The movie "Ruthless People" tells the story of a rich, greedy man whose wife is kidnapped. The man doesn't particularly like his wife, and he won't pay the ransom because he doesn't want her back. The message is clear. Money is more important than people to the wealthy man, even more important than his wife.

Nothing could be further from the message of the gospel, of course. But Jesus does seem to recognize that money is one of the chief rivals he faces in winning the hearts and minds of his followers. In today's Gospel reading, Jesus tells the story of a man who, about to be fired for mismanaging his master's accounts, quickly cuts deals with his master's vendors so that they will treat him well in the future.

"The owner gave his devious employee credit for being enterprising," we're told. "What I say to you is this: Make friends for yourselves through your use of this world's goods, so that when they fail you, a lasting reception will be yours."

Our culture seems to say that it is OK to use friends to make money. Jesus says the opposite is true. We are called to use money to make friends. Money, or any of "this world's goods" are to be employed in the service of others, to gain something far more valuable --- relationships.

I've sat through discussions of this passage in which people become irate at the thought that Jesus would condone this employee's behavior. Never mind that is a parable, i.e., fiction. People get upset that Jesus would hold up someone's dishonesty as a positive example. Usually the objection boils down to this --- the money wasn't the employee's in the first place, so he was wrong to use it for his own benefit.

In a way, though, I think this is precisely the point Jesus may be trying to make with this parable. Money becomes an obstacle to following Jesus when we think it belongs to us. Perhaps Jesus is asking us to view our money as if we are stewards of a very wealthy master. In our cause, the master wants us to use money to make friends, not to use people to make money.

"No servant can serve two masters," Jesus concludes. "You cannot give yourself to God and money." I don't usually think of the priorities in my life as "masters," but the metaphor is not too far from the truth. If I look at how hard I work to acquire, keep, and grow my financial resources, it would appear that money has a pretty big claim on my life.

But that's not the only thing. I mean, if money is a master, so is pride, physical appearance, prestige and a career. I am very concerned about acquiring, keeping and growing all of these things as well. It would be a relief to only have two masters. I feel like I have half a dozen.

I guess the question I need to ask myself is how much of my life is devoted to acquiring, keeping and growing my relationship with God. And when a conflict between God and money, or God and career, or God and prestige arise, for example, what do I choose?

The character in the parable is admittedly reckless with his master's resources in pursuit of the greater security of friends. We are given our money, our talent, our looks, our careers by God. If we view what we have as a gift, we will likely use what we have to serve others. If we view what we have as personal property, we will likely keep it to ourselves.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.