Bible Questions Answered:
How can the friends of unrighteousness receive anyone into heaven?
Alex P./ Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saskatchewan
Bible Answer:
The scripture, to which you refer is....
Luke 16:8,9 KJV
[8] And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
[9] And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Here is the meaning of the word “mammon.”
Aramaic: (Mamona: Riches)
Greek: (Mammonas: Wealth)
And so, the phrase,”the mammon of unrighteousness;” refers to riches, and it's worship, which is “unrighteous-ness.
“Mammon of unrighteousness,” times may change, but people do not. Wealth, is still made a god, today.
Our currency may, indeed state, “In God we trust,” but the god most trust in, is the money itself.
Worshiped, revered for it's power, bowed down to, no sacrifice too great.
Here again are these verses in the New Living Translation.
Luke 16:1-9 NLT
1"There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer's money.
2 So the employer called him in and said, 'What's this I hear about you? Get your report in order, because you are going to be fired.'
3 "The manager thought to himself, 'Now what? My boss has fired me. I don't have the strength to dig ditches, and I'm too proud to beg.
4 Ah, I know how to ensure that I'll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.'
5 "So he invited each person who owed money to his employer to come and discuss the situation. He asked the first one, 'How much do you owe him?
6 The man replied, 'I owe him 800 gallons of olive oil.' So the manager told him, 'Take the bill and quickly change it to 400 gallons.*'
7 "'And how much do you owe my employer?' he asked the next man. 'I owe him 1,000 bushels of wheat,' was the reply. 'Here,' the manager said, 'take the bill and change it to 800 bushels.
8 "The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.
9 Here's the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.
I Timothy 6:10-11 KJV
[6] But godliness with contentment is great gain.
[7] For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
[8] And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
[9] But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
[10] For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
[11] But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
We certainly cannot buy our way into heaven, but our giving as Christ's stewards, can certainly be rewarded and precede us there!
Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Jesus)
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Matthew 10:37-42 KJV
[37] He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
[38] And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
[39] He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
[40] He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth Him that sent me.
[41] He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
[42] And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Luke 16:9 NLT
“Here's the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.”
As Christians, we are to be Stewards of God earth, and all it's riches.
We through the wise use of our tithes, and monies may win souls for the Kingdom of God!
Proverbs 11:30 KJV
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”
Daniel 12:3 KJV
“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
Dear Christian, when your time comes to go home, will anyone there, greet you in thanksgiving because of your earthly generosity?
