Introduction
Do you remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books? They weren’t a straightforward story from start to finish. Instead, at certain points, you were told to make a choice—“Turn to page 36” or “Turn to page 93”—and the adventure would go on. I never really liked those books. They claimed you were choosing your own adventure, but I never felt like I was actually picking the adventure I wanted.
You reach a crossroads in the story—go left or go right—and turn the page only to find, “Congratulations, you’ve fallen into a ditch and died. The end.” If I were choosing my own adventure, that’s not the ending I would pick. The true value of an adventure isn’t just making choices along the way, but in bringing that adventure to a satisfying ending.
Those books never give you the power to choose the ending. At best, you can keep flipping back and trying again until you find the ending you want, and for me, that made those books meaningful because, as we all know, a life, a story, a book, a movie—its value depends on its ending.
Jesus confronts us with the same reality in the Parable of the Dishonest Manager. He asks us to consider: How do you want your story to end? He presents us with a choice—life or death. Will you be welcomed into the embrace of your heavenly Father, brought into the home that has been prepared for you? Or will you spend your life bargaining and hedging your bets, trying to secure your life apart from the Master who has given you a calling and a purpose?
The Parable and Amos
This morning, we hear one of Jesus’ most confusing parables: the story of a dishonest manager who is praised by his master. Usually, when I read one of Jesus’ parables, I have a clear understanding of what Jesus means, but this one is disorienting. Its punchline almost sounds scandalous.
“And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9).
What could Jesus possibly mean? Why would he tell people to use “unrighteous wealth” to make friends? What eternal dwellings is he referring to? We’ll get back to this in a moment.
Alongside this perplexing parable, we also hear the words of Amos this morning. The prophet condemns those who “trample on the needy,” who “bring the poor of the land to an end” (Amos 8:4), and who cannot wait for the Sabbath to be over so they can resume exploiting people.
Amos makes it clear that God will not ignore injustice forever. That’s the thing about injustice and social injustice. It may prosper for a time. It may even prosper during our lifetime. But Amos reminds us that God will not ignore injustice forever. Judgment will come.
When we combine these readings, a clearer picture starts to form.
Dwelling in the Parable
The first point to remember as we read our Gospel reading is that Jesus is sharing a parable. Parables are not puzzles with straightforward answers; they encourage us to stay inside a story until we understand our place in it. The parable of the dishonest manager is no different.
The second point to consider is the context of the parable. Jesus is still addressing the Pharisees and scribes, who are complaining because he welcomes sinners and dines with them. He has just shared the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son—all of which highlight heaven’s joy when sinners are found. The repentant sinner is sharply contrasted with the “ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance,” which is probably a jab, since no such person actually exists.
The final point to consider is that whenever you hear a parable about a master and a steward, think broadly in biblical terms. The master represents God; the steward symbolizes Israel, which has been entrusted with God’s household. Israel was called to be a light to the nations, to showcase God’s glory, and to keep his covenant. However, the master has now returned and discovered the steward’s mismanagement.
That mismanagement is exactly what God condemns through the prophet Amos. Israel has become corrupt, greedy, and spiritually deaf, and God says:
“Surely I will never forget any of their deeds” (Amos 8:7)
In Jesus’ ministry, the steward was about to be removed. Judgment is approaching.
Commended for Shrewdness
The steward, facing dismissal, acts quickly. He reduces the debts of his master’s clients, and the master praises him — not for his dishonesty, but for his cleverness.
Jesus explains:
“The sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light” (Luke 16:8).
Which one are you? A son of this world or a son of the light of the world?
Worldly people are often better at perceiving the moment and acting accordingly than God’s own people. That’s why they gain things like power, prestige, and privilege. They understand the way the world works without God in it, and they act accordingly.
Jesus has been warning that a great reckoning is coming, a judgment that will lead to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. He offers a way out: a new covenant family gathered around him, a new table where sinners and tax collectors are welcomed. But the Pharisees refuse the invitation. They will not enter. Instead, they stand outside, confident in their own righteousness and blind to the real danger they face.
“Make Friends by Unrighteous Wealth”
This is where Jesus’ command begins to make sense:
“Make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9).
Jesus speaks with sharp irony. He says, “If you insist on rejecting me, then at least spend your wealth to prepare for the coming disaster. Use it to make allies. Maybe you can buy yourself some time when judgment falls.”
But here’s the twist: those friends cannot save you. They can welcome you into their homes, but not into the Father’s house. They can share your fate, but they cannot change it.
Amos warned that when judgment comes, it would bring not only physical disaster but also a spiritual famine.
“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11).
You can be in the wealthiest, most prosperous country in the world, where, generally speaking, there is no lack of bread or water, and still experience a spiritual famine.
'Notice it’s not that the word of the Lord is absent, but that we have trouble hearing it. It’s us. It’s our problem. It’s our deafness to what God is trying to tell us.
Rejecting Jesus’ invitation, his new family, and his new table means choosing famine. It’s opting for a world where the word of God is ignored. Instead, you are left only with the unrighteous friends you have made through your money, power, privilege, and prestige.
The Choice Before Us
Jesus is asking about your loyalty. Whose household will you belong to? Whose table will you sit at?
The Pharisees believed they maintained righteousness through the Law. They looked down on the sinners Jesus ate with. But Jesus states that their religious status is just “unrighteous wealth.” They are like the steward — guilty, exposed, standing under judgment. And if they refuse to repent and follow Jesus, their only future is to share the same fate as those they trust instead.
This is why Jesus ends with a warning that strikes at the heart:
“You cannot serve God and money” (Luke 16:13).
You can't hold onto your wealth, status, or pride and believe you're safe. You have to choose who or what rules you.
Faithfulness with What We’ve Been Given
This lesson isn't a license for dishonesty or exploitation. Right after the parable, Jesus states:
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much” (Luke 16:10).
The point is clear: faithfulness matters — with our money, our calling, and our lives. Neutrality is not an option.
The Challenge for the Church
The danger Amos warned about isn't limited only to ancient Israel. The Church in every generation faces the temptation to turn inward, hoard blessings, and prioritize its own comfort while neglecting the needs of the poor.
Jesus is building a community that looks very different: a people who bring good news to the poor, hope to the broken, and welcome the outcast. That is where God’s feast is happening.
We can join him — sitting down with people we might not normally choose, opening our lives and tables to those the world overlooks — or we can stay outside, congratulating ourselves on our respectability, until judgment catches up with us.
Conclusion: Whose Dwelling Will Receive You?
The parable encourages us to ask: Whose home will welcome you in the end? The homes of those whose friendship you bought, or the eternal home of the Father?
Amos warns that a day is coming when people will wander from sea to sea searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. Jesus offers the Word of the Lord now. He offers a seat at his table today.
The invitation remains open, and the feast is still ready. The only question is whether we will join him or stay outside with our arms crossed.
‘You cannot serve God and money” (Luke 16:13).
The choice is yours.
Amen.
Life Group Guide
Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we gather to discuss your Word today, open our hearts to hear what you are saying to us. Like the parable we’re studying, help us to see beyond our confusion to the truth you want us to understand. Remove any spiritual deafness that prevents us from hearing your voice clearly. Guide our conversation and help us examine our own allegiances honestly. Show us where we may be serving money rather than you, and give us the courage to choose your kingdom above all else. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Ice Breaker
If you could choose the ending to your favorite movie or book and change it completely, what would your new ending be and why?
Key Verses
Amos 8:4–12
Luke 16:1–13
Questions
Fr. Michael compares Jesus’ parable to a ‘choose your own adventure’ book. How does this comparison help you understand the choices we face in our spiritual lives?
Fr. Michael states that ‘you can be in the wealthiest, most prosperous country in the world... and you can still be in the midst of a spiritual famine.’ What does this spiritual famine look like in our society today?
How do you understand Jesus’ seemingly confusing command to ‘make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth’?
Fr. Michael says that ‘neutrality is not an option’ when it comes to serving God or money. In what areas of your life do you find it most challenging to choose God over money or worldly success?
Fr. Michael describes Jesus forming ‘a community that looks very different’ - one that welcomes the outcast and stranger. How well do you think our church community embodies this vision?
Amos warned about the danger of ‘anxiously waiting for the Sabbath to be over’ to resume business. How might we be guilty of similar attitudes in our spiritual practices today?
Fr. Michael mentions that worldly people are often better at ‘perceiving the moment and acting accordingly.’ What can Christians learn from this observation while still remaining faithful?
The sermon ends with a question about ‘whose dwelling will receive you.’ How does this question change how you think about your daily choices and priorities?
Life Application
This week, Fr. Michael challenges you to conduct a personal audit of your allegiances. Take the time to honestly examine where your treasure truly lies by reviewing your calendar and spending for the past month. Where does your time go? Where does your money go? Do these patterns reflect service to God or to wealth and status? Choose one specific area where you can make a change to better align your resources with God’s kingdom values. This might mean adjusting your budget to be more generous, rearranging your schedule to serve others, or intentionally welcoming someone to your table who might be considered an ‘outcast’ in today’s society. Come prepared next week to share how this exercise revealed something about your true allegiances.
Key Takeaways
We cannot serve both God and money - we must choose our ultimate allegiance.
Jesus forms a new community that welcomes sinners, outcasts, and strangers—the very people that religious leaders often reject.
Worldly wealth, status, and connections cannot save us when judgment comes.
Faithfulness in how we use our resources matters both now and eternally.
The invitation to join Jesus’ table remains open, but we must choose to accept it rather than standing outside in self-righteousness.
Ending Prayer
Lord God, we thank you for your Word, which challenges and convicts us. We confess that too often we have tried to serve two masters, dividing our allegiance between you and the things of this world. Forgive us for the times we’ve chosen wealth, status, or comfort over faithfulness to your calling. Help us to be honest about where our treasure truly lies. Give us courage to join you at your table, to welcome those whom society rejects, and to use whatever resources you’ve entrusted to us for your kingdom purposes. May we choose wisely the ending to our own stories, finding our ultimate home in your eternal dwelling rather than in the temporary shelters that wealth provides. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.