In Luke 16:9, Jesus declares, I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. Unrighteous mammon refers to wealth or money gained through sinful ways, becoming a power for evil in the hands of sinful people. Jesus instructs that we should use this mammon with spiritual wisdom, just as shrewdly as the unjust steward used his secular cunning in the parable. We are to make true friends by investing in their spiritual education, putting our treasure toward preparing for the Kingdom of God. Our hearts should focus on doing the work of the gospel so that others might be converted and become our friends. In this life, we must put wealth and money to good use by promoting the Kingdom of God, using it to yield eternal dividends. When the money loses its value and we no longer have use for it in this life, unrighteous mammon will fail at the return of Jesus Christ. Only if we have been faithful in handling the material blessings of this life will God commit to us the eternal treasures that He promises.

It is a delusion to think that one can serve two masters equally. This is as impossible as walking on both sides of the street at the same time. The advice is to set your will and make the appropriate sacrifices to devotedly serve God, not mammon. An interesting thing about mammon is that Jesus personified it, giving it human qualities. Therefore, mammon represents the prince of this world, the builder of this world. It represents satan, and if we serve mammon, we are serving satan. It is impossible to serve God and satan equally. We must turn our attention to the right treasure and ensure we are not chasing after mammon, for we cannot take mammon or its qualities, powers, influence, or notoriety through the grave. If we are distracted by chasing after mammon, we will have nothing of lasting value to carry beyond this life.

In the teachings of Jesus Christ, as presented in the Parable of the Unjust Steward, there is a clear distinction between two kinds of wealth. One is referred to as unrighteous mammon, described as that which is least and that which is another's. This wealth, while not inherently evil, is transient and non-permanent, unable to be carried through the grave. Jesus warns against allowing efforts and focus in stewardship to be eclipsed by mammon, emphasizing that it should not take precedence over the pursuit of true riches, which are eternal and can be carried into the Kingdom of God. The implication is that it is better to be wise and poor than rich and foolish, as the allure of mammon can dominate the heart and mind, creating a false sense of security and hope that cannot endure beyond death. Mammon holds a powerful influence over those who possess much of it, often leading them to place their trust, security, and hopes in wealth rather than in God. This misplaced trust is a significant problem, as true security and hope should rest in Him, who is the ultimate Defender. The danger of mammon lies in its ability to foster a false faith that fails to carry through the grave, for money cannot redeem a person from death, buy character, or secure a place in the Kingdom of God. God requires proper stewardship of mammon as well as spiritual matters, but He teaches that the true riches are of far greater value, with no adequate comparison to unrighteous mammon. The comparison between true riches and mammon reveals a stark contrast. While mammon can be considered good, it is easily turned into something evil due to human nature, often leading the wealthy to take advantage of the poor. This tendency to oppress and exploit through wealth creates a historical pattern where the rich grow richer by preying on the weak. Yet, as emphasized, mammon is ultimately useless in the face of death, unable to purchase eternal life or lasting honor. The only way to ensure a lasting legacy is to carry into the grave a heart and character pleasing to God, something mammon cannot achieve. Thus, the stewardship of life must prioritize eternal values over the fleeting allure of unrighteous mammon.