The Savvy Steward

Is the Price Right?

To start this lesson, we’re going to play Is the Price Right? This game will help you think about what is valuable and what is not. Some things have a clear price, like food or a phone, while other things—like friendship and faith—are priceless. By playing, you’ll see how our ideas of wealth and value can be challenged.

Full instructions for the game can be found here: Is the Price Right?

That game was fun, but was it fair? Some of you may have guessed correctly just by luck. Others may have struggled because prices are not always what we expect. This happens in real life, too. We often judge value based on money, but some of the most important things—like friendship, love, and faith—don’t have a price.

Think about what makes someone wealthy. Is it their house, their car, or their clothes? The world often tells us that money and status are what make a person successful. But does having more really make someone happier? Some of the richest people in the world feel empty, while some of the poorest feel full of joy. True wealth isn’t just about money—it’s about what really matters in life.

Jesus teaches us a different way to see wealth. He reminds us that material things don’t last forever, but love and faith do. Now, let’s take a look at a parable that challenges the way we think about wealth and success.

Luke 16:1-13 (The Parable of the Dishonest Steward) – the Gospel Reading for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C

Jesus said to his disciples,

[“A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’

The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.’

He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’

Then to another the steward said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘One hundred kors of wheat.’ The steward said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.’

And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.

I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. ]

The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones.

If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?

If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours?

No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.

You cannot serve both God and mammon.”

This parable can be a little confusing at first. It might seem like Jesus is saying it’s okay to be dishonest. But that’s not what’s happening here. Jesus is using this story to make an important point about wealth and where we put our trust.

The steward in the story had a very important job. He was in charge of managing his master’s money and property. This meant he had to keep track of debts, make sure people paid what they owed, and handle business affairs wisely. In those days, it was common for stewards to lend out money and charge interest. They also took a commission for themselves. That’s how they made a living.

But this particular steward got carried away. He wasn’t careful with his master’s wealth. Maybe he made risky loans, or maybe he kept too much for himself. Either way, he mismanaged the money, and it caused problems. The master found out and was not happy. He decided to fire the steward.

Now, the steward had a problem. He wasn’t strong enough to do hard labor, and he didn’t want to beg for money. He had to think fast. He decided to make friends who might help him after he lost his job. So, he went to the people who owed his master money and reduced their debts. If someone owed 100 measures of oil, he told them to change the bill to 50. If someone owed 100 measures of wheat, he reduced it to 80.

Why did he do this? He was trying to win favor with these people. He hoped that when he was out of a job, they would be kind to him and maybe even give him a place to stay. It’s possible he was cutting out his own commission. But it’s also likely he was reducing the part that his master was owed. Either way, he had stopped caring about making money and was now focused on building relationships.

Now, here’s the surprising part. When the master found out what the steward had done, he praised him. Not because he had been dishonest, but because he had been clever. The steward finally realized that wealth wasn’t everything. He started thinking about the future in a different way.

Jesus isn’t telling us to be dishonest. He is showing us that even a person of the world, like the dishonest steward, can realize that money isn’t the most important thing. If someone like that can have a change of heart, then we, as followers of Christ, should be even more willing to turn away from the pursuit of wealth and focus on God.

Jesus says, “You cannot serve both God and money.” That’s the key message. Wealth itself isn’t bad, but if we focus too much on it, we stop focusing on God. The steward was so caught up in making money that he lost sight of what was really important. But when he saw he was losing everything, he realized that relationships mattered more than wealth.

We can learn from his mistake. We don’t have to wait until we are in trouble to recognize that God is more important than money. We can start now by trusting God, being generous, and using what we have to help others. The Kingdom of God is worth far more than anything money can buy.

Small group discussions help youth reflect on the lesson and apply it to their lives. Encourage them to share honestly and listen to each other. There are no right or wrong answers, but the goal is to think about what Jesus teaches about wealth and how it affects their choices. Give everyone a chance to speak, and remind them to respect each other’s thoughts and experiences.

• How did the dishonest steward change his thinking about wealth?
• Why do you think the master praised the steward for acting shrewdly?
• Jesus says, “You cannot serve both God and money.” What does that mean to you?
• Do you think wealth is good, bad, or neutral? Why?
• How can someone use wealth in a way that honors God?
• Have you ever been tempted to focus too much on money or material things? What happened?
• What are some ways you can be a good steward of what God has given you?
• How does trusting in God help us worry less about money and success?
• What is one change you can make to put God first instead of focusing on wealth?

This week, pay attention to how wealth and success are shown in movies, social media, and ads. You’ll notice that a lot of messages tell you that having more money, nicer clothes, or the newest phone will make you happier. Some ads even suggest that people will like you more if you have certain things.

When you see these messages, stop and ask yourself: Is this really true? Does having more make me a better person? Think about what really matters—your relationships, your faith, and the way you treat others.

Now, imagine if those same messages encouraged you to love the people around you instead of chasing wealth. What if success wasn’t about money but about kindness, generosity, and faithfulness?

When you see an ad or a post that makes wealth look like the key to happiness, remind yourself that Jesus teaches a different way. Real happiness comes from loving God and loving others, not from having more stuff. Keep that in mind as you go through your week, and see if it changes how you view wealth and success.

Before we close, let’s take a moment to think about the people in our lives who need love and support. There are many who struggle with money, loneliness, or feeling like they are not enough. Some people worry about paying for food or a place to live. Others may feel pressure to chase wealth and success instead of focusing on what truly matters. Let’s pray for them and for ourselves, that we may always put God first and use what we have to help others.

Take a quiet moment to bring to mind someone who needs your prayers. It could be a friend, a family member, or even someone you don’t know personally but who is struggling. Ask God to bless them, to give them peace, and to remind them that they are loved.

Now, let’s pray together the Prayer for Generosity by St. Ignatius of Loyola. (Get a printable copy here.) This prayer reminds us that true wealth is found in giving, not in keeping. It challenges us to love and serve others without expecting anything in return. Pray these words from your heart:

Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve You as You deserve.
To give and not to count the cost,
To fight and not to heed the wounds,
To toil and not to seek for rest,
To labor and not to ask for reward,
Except to know that I am doing Your will.
Amen.

As you leave today, remember that generosity is more than just giving money. It’s about giving your time, your kindness, and your love. Ask God to help you be generous in the way you live and treat others. That is the kind of wealth that truly lasts.

Themes

• God Over Money: We cannot serve both God and wealth. If we focus too much on wealth, we lose sight of what really matters. Trusting God is more important than having money.
• Honesty in Small Things: Jesus teaches that if we are honest in small matters, we will be honest in big ones too. The way we handle money and responsibilities shows our character. Being honest with wealth prepares us for greater blessings.
• Using Wealth Wisely: Money is a tool that can be used for good or bad. Jesus wants us to use wealth in ways that help others and honor God. We should not waste or misuse what we are given.
• Helping Those in Need: Everything we have is a gift from God. Instead of keeping wealth only for ourselves, we should use it to help others. Sharing what we have brings us closer to God.
• Trusting God’s Plan: Wealth is temporary, but God’s love lasts forever. If we trust in money more than God, we will always feel empty. True security comes from faith, not from wealth.
• Being a Good Steward: A steward takes care of what belongs to someone else. Everything we have, including our wealth, belongs to God. We must manage it wisely and use it for good.
• Avoiding Greed: Wanting more and more wealth can take over our hearts. Jesus warns that greed can pull us away from God. We must be careful not to let money control our lives.
• Building Eternal Treasure: Money and possessions do not last forever. Jesus teaches that we should focus on storing up treasure in heaven, not just gaining wealth on earth. Loving and serving God is the best investment.
• Learning from Mistakes: The dishonest steward made bad choices but still learned an important lesson. He realized that wealth is not the most important thing. We can also learn from our mistakes and make better choices.
• Serving God First: Jesus is clear that we must choose between serving God and serving wealth. If we put God first, everything else will fall into place. A life focused on God is richer than any amount of money.

Background Material

Jesus often talked about wealth and how it affects our relationship with God. In the parable of the dishonest steward (Luke 16:1-13), He teaches that money is not the most important thing. The steward realized too late that he had misused his position. He had focused on wealth instead of what truly mattered. This lesson helps us understand that wealth is temporary, but God’s kingdom lasts forever.

The Bible warns about the dangers of wealth when it is not used wisely. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus says, “You cannot serve both God and mammon.” Mammon means wealth or riches. Jesus makes it clear that we must choose what comes first in our lives. If we focus too much on wealth, we will drift away from God. But if we put God first, we will use wealth in ways that honor Him.

Catholic teaching reminds us that money itself is not evil. The problem is how we use it and how much we desire it. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is the root of all evils.” Money can be used for good, but greed can lead to sin. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, “The goods of creation are destined for the whole human race” (CCC 2402). This means wealth should not be used only for personal gain. It should also help those in need.

The Church teaches that we are stewards of what we have. A steward is someone who takes care of things that belong to another. Everything we have comes from God, including our wealth. We must use it wisely and fairly. Jesus calls us to be generous and to care for the poor. In Luke 12:33, He says, “Sell your possessions and give to the needy.” This does not mean we must give away everything, but we should not let wealth control us.

Another key teaching is the idea of justice. The Church teaches that economic systems should be fair and serve the common good. The Catechism says, “A just wage is the legitimate fruit of work” (CCC 2434). This means that business and wealth should be handled honestly. Employers should pay fair wages, and workers should be treated with dignity. Wealth should never be used to exploit others.

This lesson also connects to the call to trust in God. Many people think wealth will make them happy and secure. But Jesus teaches that true security comes from faith, not money. In Matthew 6:19-20, He says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy… but store up treasures in heaven.” Wealth can disappear, but God’s love lasts forever.

Through this lesson, youth will learn that money is a tool, not a goal. They will see that wealth should be used for good and not for selfish gain. They will also be reminded that God, not money, is the source of true happiness. By following Jesus’ teachings, they can learn to be wise and faithful stewards of what they have.

Music Suggestions

• Hold Us Together by Matt Maher
• Living Hope by Phil Wickham
• Can We Love? by Tom Booth
• Canticle of the Turning by Rory Cooney

More Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections

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