Into Everlasting Habitations

In Luke 16 Christ told a parable about an unjust servant. An accusation had been brought against him to his master that he was wasting his master's goods (v.1). The master called the servant and asked him to give account of his stewardship (v.2). He told the servant that he was going to take the stewardship away from him.

At this point the steward did not know what to do (v.3). He realized that he would be relying on his relationships with others once his stewardship was over. He resolved to call up his master's debtors and settle their accounts. He asked them to pay only 50 or 80 when they owed 100. Apparently this effort was successful and the master received the payments with appreciation. He commended his servant for acting shrewdly and the stewardship was not terminated (v.8).

Jesus then concluded the parable with this statement (Luke 16:9) - "And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal (everlasting - KJV) habitations." Simply put, when we are faithful and honest in our earthly relationships, people of the world will see our good works and God will be glorified (Matt. 5:14-16). When Christians teach people of the world by both word and example, the possibilities for conversions abound. Once a person has been led to Christ and puts on Christ (Gal. 3:27), our Lord promises a reunion for us together with that person in heaven, our everlasting habitation.

One thing we must notice from the statement in verse 9 ("making friends by unrighteous mammon") is that Christ is not telling us to love or befriend the world more than we befriend and love Him. James tells us that whoever desires to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:4). But there is a difference between loving the world and its pleasures and having friends that are in the world. Christians encounter people of the world every day (1 Cor. 5:10). It is through such encounters that we can appeal to people on behalf of Christ. Won't we be more successful in conversion when we have relationships with others that have been built on kindness, honesty, and integrity?

God expects every Christian to be a good steward. If you doubt this read the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30). At the end of this parable Jesus said that the unprofitable servant will be "cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 25:30). All this because the wicked servant had not recognized how important it was to do the best with what had been given by God. Compared to eternity, God has given us only a few things and little time. He knows that "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much" (Luke 16:10). He then tells us that if we have not been found faithful in unrighteous mammon (worldly goods and possessions), we cannot be trusted with the true riches (heaven) (Luke 16:11).

It is important for Christians to remember what God is looking for in us. What you do on the job, in school, or in any other secular activity will reflect on how much you want to obey and follow God's way of doing things. We must love Christ and His church over them all - God must be our only master (Luke 16:13). When He becomes our master in everything we do and is present everywhere we go, we will be good stewards. Then we, along with those that we come into contact with - can have great hopes for being received into everlasting habitations.

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." - Matthew 5:14