What does it mean to make friends with the mammon of unrighteousness?

In Luke 16:9, Jesus instructs His disciples to 'make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness.' This phrase encourages believers to engage with the material resources of this world in a way that serves God’s purposes rather than their own selfish desires. It does not mean to trust in or love money, but to understand how to use worldly provisions to benefit others and to further the gospel. Proper stewardship involves using what God has given—time, talent, and treasures as tools for ministry, benevolence, and support of the church—so that these resources do not stand as a witness against them when they stand before God.