor to God. This, in the hope that we will be likewise welcomed hin the Kingdom of God, when this age ends.
I think this fits very well with the folling:
Luk 16:10
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. Luk 16:11
If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon (money), who will commit to your trust the true [riches]? Well, that's the way I see it. Comments welcome
Love in Christ,
Darren