Managing Your Money

WE HAVE SUPPOSEDLY left the high-flying 1980s decade of greed. In 1985 Ivan Boesky was commencement speaker at a prestigious school of business administration in California. He said to the graduating class, "Greed is all right, by the way. I want you to know that I think greed is healthy. You can be greedy and still feel good about yourself." Sad, yes. And the response of those young men and women was just as sad. They laughed and applauded. A year and a half later Boesky was in prison for his runaway greed. The two parables in our present chapter show Jesus' judgment on the proper use of money.

Warming Up to God

Why do you like money?

Read Luke 16.

Discovering the Word

1. Jesus' parable in verses 1-18 is quite straightforward. His application, however, seems not as clear (vv. 8b-9). At first reading, how does he seem to be applying the parable to his disciples?

2. Where in the context could you show that Jesus is not condoning greed and dishonesty? 3. According to Jesus in verses 10-15, what does our management of money have to do with our standing before God?

3. In the first part of the parable in verses 19-31 Jesus contrasts the earthly status of Lazarus and the rich man, and then their different eternal states. What does Jesus want the Pharisees to see about the relationship of money in this life and in the life after death?

4. In the second part of the parable we learn more about life after death (vv. 26-31). What facts and implications do you observe about this dimension of existence?

Applying the Word

1. How should these parables affect your present use of money?
2. What practical actions would help you to use your money more effectively?

Responding in Prayer

Our relatives and friends are not all skeptics. Pray that Jesus' teaching on life after death may spur you to more personal evangelism with those who are still open.

inter varsity press