16:8Luke 16:8

The lord who praised the steward was his rich earthly master, not God, and the praise was for shrewd foresight in securing a welcome after dismissal, not for dishonesty or fraud.COL 366.3–367.4+2 The steward's sharp planning for his temporal future is held up to teach thoughtful provision for eternity instead of selfish living for the present.Ms 4, 1900, par. 2–4+2 Earthly means are unrighteous mammon lent by God as the least trust, and using them freely for His glory and the good of others lays up treasure in heaven and friends to receive the faithful to everlasting habitations, while withholding them proves unfaithfulness that disqualifies for the true riches of eternal life.1T 198.1–2+2 True wisdom is to use goods still in hand to prepare for the time when stewardship will be taken away, by imparting to others rather than gathering for self, for hoarded wealth will be worthless in the final judgment.COL 369.5+2 The rebuke of the verse is that children of this world show more practical wisdom, earnestness, zeal and steadfastness in serving themselves than children of light show in serving God with the abilities, influence and money entrusted to bless others and relieve suffering.ST Jun 22, 1915+2

The lord who praised the steward was the rich worldly master himself, not God, and his praise was for shrewdness in arranging a welcome after losing his position, not approval of dishonesty, fraud or robbery.COL 366.3–367.4+4 To have done wisely means to have acted with sharp worldly cleverness and alert purposefulness in securing temporal interests and providing for self.COL 366.3–367.4+2 Christ used the incident to turn the lesson away from living for selfish interests toward thoughtful, unselfish provision for eternity, showing that worldly people often pursue their aims with greater practical wisdom than those professing to belong to God's kingdom pursue heavenly treasure.COL 366.3–367.4+3 Even publicans who recognized their own dishonest practices in the picture could learn from it a lesson of spiritual truth about foresight among their peers compared with the pursuit of higher aims by people of spiritual light.COL 368.1–2

The saying met intense worldliness in which men subordinated the eternal to the temporal and the claims of the future to the affairs of the present.COL 366.1–2 They mistook phantoms for realities and realities for phantoms because they did not by faith behold the unseen world, while Satan presented the things of this life as all-attractive and all-absorbing and they gave heed to his temptations.COL 366.1–2 Christ came to change this order of things and to break the infatuating, ensnaring spell, adjusting the claims of heaven and earth to turn thoughts from the present to the future.COL 366.1–2 He called men from pursuit of the things of time to make provision for eternity.COL 366.1–2

The steward entrusted with another's goods pictures Israel, delivered from bondage in Egypt and made depositaries of sacred truth and the living oracles to communicate light for the blessing of the world.COL 369.3–4+1 Those gifts entrusted for benevolent purposes for the benefit of others were used for self-enrichment and self-exaltation instead of for God's glory, with thought only for the present and no provision for the time when there would be nothing of one's own.COL 369.3–4+1 True wisdom is to use goods still in hand to provide for the future when stewardship will be taken away, working on a new plan of imparting to others instead of gathering for self, so as to secure friends who will receive one when cast out.ST Jun 22, 1915 The application falls especially on the scribes and Pharisees and the impenitent Jewish nation in pride, covetousness and avarice, whose stewardship was soon to be taken from them and who were called to provide for the future, since only by seeking the good of others and imparting God's gifts in the present life could they benefit themselves and provide for eternity.COL 369.3–4+2 Tampering with dishonest practices leads onward into greater evil, exposing selfishness and avarice that serves mammon instead of making mammon serve the interests of God's kingdom, and riches obtained by robbery and unjust dealing bring no lasting gain.Ms 4, 1900, par. 1

The parable was given to teach faithful stewardship of earthly means, which are the unrighteous mammon lent by God and are the least, while the true riches are the immortal inheritance.1T 198.1–2 Using what is lent here for God's glory and imparting freely to advance His cause lays up treasure in heaven, so that when earthly possessions fail Jesus and angels become friends to receive the faithful steward to everlasting habitations.1T 198.1–2 He who is faithful in earthly possessions by making judicious use of what was lent him will be true to his profession and can be entrusted with much, and he who is faithful in that which is another man's will be given that which is his own, but he who withholds from God what was lent him is unjust in much and unfaithful in the things of God in every respect.1T 198.1–2 If proved unfaithful in managing what is lent here he will never be given the immortal inheritance, for though redemption has been purchased, life here is probation to prove worthiness for eternal life by the earthly trust.1T 198.1–2 No one can serve God and mammon, and if any man loves the world the love of the Father is not in him.1T 198.1–2

True wisdom is using goods still in hand to provide for the time when stewardship will be taken away, by working on a new plan of imparting to others instead of gathering for self and thinking only of the present.COL 369.5+1 The lord's goods had been entrusted to the steward for benevolent purposes for the benefit of others, but he had used them for himself and made no provision for when he would have nothing of his own, and his wisdom lay in securing friends who would receive him when cast out.COL 369.5+1 That foresight teaches sharing God's gifts to benefit others in this life as preparation for eternity, and those who spend life accumulating treasure and neglecting the needy are less wise than he was in securing even earthly support.COL 369.5+2 At the final judgment hoarded silver and gold will be worthless and cast aside in fear, and no one can claim it as his own.COL 372.1–2+1

The steward's calculation of how to secure his future after losing his position is in that one respect an example of foresight to be learned from.Ms 204, 1903, par. 4–6 God's people should wisely invest entrusted means in the work of the gospel so that others can prepare for the eternal home Christ promised, rather than wasting it on display, speculation, or buildings that do not glorify God.Ms 204, 1903, par. 4–6 The teaching about the mammon of unrighteousness calls people to use means for God's work rather than selfish purposes, and its message is unpopular because it challenges those who want to keep wealth for themselves.Lt 65, 1884, par. 6–11

Children of this world when in financial embarrassment set to work to save themselves from utter ruin, while children of light in peril of being put out of their stewardship by God do not realize their danger and would change the order of things if they saw it.Ms 4, 1900, par. 5 A selfish grasping of riches and a selfish use of them proves unfaithfulness to trust and disqualifies for higher trusts, for unfaithfulness in little things means unfaithfulness in larger matters.Ms 4, 1900, par. 5 All are on trial to prove whether worldly ambition, greed, and grasping every advantage for self alone will characterize life.Ms 4, 1900, par. 5

Tampering with dishonest practices leads onward into greater evil, exposing selfishness and avarice that serves mammon instead of making mammon serve the interests of God's kingdom on earth, and riches obtained by robbery and unjust dealing bring no lasting gain.Ms 4, 1900, par. 1 In perfect accord with 1 Timothy 6, the parable warns that men may be so deceived as to suppose gain is godliness and wealth is evidence of favor with God.Ms 4, 1900, par. 1+1

The parable is a basis for accountability for how what God entrusts is used, applied to those who excuse themselves from Christian service on grounds of inability.COL 365.3 Their claimed inability results from inactivity and deliberate choice, and continued misuse quenches the Holy Spirit as the only light, so that resulting loss and final darkness confirm their own choice.COL 365.3

Those devoted to worldly aims show in their own sphere more practical wisdom, earnestness, zeal, energy and steadfastness in serving themselves than professed children of God show in serving Him.ST Jun 22, 1915+4 This contrast held in Christ's day and remains a warning and rebuke now.ST Jun 22, 1915+1 God entrusts His people with abilities, influence and money to bless others, relieve suffering and care for the needy, and they must not be slow or inactive when new opportunities arise.ST Jun 22, 1915+2 Even diligence in protecting temporal lives puts professed faith to shame when Christians fail to take their responsibility to shine for others just as seriously.ST May 24, 1910 Those skilled in worldly affairs who enter God's service may still fail to apply their sound judgment and energy to the cause, assuming it will advance without their effort, which exposes misplaced use of God-given ability and calls for active faith and responsibility in His work.Lt 28, 1859, par. 12–15

Men of the world study to be courteous and pleasing, carefully shaping speech and manners and cultivating knowledge and abilities as skillfully as possible to gain influence over associates.2MR 109.4+1 Children of light should be equally thoughtful and skillful in conduct, acting with knowledge, refinement, tact, courtesy, careful thought and understanding of human nature so their manner does not make truth repulsive and more may be led to accept it.2MR 109.4+2 Their effort to make themselves attractive in manner in order to influence others is not itself sinful, and Christians may cultivate courteous and kindly ways.Ms 37, 1885, par. 6–10 Truth or principle must never be sacrificed for worldly politeness, nor truth made repulsive through abrupt or unwise approaches.Ms 37, 1885, par. 6–10+1

Worldly business shows practical wisdom in planning and sharing weighty responsibility among several capable people, preparing others to take their place so work continues if a leader fails or becomes unable to serve.Lt 12, 1885, par. 10–11+2 God's people should learn this wisdom by educating and encouraging others to think, plan and share the work.11MR 79.4–80.2+1 No work should depend so heavily on one person that none is prepared to continue it.STMW6 66.1–3

Worldly people use greater foresight, effort and regular systems to advance their aims and seize opportunities, as seen when other publishers build systems to put books of no vital interest on the market while children of light are indolent and thoughtless in spreading truth.4T 389.2+2 The verse rebukes failure to use the press and every means to counter error and spread the light of divine truth.4T 389.2+1 Golden opportunities arising almost daily to place truth-filled books and silent messengers in homes and before individuals must not be let pass.LS 363.2–364.1+1 Instead of leaving only one living preacher where there should be a hundred, talents are to be used to save souls, with hundreds carrying light through cities, villages and towns, agitating the public mind and bearing light as channels into all parts of the field to those in darkness.CEv 79.1

Those without the light of truth can act more wisely within their own sphere by carefully watching professed believers and judging whether their lives match their profession, especially regarding the Sabbath and the fourth commandment.HSFM 218.5–219.1+2 Their conclusions strongly influence whether others accept or reject the truth.HSFM 218.5–219.1+2 Those who have the truth must therefore live in harmony with the Bible and honor God's commandments in both teaching and example in order to be a light in the world.HSFM 218.5–219.1+2

Boxers and racers carefully preserve health and train the body as the instrument for their contest, while teachers and trainers of youth neglect the laws of health for their higher work.HTL6 40.1–41.3 Teachers should not let worldly athletes outdo them in wisdom about the body, but should learn human physiology, obey its laws religiously, and get and keep health as the indispensable instrument for endurance, mental power and the best finish of all work.HTL6 40.1–41.3