Jesus told of a swindler whose boss applauded him for his shrewdness in buying off "friends" to watch after him when he’d lost his job. He wasn’t endorsing financial fraud, but asking: if even a swindler can look down the road, wouldn’t you be wiser to use wealth for eternal purposes than for short-term earthly gain? Then Luke shared another "status inversion" story. A rich man ignored a poor beggar at his very gates. But the beggar got to enjoy heaven, while the rich man begged him to warn his brothers away from his hellish fate.

• Jesus again said no one can serve two masters, that it is impossible to serve both God and wealth (verse 13). Which master has your deepest allegiance? His second story used popular ideas about heaven and Hades to say more about values. In verses 27-31, Jesus said Moses and the prophets could show the rich man’s brothers (and the Pharisees) a better way. What influences have helped you to build your values (social, financial and spiritual) on the teachings of Moses and the prophets—and Jesus?