“For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God (Lk. 16:8b-15).”
This explanation of the parable of the dishonest steward from the preceding verses (vv. 1-8a) teaches that people of this age deal with each other differently than how Jesus’ disciples are to respond to knowledge of the Kingdom of God. The people of this age put their trust in the ‘dishonest wealth’ of this world, but the disciples are to use the things of this world to attain heavenly wealth (1 Tim. 6:17)). The way Jesus taught them to this was by sharing earthly wealth with others especially the poor and needy (Acts 4:34; Deut, 15:4). If disciples of Christ are not willing to share their possessions, God will not entrust them with the secrets of the Kingdom of God (Mt. 6:20). If they do not share the gifts loaned to them by God they will not be given heavenly treasure. Disciples must forsake all and be loyal to God or remain in enslavement to the dishonest wealth of this world. No one can love both wealth and God. The Pharisees frowned at Jesus’ teaching about sharing possessions with the needy and Jesus responded by condemning their attitude towards wealth as one of idolatry which is an abomination in the eyes of God (Dan. 9:27). In summary, whether in small of large things, in wealth or poverty, our gaze should always be fixed on God.
Almighty God, help us not to measure happiness, respectability or morality by wealth but to always to seek the treasures of your Kingdom. Grant us the grace to be trustworthy with your word and as good stewards have a living and working faith that leads others to you. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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