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.
This verse comes from a parable Jesus told about a dishonest manager who, facing being fired, quickly reduces the debts of his master's clients to make friends who will help him after he loses his job. Jesus draws a surprising lesson from this morally questionable character: be shrewd enough to use temporary, worldly resources for purposes that outlast them. The phrase translated "worldly wealth" in Greek literally carries the idea of wealth tied to a broken, impermanent world system. Jesus is telling his followers that money is temporary — but how you use it can forge relationships and acts of generosity that echo into eternity. This is not a verse about earning salvation; it's about the wise, eternal use of temporary things.
God, loosen my grip on money. I want to hold it the way you intended — lightly, generously, with my eyes on what actually lasts. Show me one person or place where what I have could do something that outlives it. Amen.
This might be the most unexpected financial advice in the entire Bible — and Jesus delivers it by holding up a cheating accountant as a model of cleverness. Not a model of honesty. A model of using what you have while you have it, for something that will outlast you. The man was shrewd enough to look at temporary assets and ask: what can these buy me that will matter when the temporary part is over? Jesus turns to his followers and asks the same question about the money in their hands. The phrase "when it is gone" is doing a lot of work in that sentence. Jesus doesn't say "if it is gone." He assumes the money will eventually run out — that's not in question. The question is what remains after it does. Most of us spend enormous energy acquiring and protecting money as though it's the most durable thing we own. Jesus inverts the whole logic: money is the least reliable thing in your hands. What you do with it — the person helped, the door opened, the generosity that surprised someone — that's what follows you forward. So here's the honest question: does your bank account reflect that you actually believe money is temporary? Because the way you spend it tells the truth about what you believe more than what you say on Sunday.
Jesus commends the dishonest manager while telling this parable. What exactly is he praising — and what is he clearly not endorsing?
Think about the last significant financial decision you made. Was there any eternal dimension to it, or was it driven purely by security, comfort, or keeping up? What does that tell you?
Jesus suggests that how we use money can affect our standing in eternity. Does that idea sit comfortably with you, or does it create tension? Why?
Who in your immediate life — not a faceless charity, but a specific person — could be meaningfully changed by how you choose to use your financial resources?
What is one concrete way you could redirect some of what you have this month toward something with an eternal dimension — a person, a need, a community — rather than just toward your own security?
If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Luke 16:11
And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Luke 14:14
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
1 Timothy 6:17
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Proverbs 19:17
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 6:24
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Matthew 19:21
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
1 Timothy 6:19
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Luke 12:33
And I tell you [learn from this], make friends for yourselves [for eternity] by means of the wealth of unrighteousness [that is, use material resources as a way to further the work of God], so that when it runs out, they will welcome you into the eternal dwellings.
AMP
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
'And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings.
NASB
I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
NIV
“And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.
NKJV
Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.
NLT
I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you'll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior."
MSG