各位弟兄姊妹平安，我們今天要來閱讀的是《路加福音》第16章1到13節的經文。這段故事其實蘊含了非常多層面的意義。今天我們就嘗試來分享其中一個重點——關於「不義的管家」的比喻，以及第13節那句非常關鍵的話：「一個人不能侍奉兩個主。」這句話常常被引用、也常常被誤解，因此值得我們好好來看一看。
首先我們要理解的是，耶穌在講比喻的時候，祂並不是每一次都用所謂「完美的」比喻。祂也會使用有對有錯、有缺陷的人物，來傳遞某些重要的屬靈信息。
這段經文中的主角，是一位財主的管家。這位管家其實是一個不折不扣的壞人。他貪小便宜、亂做帳、浪費他主人的財物。當他被主人發現、即將被開除時，他所採取的行動，居然不是悔改、不是努力工作來補償，而是——趁著還握有職權時，濫用主人的債權，為自己謀後路。
他怎麼做呢？他去找那些欠主人債的人，把他們的帳目減半。原本欠一百的，他改成五十；原本欠一百的，他改成八十 。他這樣做的目的有兩個可能：
第一，他想要讓這些欠債人對他心懷感激，等他以後沒有工作、無處可去時，這些人會念在舊情、願意接納他、幫助他。
第二，從一個更現實的角度來看，他其實可能是在建立「共犯結構」。因為一旦這些債務紀錄公開，這些欠債人也會被追究責任，成為共犯。他綁住了這些人，讓他們在未來不得不幫助他。第八節出現了一句讓人有點莫名其妙的話，就是：「主人就誇獎這不義的管家做事聰明，因為今世之子在世事上，比光明之子更加聰明。」
這句話看起來好像不太合理，對吧？一個管家明明做壞事，怎麼還會被誇獎？
但我們仔細想一想，這裡很有可能耶穌是在用一種帶著諷刺的語氣來說：「你看這個人，真的很聰明啊！他腦筋轉得快、反應很靈活，但是這些聰明才智，他不是拿來好好管理主人的財產，而是拿來謀取不義之財、替自己鋪後路。」
所以這個「誇獎」，不是在讚美他的道德，而是指出他的精明與機巧，甚至帶有一點無奈的嘲諷。
接著，耶穌說：「今世之子在世事上，比光明之子更加聰明。」
這句話其實反映出一個很現實的情況：世人真的很會在地上的事上用心、用腦、用力。
你去看看現在這個世界，有很多所謂的「高智商犯罪」。詐騙集團、非法洗錢、網路駭客，這些人用極高的邏輯與策略去設計整套系統，從技術層面來說，他們非常厲害，甚至有的比科技公司還強。
我們看了都會覺得很可惜——這些人如果願意把他們的聰明才智用在正途上，是不是可以成為非常優秀的工程師、創業家、醫生、科學家，幫助很多人？但他們卻選擇了錯誤的道路，讓這些能力變成傷人的工具。
耶穌其實在這裡，也是在透過比喻指出一個非常現實的現象：在世界的事上，人通常都非常用心。為了賺錢、為了爭取地位和權力，大家可以日以繼夜地思考、努力、不斷學習、不斷精進。但是，當講到屬靈的事，比如說研讀聖經、禱告、事奉、靈命成長，反而就很少人會這麼認真、這麼用心。
耶穌其實是在感嘆：我們怎麼會願意花那麼多的精力在這些短暫的、地上的事情上，卻對永恆的、屬天的事那麼不用心呢？接下來第10節、第11節這裡，耶穌的話更直接、也更震撼：
「人在最小的事上忠心，在大事上也忠心；在最小的事上不義，在大事上也不義。倘若你們在不義的錢財上不忠心，誰還把那真正的財寶託付你們呢？」
耶穌在說什麼？這其實是一個很清楚的警告。祂在說，如果我們在日常的小事、在金錢的管理上都馬馬虎虎、不認真，那神怎麼可能會把更重要、更屬靈、更關乎靈魂的事交託給我們呢？
有些人可能會覺得：「啊這只是小事啦，沒什麼大不了的，我就隨便弄一下交差就好。」但這種心態其實是有問題的。因為如果你連小事都做不好、都不認真，那別人怎麼可能放心把大事交給你呢？身為雇主、身為老闆，我們都不會把重要的案子交給一個平常做事隨便、不負責任的人。那神又怎麼可能把「靈魂」——這個比錢財還寶貴的東西——託付給我們呢？
如果我們因為教會小、因為人不多，就不願意認真預備講章、不願意去了解每一個人的需要，那麼神怎麼可能把更多人加添給我們呢？
所以我們真的要回頭來反思：我們目前手上所擁有的，是不是代表神已經知道我們的「容量」？我們到底是能力不足，還是心態出了問題？
神在等著我們學會忠心。從最小的事開始做起，做到最好，神才會把更大的責任交給我們管理。
接下來我們來到第13節，這一節非常關鍵，也常常被誤解。
耶穌說：「一個僕人不能侍奉兩個主。他不是惡這個、愛那個，就是重這個、輕那個。你們不能又侍奉神，又侍奉瑪門。」這句話表面看起來很清楚，但其實很多人在解釋的時候，容易走向極端。
有人說：「你要服侍上帝，就不可以服侍錢財」，然後就把它講成——基督徒不應該賺錢、不應該有錢、不應該做投資、不應該創業，只要你跟錢有關，就是屬世的、就是不屬靈的。
但這樣的理解對嗎？如果是這樣的話，那是不是所有基督徒都應該躲進修道院，靠施捨過活？所有去工作的基督徒、努力養家活口的基督徒，是不是就比較不屬靈？
那麼，那些在教會全職服事、拿教會薪水的人就比較高貴、比較屬靈嗎？但教會的奉獻，不也都是這些努力工作賺錢的人所奉獻出來的嗎？
所以我們要很小心地解釋這節經文。
重點不是說你不能擁有金錢，重點是：你不能「侍奉」金錢。不要把瑪門（也就是金錢）當成你的主人；要把金錢當成你的僕人。
世界上最危險的，就是人把這兩個位置顛倒了。把上帝當僕人、把金錢當主人。這就是最大的混亂。
什麼叫做把上帝當僕人？就是你只有在需要的時候才去找祂。需要工作、需要房子、需要醫治、需要成功的時候才來禱告說：「主啊，求你幫助我，給我成就這件事。」你禱告像是在點餐、像在跟神交代任務——這時候，你是把神當成僕人了。
反過來，你每天花最多的時間與心思想的是怎麼賺更多錢，怎麼升官發財，甚至為了金錢去妥協你的信仰原則、妥協你的誠實、妥協你的行為，這時候你就是在侍奉瑪門，而不是神。
所以耶穌這句話的核心是在問你：你到底誰是你心中的主？
一個正確的金錢觀應該是：你把上帝當主人，金錢只是你的工具，是僕人。
每天你是專心來到上帝面前，尋求祂的旨意、學習祂的話語、明白祂的價值觀，然後你帶著這些價值觀進入你的工作場域、家庭、職場，用祂的原則來做事、來賺錢、來生活。
你是一個在地上工作，但屬天而活的人。
這就像馬丁路德所說的「兩個國度論」一樣：在神的國度裡，你是一個屬靈的子民；在地上的國度裡，你也是神所差派的僕人，透過工作、經營、創造，去榮耀神、服務人群。
《路加福音》第16章充滿了非常多關於金錢的教訓。這些教訓我在聖經金錢觀講座中會繼續深入分享。今天我們就先簡單整理與分享，耶穌其實非常關心我們如何看待金錢，也希望我們能夠有一個清楚的理解：不是否定金錢、也不是反對財富，而是要我們把金錢擺在正確的位置上。
把上帝擺在主人的位置，把金錢擺在僕人的位置。
當你搞清楚主僕關係之後，你就能夠同時擁有——一個穩固豐盛的信仰生活， 也能享受一個有智慧、有節制、有目的的物質生活。
所以，金錢不是我們的問題，心才是關鍵。
今天的屬靈反思：
我們是用錢，還是被錢用？我們是管理金錢，還是被金錢綁架？這才是耶穌要我們去思考的。
明天我們來看第十六章下半段，一起來看耶穌怎麼談律法與神的國度。
願上帝祝福你，賜你智慧與平安！
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Peace to you, dear brothers and sisters. Today, we’re reading Luke 16:1–13. This passage contains many layers of meaning. But today, we’re going to focus on one particular theme: the Parable of the Unjust Steward, and especially the powerful verse in verse 13:“No one can serve two masters.”This is a verse that’s often quoted—and often misunderstood. So let’s take a deeper look.
First, we need to understand that when Jesus tells parables, He doesn’t always use “perfect” characters or morally upright examples. Sometimes He uses flawed people—even people who do wrong—to reveal important spiritual truths.
In this passage, the main character is the steward of a wealthy man. And let’s be honest—this steward is not a good guy.He takes advantage of others, he cooks the books, and he wastes his master’s resources.When he gets caught and is about to be fired, instead of repenting or working harder to make things right, he uses the little power he has left to manipulate the situation and secure his own future.
What does he do?He goes to the people who owe his master money and cuts their debts in half.Someone owes 100 measures? He makes it 50.Another owes 100? He changes it to 80.
Why would he do this? Two possible reasons:
He wants these debtors to feel indebted to him, so that when he loses his job, they’ll welcome him, help him, or offer him a place to stay.
He’s tying them to himself in a kind of mutual corruption. If the truth comes out, these people will be implicated too. So now they’re all in the same boat—mutually dependent and unable to turn on each other.
Then comes this strange and seemingly confusing line in verse 8:“The master commended the dishonest steward because he acted shrewdly.”
Wait, what? Why is he being praised?
Well, most likely, Jesus is using a bit of irony or sarcasm here.He’s basically saying: “Look at this guy. He’s clever! Quick-thinking, resourceful… If only he used that intelligence to serve his master instead of himself.”
So this is not praise of the steward’s morality—it’s an acknowledgment of his worldly wisdom and cunning.
Then Jesus adds:“For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.”
And sadly… He’s right.Think about how hard people work to gain money, power, and influence.People will spend sleepless nights studying the stock market, planning business deals, building political alliances—all to win in this temporary world.
We see this in “high-IQ crimes”: cyber fraud, embezzlement, digital scams.These people use incredibly advanced strategies and technical skills—often more sophisticated than what tech companies are doing!And we can’t help but think: “If only they used those talents for good… Imagine how many people they could help.”
But instead, they use their God-given gifts to hurt, deceive, and destroy.
What Jesus is pointing out here is the contrast:People will give their all for things that don’t last.But when it comes to spiritual things—prayer, Bible study, serving others, growing in character—many of us are half-hearted.
Jesus is essentially asking: Why do we invest so much in what is temporary, and so little in what is eternal?
Then in verses 10–11, Jesus becomes even more direct:
“Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”
This is a clear warning.
Jesus is saying:If you’re careless or irresponsible with small, everyday things—especially money—how can God entrust you with something far greater, like spiritual authority or the care of souls?
Some people think: “Ah, this is just a small task. It’s not important. I’ll just wing it.”But that mindset is actually dangerous.If you can’t be faithful with small things, why would anyone trust you with something bigger?
As an employer, you wouldn’t hand over your most important project to someone who’s always cutting corners, right?So why would God entrust people’s souls—the most precious thing—to someone who can’t even be faithful with money?
Let’s take this further:If we think, “Our church is small, not many people come, so I don’t need to prepare seriously. I don’t need to really care about each person…”Then why would God send us more people?
Could it be that the amount we currently manage reflects what God knows we can handle?Is it our lack of ability—or our lack of attitude—that limits us?
God is looking for people who are faithful in the little things.When we prove ourselves trustworthy there, He will gladly entrust us with more.
Now we arrive at verse 13—one of the most quoted, but also most misinterpreted verses in the Bible:
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammon.”
On the surface, this seems straightforward.But many people take it to mean: “If you serve God, you can’t earn money.”So some go so far as to say: “Christians shouldn’t be rich, shouldn’t invest, shouldn’t pursue financial success.”
But is that what Jesus meant?
If we believe that, does that mean every Christian should live in a monastery and rely on charity?Are Christians who work hard to provide for their families considered less spiritual?
Are full-time church workers somehow more holy than businesspeople, teachers, or engineers?
But here’s the thing: Church salaries and ministry funds come from the offerings of people who work hard every day!So we must interpret this verse carefully.
Jesus never said we can’t have money.He said we cannot serve money.
The issue isn’t the money in your hand—it’s the position it holds in your heart.
The real danger is when people reverse the roles:They treat God like a servant, and money like the master.
What does that look like?
You only come to God when you need something.You pray like placing an order:“God, please give me a house… please give me success… please fix this problem.”
But the rest of your time, all your thoughts, all your energy, are focused on making money.You start compromising your values, bending your integrity, all for the sake of wealth.
That’s when you’ve started serving Mammon.
The correct Christian view of money is this:God is the Master. Money is the tool.
Each day, you come before God in prayer, in surrender, in learning.You seek His wisdom, understand His principles, and then—You go out into the world and do your work with excellence.You use your job, your business, your career, not just to survive—but to serve.
You become God’s hands and feet in the marketplace.
Martin Luther once said we live in “two kingdoms”:We are citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom, and workers in the earthly one.We live with a spiritual identity, but we also serve through earthly responsibility.
When you understand this balance—God as Master, money as servant—then you can truly live a life of both spiritual abundance and earthly fruitfulness.
Luke 16 is filled with deep and practical teaching about money.I’ll be sharing more in my full “Biblical View of Money” seminar.
But for today, remember this one key truth:Jesus doesn’t want you to reject money. He wants you to put it in its proper place.Put God on the throne, and money under your stewardship.
When you understand the master-servant relationship, you can enjoy both:
✅ a rich, steady, grounded spiritual life
✅ and a healthy, purposeful, abundant material life.
Money is not the problem—your heart is.
Here’s today’s spiritual reflection:
Are you using money… or is money using you?Are you managing your money… or is your money managing you?
This is what Jesus wants you to truly reflect on.
Tomorrow, we’ll continue with the second half of Luke 16, and explore what Jesus says about the Law and the Kingdom of God.
May God bless you with wisdom and peace.
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