The Steward

In our Gospel reading today we hear the parable about the steward - who squandered his master’s property. Realizing that he is about to loose his position as steward – realizing also that he wasn’t strong enough to dig and too ashamed to beg – he comes up with a plan that he believes will secure his wellbeing and future.
He calls in his master’s debtors and reduces the amounts that they owe – this way – once he looses his position as steward – he can go to these people – and they will welcome him into their homes – because he saved them money – by reducing their debt.
This parable can be confusing – Jesus is not praising the steward’s dishonesty in reducing their debts – that of course was wrong – Jesus is however – calling to our attention today – the steward’s ingenuity – his shrewdness – in dealing with the difficult situation that he was facing – impending unemployment.
The steward takes decisive action to ensure his future – his earthly survival – he takes deliberate action to ensure that once he loses his position – he won’t find himself without a place to stay and without anything to eat.
Each of us – this very moment - is facing a difficult situation – a much more difficult situation than the one the steward was facing – you see you and I are facing eternal salvation or eternal damnation – and Jesus wants each of us to take the approach the steward did – Jesus wants us to be shrewd and deliberate and to take decisive action to ensure our eternal salvation – that – that is meaning of this parable and that is today’s lesson.
What does Jesus say – for the children of this world - the steward - are more prudent - careful in providing for their future - than are the children of light - you and I.
We will – perhaps this very night – face judgment – and we must do what we can while we can with what we have to ensure our eternal future – our salvation. And how do we do that … by not squandering our Masters property – the gifts He has entrusted to each of us – the gifts of TIME, TALENT and TREASURE.
You see all of these gifts we have received – no matter how large or small – are given to us to help us win eternal salvation – what we do with these gifts makes all the difference in our salvation and all the difference in the world - how we use our gifts of time, talent and treasure will determine where we spend eternity – and could very well determine where others – those we share our gifts with - will spend their eternity too!
Scripture teaches us that to those who have received more – more is expected and that freely we have received and freely we must give and when we give – don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing – don’t let our charity go to our heads (pride) … that there are no boundaries on that giving – on that sacrifice – on the love – Jesus died on the cross for us – and there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends …
• If we lend money we shouldn’t expect repayment
• If we hold a lunch or dinner we should invite the poor because of their inability to repay the invitation
• If someone asks for something we should give it to them, and
• If someone takes something we shouldn’t demand it back
• If someone strikes us on one cheek we should offer the other, and
• If someone hates and mistreats us we should pray for and do good to them
How well – how well indeed – do we do these things – how well do we make use of the gifts that have been entrusted to us – gifts that are to be used to build up God’s kingdom here on Earth – gifts given to us to help us win our eternal salvation?
When it comes to giving – we often ask – how much is enough – certainly we must be prudent in giving – but we should recall old woman who offered 3 small coins at the temple while others gave much more – Jesus told us that she gave from her poverty while the others gave from their surplus – she gave much more than the others did – so how much should a person give – perhaps we should give until it hurts – until we notice that we can’t do other things because of our commitment to the poor – that is sacrifice – that is love.
Jesus tells us today that we should make friends for ourselves – to give freely - with the dishonest wealth of this world, so that one day when it fails, we might be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
If we do that, if we give freely of our time, talent and treasure and do not count the cost - then one day we will hear these words: Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.
Don’t squander the gifts you have been given – you may loose your eternal salvation.
Remember my brothers and sisters, we were given two hands – one to receive with – and one to give with – and that we make a living certainly from what we receive, but we make a life from what we give – so give – give until it hurts and you will build up treasure in heaven – AMEN!