Eternal Reciprocity

• “Sons of this world/age” refers to non-believers or those prioritizing worldly riches and power over spiritual fulfillment.
• “Sons of light” designates believers committed to God’s kingdom.

In Luke 16:1–9, Jesus presents His disciples with the Parable of the Unrighteous Steward. The narrative centers around a manager who is dismissed due to poor stewardship of a wealthy individual's estate. Facing uncertainty regarding his future livelihood, the manager devises a strategic plan: he meets with his former employer’s debtors and reduces their debts significantly. By doing so, he secures their goodwill, creating a social obligation for them to assist him later. The master acknowledges the manager’s ingenuity (though it was wickedly self-serving) in leveraging resources to secure his own welfare.

This parable underscores the importance of prudence, as Jesus notes that those focused on worldly pursuits demonstrate greater skill in reciprocity and advancing temporal ambitions than those devoted to spiritual aims. He encourages His disciples to exercise discernment by using their stewardship of material assets to foster enduring relationships.

• What is reciprocity????
• The law of reciprocity refers to a social and psychological phenomenon when people feel obliged to give back to someone who gave them something. This law is present in all sorts of situations, including both personal and professional relationships. In fact, the need to reciprocate what others have done for us seems to be an inborn quality within all human beings. It is present from childhood and is significant in our learning of socialization.
  • This is also present in spiritual matters. When we sow seeds of kindness to others, we store up a harvest of blessing here on earth but more importantly in our eternal home. (This is what Jesus was talking about in verse 9.)
  • By being kind, when the riches of this earth fail us and we are resurrected into eternity, the kindness will be reciprocated to us in our eternal home.
    • (Luke 12:33 NKJV) "Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.
    • (1 Timothy 6:18-19 NKJV) Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Jesus’ explanation of the parable consists of an observation, an exhortation, and a promise.

• The observation notes that worldly individuals skillfully exploit the principle of reciprocity for their benefit, whereas believers often overlook this opportunity. (Spiritual reciprocation!)
• The exhortation urges His followers to gain insight and leverage their material resources to support others.
• The promise is that in doing so they are accumulating transformative benefits that endure beyond this life.

Jesus encourages the faithful to maximize their opportunities, pursue Him wholeheartedly, aim for eternal treasures, and avoid distraction by the transient nature of material wealth. Ultimately, God expects His people to utilize all possessions entrusted to them for the benefit of others. In doing so, believers create lasting advantages for themselves, which manifest in the next life. While the shrewd steward secured temporary accommodations for himself, Jesus instructs His disciples to serve others in ways that cannot be repaid materially, ensuring we are welcomed into eternal dwellings.

Let’s think about this perspective for a second. What does that look like in my life? (Trust me, I am not always on target with this. I often miss the mark.) How do I use what God has blessed me with to serve others and not myself? What are some examples? Here is one: I have been blessed with a car to drive; should I not then be willing to offer a ride to someone who is in need of one? In fact, by God’s standards, the very day that I purchased my car, I should have done so with the thought of how I could use it for God’s Glory front and center in my mind. Those thoughts should have played a role in the entire decision to buy it. (As previously stated, I missed this opportunity. Those intensions were nowhere in my thought process.) Praise God for mercy and grace. HE never ceases to give us more opportunities.

As members of God's family, believers should strive to follow Christ. A few examples of what this means is: 

• Prioritize His kingdom and righteousness. We must place bringing glory to our Lord and Savior far above any of our own fleshly desires.
  • (Matthew 6:33 NKJV) "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
• Take up their cross daily. To place priority on God’s Glory means that we have to “crucify the flesh” and serve the needs of others before self.
  • (Luke 9:23 NKJV) Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
• Walk by faith. We cannot let earthly circumstances define our reality. We are called to have faith in the reality that we cannot see. HE is sovereign.
  • (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV) For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Embracing this “others before self” perspective requires several attitude evaluations:

1. Recognizing that everything belongs to God. Understanding that all possessions are ultimately His. Have you heard the phrase “All means All.”? Nothing that I have is actually mine. My home, my car, my children, my husband, and even my own body. They are not mine; they are God’s. I am only the steward of them.
   • (Psalm 24:1 NKJV) The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
   • (Psalm 50:10 NKJV) For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills.
2. Making stewardship decisions based on whom to serve—God or material wealth (similarly; others or self). Every single one of those things that God has entrusted me with should be used or loved in a way that brings God honor. I am to steward them with the intent to serve others before myself and to serve God not riches or power.
   • The Church in ACTS 2 gave a great example of this. They had everything in common, sharing it all so than no one was lacking.
3. Acknowledging the fleeting nature of earthly possessions and acting with urgency, knowing my time as steward is brief. We are rapidly approaching a day when our time of stewarding God’s belongings will end. It is at this time that we will be “audited”. Oh, that we be found worthy stewards.
   • (James 4:14 NKJV) whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
   • (Romans 14:12 NKJV) So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
4. Valuing eternal benefits above temporary gains. Earthly riches and power will fail. It is all temporary. We must get this truth in our spirits. All the comforts of this world mean nothing compared to our eternal home. That is where the real treasure lies.
   • (1 Timothy 6:10-12 NKJV) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Fun Fact: “I say to you”

In Jewish teaching it was common for the Rabbi to quote a more esteemed Rabbi in order to give credibility to what he was teaching. He would say, “ As Rabbi (so and so) would say…”. This would be evidence of the validity of his teaching. Proving it by the authority of the esteemed Rabbi.

• In verse 9, Jesus is teaching in the same manor. However, it was His own authority that He gave as validation. In the place of “Rabbi so and so says”, Jesus used the phrase “I say to you”.
• Jesus claiming this authority shocked the people and enraged the Pharisees and religious leaders. They thought He was being presumptuous and arrogant.
• However, this change in wording was obviously appropriate. He has supreme authority. Praise Jesus!
  • (Matthew 28:18 NKJV) And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
  • (Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV) Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In closing I would like to bring your attention to one final thought. Living by the “others before self” mentality is not to be done simply to gain reciprocation from God Almighty. That would be an oxymoron. If I do good for others in order to receive a blessing, am I not serving self? The motivation matters. We are to live by this perspective because our love for Jesus changes us in such a way that bringing honor and glory to HIM is the desire of our hearts. Eternal blessings are not our aim; they are the byproduct of a genuine love for God and the people that HE created.

May the Lord bless and keep you; make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May He lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.