The readings for the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost are taken from Amos 8:4-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-15; and Luke 16:1-15.
Amos was a prophet by God’s calling and not happy about it. God sent Amos to confront the powerful Israelites who took advantage of those who had no power.
In his letter to Timothy, Paul urges us to pray for all people, but especially those in authority—that they will support the lives of the people rather than take life from the people. God sent Paul, just as He sent Amos, to expose what is wrong, to lead people to repentance, and to reveal how God makes things right—God who desires all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Luke records Jesus telling the parable of the unjust steward, which is problematic for most readers. Is the Son of God who sent Amos to rebuke evil people telling us that an evil steward is to be commended? Won’t the example of the unjust steward lead us to dismiss Paul’s instructions about right conduct for Christians? Jesus makes plain the central point of His parable: we cannot love God and riches. We cannot be good stewards of the abundant life God gives us if we lust for His gifts rather than love God, the Giver.
By the way, like most of the Bible, understanding this parable depends on correctly identifying the parts. God is the master and God’s greatest good is His forgiveness. The steward was wasting God’s forgiveness by holding people in their debts. Though the steward’s sense of forgiving debts was only partial (just as we forgive imperfectly or not at all), the Master commends him because the steward was at least beginning to understand how to use God’s good gifts.