Today’s devotion is Luke 16:1-13 which covers the parable of the shrewd but unrighteous steward. Here is the full chapter – Click here: Luke 16 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com
We will focus on verses 11 through 13.
“11 “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?
12 “And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Luke 16:11-13. (Emphasis added.)
This devotion will focus on “the true riches”, but it seems appropriate to first at least briefly consider being “faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth”. I will cover it by being more general: “whatever you do“. Emphasis is frequently added in these Scriptures by bold and italic font and by underline.
Colossians 3:17
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
Colossians 3:23
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,”
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,”
Ephesians 6:8
“knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.”
“knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.”
So, what are “the true riches”?
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44. ”Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45-46.
Although “true riches” cannot be captured by just a review of the keyword “riches”, we can learn a lot about true riches by reviewing these verses. There are a lot of riches, so there are a lot of verses. 
Psalm 119:14
“I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.”
“I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.”
Romans 2:4
“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”
“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”
Romans 9:23
“And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,”
“And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,”
Romans 10:12
“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;”
“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;”
Romans 11:33
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”
Ephesians 1:7
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace”
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace”
Ephesians 1:18
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”
Ephesians 2:7
“so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
“so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 3:8
“To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,”
“To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,”
Ephesians 3:16
“that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,”
“that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,”
Colossians 1:27
“to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
“to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Even if we add the keyword “treasure”, “true riches” cannot be captured by just a review of the keyword “treasure”, but we can also learn a lot about true riches by reviewing these verses.
Psalm 119:11
Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
“1 My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,
2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
3 For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:1-6.
And treasure my commandments within you,
2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
3 For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:1-6.
Proverbs 7:1
“My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you.”
“My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you.”
Isaiah 33:5-6
“5 The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high;
He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
6 And He will be the stability of your times,
A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge;
The fear of the LORD is his treasure.”
He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
6 And He will be the stability of your times,
A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge;
The fear of the LORD is his treasure.”
Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 12:35
“The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.”
“The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.”
Matthew 13:52
“And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
“And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
Matthew 19:21
“Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
“Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Luke 2:19
“But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.”
“But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.”
2 Corinthians 4:7
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;”
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;”
1 Timothy 6:19
“storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”
“storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”
2 Timothy 1:14
“Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.”
“Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.”
In conclusion, together, we work together to attain “… to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3. We comfort each other that “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 