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What Did Jesus Mean by “Unrighteous Wealth”?

What Did Jesus Mean by “Unrighteous Wealth”?

Last updated on: October 3, 2025 at 1:02 pm by Rick Rice

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What Did Jesus Mean by “Unrighteous Wealth”? 2025-10-03T13:02:25-04:00 Rick Rice

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In Luke 16, Jesus challenges us to use our “unrighteous wealth” for our eternal good. What does He mean by “unrighteous wealth”? And how do we use it for eternal good?

Scripture:

Ezra, chapters 5-6; Psalm 138; Luke, chapter 16

Luke 16:9-15 (NASB):

“And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it is all gone, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. The one who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and the one who is unrighteous in a very little thing is also unrighteous in much.

Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true wealth to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were ridiculing Him. And He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of people, but God knows your hearts; because that which is highly esteemed among people is detestable in the sight of God.”

Observations: Unrighteous Wealth

One of the first things that stands out in today’s passage is Jesus’ use of the phrase “unrighteous wealth.” What does that mean? At first glance, we might interpret it to mean “wealth gained in wrongful ways.” I would suggest, however, that it probably does not mean that. Why would Jesus encourage His followers to use “unrighteous wealth” for their benefit? If unrighteous wealth is that gained in immoral ways, contrary to God’s commands, then those who gain such wealth could not really be followers of Jesus, could they?

So “unrighteous wealth” probably means something else. In my view, unrighteous wealth is simply wealth as the world defines it, rather than wealth as God defines it. This is consistent with Jesus’ statement in verse 11 that we will not be entrusted with “the true wealth” if we have not been faithful in the use of “unrighteous wealth.” True wealth, then, would be spiritual life and power. Those who seek God’s Kingdom first will receive everything else that they need; those who seek “unrighteous wealth” will “have their reward in full,” to use Jesus’ phrase from Matthew 6.

Using Unrighteous Wealth in Righteous Ways

Going back to verse 9, Jesus tells us to “make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it is gone, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings.” That means that there are appropriate ways to use this world’s wealth. And, conversely, there are inappropriate ways to use it. Most of us would probably agree with that.

But what does Jesus mean when he says to make friends by the use of worldly wealth? The key is in the statement that when our worldly wealth is gone, these friends will receive you into the eternal dwellings. What kind of “friends” are able to receive us into the “eternal dwellings?” The “friend that sticks closer than a brother” – Jesus (see John 15:13-15). Jesus says that we are His friends if we do what He commands. Therefore, I suggest that what Jesus is saying in today’s passage is that we are to use our worldly wealth in the ways that He directs. By doing that, we demonstrate that we are His friends – and He will welcome us into God’s Kingdom.

Application: Using Unrighteous Wealth in God’s Way

Okay, here’s where it really hit home with me today. Most Christians would probably respond in a few ways. First, “I’m not wealthy.” Well, that’s a matter of perspective. We might not be wealthy compared to the zillionaires we see and read about online, but we probably are wealthy compared to people in the rest of the world. And it’s not so much a question of “how much?” but “how do we use what we have?” The poor widow only had two pennies, but she gave them to God (see Mark 12:41-44). Are we allowing God to direct us in the ways we use what He has given us?

The second response might be to compare ourselves with someone else. “Well, I give this much, but what are they giving?” Again, that’s the wrong perspective. God doesn’t grade us on a curve. The question is not how we’re doing compared with someone else. Am I doing what God has called me to do?

Worldly Values and Self-Justification

But the final point comes in Jesus’ comment to the Pharisees at the end of our passage. “That which is highly esteemed among people is detestable in the sight of God.” The world’s whole way system of values and importance is out of whack. The world values power and wealth and importance. God values obedience and faithfulness and love. If we’re chasing the world’s goals and ignoring God’s values, we’re on the wrong track – no matter how we may try to justify our actions.

I fear that too many people today are chasing worldly goals – particularly power. We justify our thirst for power by pointing to our objectives – claiming we’re doing God’s will. But God never needs us to use ungodly means to achieve His purposes. He may use ungodly people, but that doesn’t mean that He approves of their methods. Nor should we. Instead of chasing and craving power, Jesus spoke truth to power. He calls those of us who follow Him to do the same.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for reminding us that this world’s ways are not Your ways. The world values power and wealth and fame. You remind us that you humble the proud and exalt the humble. Help us to walk in Your ways today, that we might bring glory to You. Show us how to use the things You have entrusted to us in ways that honor You. Amen.

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