Luke 16: Faithful with Little

Jesus tells a parable about a shrewd manager and teaches that whoever is faithful with little is faithful with much. No one can serve both God and money. He then tells of a rich man who ignored a poor man named Lazarus, showing that God's Word is enough to lead us to repentance.

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Read Luke 16

World English Bible · 31 verses

¹ He also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² He called him, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ “The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from management, they may receive me into their houses.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ Calling each one of his lord’s debtors to him, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe to my lord?’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ He said, ‘A hundred batos of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ “His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² If you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to one and despise the other. You aren’t able to serve God and Mammon.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they scoffed at him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ “The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the Good News of God’s Kingdom is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tiny stroke of a pen in the law to fall.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ “Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ He cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But here he is now comforted and you are in anguish.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that no one may cross over from there to us.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ “He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house—This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ for I have five brothers—that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ “But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ “He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ “He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Luke 16 · Preschool

Be Faithful

Name Date

Color the picture.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”

Luke 16:10 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Ask: What little job can you do well?

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Luke 16 · Grade 4

Using What God Gives

Name Date

Read and Think

Jesus told a surprising parable. A manager wasted his master's goods and was about to be fired. He called the people who owed his master and lowered their bills, so they would welcome him later. The master praised him for acting wisely, not for being dishonest. Jesus taught that we should use what we have with wisdom and with eternity in mind.

Jesus said faithfulness starts with small things. If we are not faithful with money, who will trust us with true riches? No servant can serve two masters. We will love one and hate the other. You cannot serve God and money. The money-loving Pharisees scoffed, but Jesus said God knows their hearts.

Then Jesus told about a rich man who lived in comfort while poor Lazarus lay at his gate, hungry and sick. After they died, Lazarus was comforted, and the rich man was in torment. The rich man begged for Lazarus to warn his five brothers. Abraham said that if they would not listen to Moses and the prophets, they would not be persuaded even if someone rose from the dead.

Show What You Know

Why did the master praise the manager?
Where does faithfulness start?
Why could the Pharisees not fool God?
What did Abraham say about the five brothers?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

moneyloveservefaithfulGod

If we are not with money, who will trust us with true riches?
No servant can two masters.
We will one and hate the other.
You cannot serve and money.
The -loving Pharisees scoffed, but Jesus said God knows their hearts.

Think About It

What is a small thing God has trusted you with? How can you be faithful with it?
The rich man walked past Lazarus every day. Who might God want you to notice and help?

Memory Verse

“He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”

Luke 16:10 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you be honest with money?
How can you be faithful with little things?
Who near you is hungry or alone, and what can you do?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Luke 16 · Grade 5

Moses and the Prophets

Name Date

Read and Think

Luke 16 is about money and the heart. Jesus told of a dishonest manager who, about to lose his job, reduced his master's debts so people would receive him later. The master commended his shrewdness. Jesus' point is that worldly people often plan carefully for their future, while God's people can be careless. We should use earthly wealth to bless others, with eternity in view.

Jesus taught that he who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. Money is a small thing compared to true riches. It is also a test of loyalty. No one can serve two masters, and we cannot serve God and money. The Pharisees, who loved money, ridiculed Jesus. He warned that what people highly value can be detestable in the sight of God, who knows the heart.

The chapter ends with a sobering parable. A rich man feasted every day while Lazarus, covered with sores, lay at his gate. When both died, their situations were reversed, and a great chasm separated them. The rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers. Abraham replied that they have Moses and the prophets, and they should listen to them. God's Word is enough to call us to repent. Even Jesus' resurrection would not convince people who refuse to listen to Scripture.

Show What You Know

What is Jesus' main point in the parable of the shrewd manager?
In what two ways does Jesus describe money?
Why can we not serve God and money?
What was the rich man's sin toward Lazarus?
What does Abraham's answer teach about God's Word?

Crossword

Across

A poor man by the rich man's gate.
The brothers had Moses and the ____.
We cannot serve God and ____.

Down

Be faithful with a ____ and you can be trusted with a lot.
Lazarus was comforted at his side.
Lazarus sat by the rich man's ____.

Think About It

How can you use money, even a little allowance, to serve God and bless others?
Abraham said, Let them listen to them. How are you listening to God's Word this week?

Memory Verse

“But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’

Luke 16:29 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Jesus said whoever is faithful in little is faithful in much. What little things has God trusted you with?
How can you guard your heart from greed?
The Pharisees who loved money laughed at Jesus. How can you keep a light grip on what you own?

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Luke 16: Faithful with Little

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Be Faithful

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Be Faithful

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Faithful with Little

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Faithful in Little Things

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God or Money?

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Using What God Gives

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Moses and the Prophets

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