Albert Barnes Commentary Luke 16:3

"And the steward said within himself, What shall I do, seeing that my lord taketh away the stewardship from me? I have not strength to dig; to beg I am ashamed." — Luke 16:3 (ASV)

Said within himself. Thought, or considered.

My lord. My master, my employer.

I cannot dig. This may mean either that his employment had been such that he could not engage in agriculture, not having been acquainted with the business, or that he was unwilling to stoop to so low an employment as to work daily for his support. To dig, here, means the same as to till the earth, to work at daily labor.

To beg. These were the only two ways that presented themselves for a living—either to work for it, or to beg.

I am ashamed. He was too proud for that. Besides, he was in good health and strength, and there was no good reason why he should beg—nothing which he could offer as a reason for it.

It is proper for the sick, the lame, and the feeble to beg; but it is not good for the able-bodied to do so, nor is it good to help them, except by giving them employment and requiring them to work for a living.

The person who sets an able-bodied beggar to work does him the most genuine kindness. As a general rule, we should not help an able-bodied man or woman in any other way.

Set them to work and pay them fair compensation, and you do them good in two ways: for the habit of labor may be of more value to them than the payment you give them.