08.04 The use of the mammon of unrighteousness

IV. THE USE OF THE MAMMON OF UNRIGTEOUSNESS But does this mean that we are to abandon the world altogether? to treat its duties, its business, its pursuits, its wealth as if it were a Mammon so necessarily unrighteous that we can have no dealings with it? The answer of the parable is, No. This is the second main key to the interpretation. You will find it in verse 9, followed and explained by verses 10 - 1 Chronicles “I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends out of this Mammon of unrighteousness, that when it shall fail, they may receive you into the enternal Tabernacles.” The most startling paradox of our Lord’s command to make friendship for eternity out of this unrighteous Mammon itself arrests the attention. It is as if He said, “Do not suppose that because this Mammon is itself unrighteous you can despise or neglect it. On the contrary you are to use it for your eternal good: you are to accept your use of it as a test of your faithfulness. Taken as a master, followed as in itself an all-sufficient object of life, it is unrighteous; but used as a servant, as an instrument for realizing the glory of God, it is capable of providing you with resources of eternal value.” The parable is a rebuke of a false “other worldliness.” Business, money, position these are opportunities entrusted to us as stewards, for which we have to give an account to our Maker. The parable shows us the place which they have in the service of God.

TAGS: [Parables]