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Luke 16:1–13 is one of the most unexpected and challenging parables Jesus ever taught, and this week at Flourishing Grace Church Pastor Benjer walked us through the Parable of the Dishonest Manager. At first glance, the story can feel confusing. A dishonest manager misuses his master’s resources, rewrites debts he has no right to change, and then receives praise for what he has done. The key, however, is that Jesus is not affirming the manager’s ethics. He is drawing attention to the technique, the shrewdness, and the intentional use of resources for a future purpose. From that surprising parable Jesus teaches something deeply practical and deeply convicting about our relationship with money and our calling as disciples.
Throughout the sermon Pastor Benjer highlights how often money quietly becomes the controlling influence in our lives. Many of us live with the phrase “one day” attached to our purpose. One day when I finish college. One day when I finally earn enough. One day when I buy the house. One day when life settles down. Yet every time we reach one day another one appears on the horizon, usually tied to financial pressure, financial goals, or financial anxiety. Jesus exposes the truth that money is meant to be a tool used for kingdom purposes, but for many of us it has slowly become a god that shapes our priorities, our decisions, our fears, and our hopes.
This message explores the idea that what we have is not truly ours in the first place. The manager in the parable used money that belonged to someone else in order to secure relationships and his future. In the same way Jesus calls his followers to use what belongs to God for the sake of people and for the sake of eternity. When Jesus says that no servant can serve two masters and that we cannot serve both God and money, he is naming the spiritual conflict that exists in every human heart. Money can be a useful and powerful tool, but it is a terrible master and an even worse god.
Pastor Benjer challenges us to recognize that everything we possess is something God has entrusted to us. Our income, our resources, our opportunities, our time, and even the circumstances that opened doors for us are gifts of grace. When we view our possessions as things that belong to us, we cling tightly to them and they quickly gain control over our lives. When we view them as things entrusted to us by God, we are free to use them for generosity, for service, and for eternal impact.
The sermon also discusses the practical reality that giving is one of the fastest ways to dethrone money in our hearts. Not because God needs our money, and not because giving earns us spiritual points, but because giving forces us to release our grip. Scripture teaches that generosity is meant to be joyful and sacrificial. The goal is not tipping or occasional acts of kindness. The goal is a life that recognizes the temporary nature of money and uses it for something far greater than personal comfort or personal security.
For those who feel the weight of financial stress, debt, or discouragement, Pastor Benjer acknowledges that this message may feel heavy. If that is your situation, Flourishing Grace offers a simple next step. You can text FGC money to 97000 to connect with someone who will meet with you, listen to your story without judgment, pray with you, and help you take practical steps toward financial freedom. There are also resources available through Financial Peace University to help you learn how to handle money in a way that honors God and offers peace instead of fear.
