“Make friends for yourselves by means of the unrighteous riches, so that when such fail, they [Jehovah and Jesus] may receive you into the everlasting dwelling places.” What can we learn from Jesus’ counsel?

6. How do we know that today’s commercial system was not part of God’s purpose?

⁶ Although Jesus does not explain why he calls riches “unrighteous,” the Bible makes clear that commercialism was not part of God’s purpose. Jehovah provided abundantly for Adam and Eve’s needs in Eden. (Gen. 2:15, 16) Later, when holy spirit operated on the first-century congregation of anointed ones, “not even one of them would say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.” (Acts 4:32) The prophet Isaiah pointed to the time when all humans would freely enjoy earth’s material resources. (Isa. 25:6-9; 65:21, 22) But in the meantime, Jesus’ followers would need “practical wisdom” to make a living, using the “unrighteous riches” of today’s world while seeking to please God.

WISE USE OF UNRIGHTEOUS RICHES

7. What counsel is found at Luke 16:10-13?

⁷ Read Luke 16:10-13. The steward in Jesus’ illustration made friends for personal benefit. However, Jesus urged his followers to make friends in heaven for unselfish purposes. The verses that follow the illustration connect the use of “unrighteous riches” with faithfulness to God. Jesus’ point was that we can ‘prove ourselves faithful’ with, or control, those riches once we obtain them. How so?

8, 9. Give examples of how some are showing faithfulness in their use of unrighteous riches.

⁸ An obvious way to prove ourselves faithful with our material things is by contributing financially to the worldwide preaching work that Jesus foretold would take place. (Matt. 24:14) A young girl in India kept a small money box and gradually added coins, even giving up toys to do so. When the box was full, she handed the money over to be used for the preaching work. A brother in India who has a coconut farm contributed a large number of coconuts to the Malayalam remote translation office, reasoning that since the office needs to buy coconuts, his supplying them directly will help his contribution to go further than it would if he gave cash. That is practical wisdom. Likewise, brothers in Greece regularly contribute olive oil, cheese, and other foods for the Bethel family.

⁹ A brother from Sri Lanka, now living abroad, has made his property back home available for meetings and assemblies and for housing full-time servants. It is a financial sacrifice for the brother but a great help to the local publishers of little means. In a land where the work is restricted, brothers make their homes available for use as local Kingdom Halls, allowing many pioneers and others with limited funds to have a meeting place without a financial burden.

10. What are some blessings we receive when we give generously?

¹⁰ The foregoing examples show how God’s people are “faithful in what is least,” that is, in their use of material wealth, which is inferior to spiritual riches. (Luke 16:10) How do these friends of Jehovah feel about making such sacrifices? They understand that being generous is a way to gain “true” riches. (Luke 16:11) A sister who contributes regularly to the Kingdom work tells of a blessing she has received: “By being materially generous, I have experienced an unusual phenomenon within myself over the years. I find that the more generous I am materially, the more generous my disposition toward others has become. I am more generous in being forgiving, in being patient with others, and in being able to accept disappointments and counsel.” Many have learned that generosity is spiritually enriching.​—Ps. 112:5; Prov. 22:9.

11. (a) How does our freely giving show “practical wisdom”? (b) What equalizing of finances is taking place among God’s people? (See opening picture.)

¹¹ Using material assets to advance Kingdom interests shows “practical wisdom” in another way. It allows us to take advantage of our circumstances to help others. Those who have this world’s means but cannot share in the full-time ministry or move abroad have the satisfaction of knowing that their donated funds support the ministry of others. (Prov. 19:17) Voluntary contributions help to supply literature and support the preaching work in territories where poverty abounds but where there is great spiritual growth. For years, in such lands as Congo, Madagascar, and Rwanda, brothers often had to choose between having food for their families and having copies of the Bible, which sometimes cost the equivalent of a weekly or a monthly wage. Now, by means of the contributions of many and “an equalizing” of finances, Jehovah’s organization has sponsored the translation and distribution of Bibles to each member of the family as well as to spiritually hungry Bible students. (Read 2 Corinthians 8:13-15.) Thus, Jehovah’s friendship is being freely extended to both the givers and the receivers.

16. (a) What lies ahead for today’s commercial system? (b) How should what we know about the future affect our view of material wealth?

¹⁶ Jesus said: “When such [unrighteous riches] fail,” not ‘if they fail.’ (Luke 16:9) Bank and economic collapses that have occurred in these last days are insignificant when compared with what will happen on a world scale in the near future. Satan’s entire system​—political, religious, and commercial—​is destined to fail. The prophets Ezekiel and Zephaniah foretold that gold and silver, staples of the commercial world through the centuries, will become worthless. (Ezek. 7:19; Zeph. 1:18) How would we feel if we reached the end of our life in this world and realized that we had sacrificed true riches for a vast store of this world’s “unrighteous riches”? We could feel like a man who has worked all his life for a pile of money, only to learn that it is counterfeit. (Prov. 18:11) Yes, such riches will ultimately fail, so do not lose the opportunity to use them to “make friends” in heaven. Whatever we do to advance the interests of Jehovah’s Kingdom makes us spiritually rich.