The steward in today's Gospel confronts the reality that he cannot go on living the way that he has been. He is under judgement and must give an account for what he has done. Just as the traders in the first reading also had to do. The parable that we heard in today's Gospel can be difficult to understand.

Jesus does not praise the dishonest steward, it is the steward's master who praises the steward.  There is a false impression that the steward defrauds the master.  However when the steward asks the debtors to write out a new note, what the steward is actually doing is cancelling his own commission so that it will not be part of the IOU, and he asks that a new IOU be written so that the master still receives what is his due.  The parable concludes with the master praising the steward for acting prudently in a crisis.  Jesus' comment is interesting.  He says, "For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light."  He is pointing out that the children of this world know how to be prudent for the future.  He's pointing out that the children of this world know what to do.  The steward cancelled his commission so that in the future, if he were fired, he would have people he could call on for help.  The steward was economically prudent.