1 John 2:15–17
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (ESV)

Luke 16:1
16 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.(ESV)

Luke 16:2–4
2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’(ESV)

Hebrews 13:5–6
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?” (ESV)

Luke 16:5–7
5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’(ESV)

2 Thessalonians 3:10–12
10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. (ESV)

Colossians 3:23–24
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (ESV)

Luke 16:8a
8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. (ESV)

“Because his business plan was smart and it accomplished the purposes the manager set out for it. First, it made the landowner look good in the eyes of those who were indebted to him and who continued to do business with him. Second, it looked forward to the long term rather than being limited to the present moment. Third, it assured people would be indebted to the manager and thus honor bound to help him when he would need it, much sooner than they suspected” (Trent C. Butler, Luke, vol. 3, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 262.).

Luke 16:8b
For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. (ESV)

God’s people should be more dedicated to living out kingdom values with the people of this world to store up kingdom wealth.

Luke 16:9
9 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.(ESV)

Luke 16:10–13
10 “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.11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?12 And 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 he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”(ESV)

Luke 12:13–15
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (ESV)

Luke 12:16–19
16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully,17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’(ESV)

James 1:27
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (ESV)

Luke 6:38
38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (ESV)

Luke 12:20–21
20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”(ESV)

Matthew 6:19–21
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (ESV)

2 Corinthians 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (ESV)

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think it was important for the disciples to hear this parable?

2. How do you view work? Is it good, evil, amoral?

3. Why do you think it is important to develop godly character? Why can’t we just say developing a good character is okay?

4. How do you view your money and material wealth? Would you say it all belongs to you? Would you say it all belongs to the creditors? Would you say it all belongs to God?

5. In what ways do you use your money for the kingdom of God?

6. What can a person do to live out kingdom values in this life in order to store up treasure in heaven?

7. Do you find it difficult to think in terms of living with eternity in mind? Why or why not? How can you help other believers live with this mindset so that they also are storing up treasure in heaven?

8. Does living with an eternal mindset mean that you are no earthly good? Why or why not?

9. How does covetousness and greed play into your life? Do you struggle with these things? Is it possible that a brother or sister in Christ could help you overcome this struggle? How? Share with the group or with someone you trust to help you be accountable.

10. What will it be like to stand before God and give an account? Are you afraid, not because you have a holy fear of God, but because of how you have lived life? Do you think that this will be an embarrassing time? Do we have to be afraid to be in the presence of God?