The parable of the dishonest steward is one of those Gospel texts that can take us by surprise at first. In the parable, Jesus tells the story of a man who saves himself through cunning and deception. Even stranger, the Lord praises him for his cunning! Should we take an example from him? Through this parable, Jesus is teaching us something much deeper: Where is your heart? Who do you serve? How do you deal with what has been entrusted to you? Who is your Lord? Is it God or mammon?
The administrator is a symbol of each one of us. In the parable, the steward handles property that does not belong to him. This is precisely the picture of our position in the world. We are not owners — we are administrators. God has entrusted us with time, abilities, possessions and relationships, and is waiting for us to make good use of them. However, the steward faces a challenge: he is accused of wasting what has been entrusted to him. This is also a challenge for us. Are we not often wasteful stewards? Do we forget that everything we have is only temporary and is given to us by grace?
One day, the day will come when everything will be accounted for. It may be in a few days, weeks, years or decades, but the Lord will eventually say to me: ‘Come and give an account of your actions, because you can no longer fool around.’ Then we may be surprised to ask: From what? The Judge will reply, ‘From everything you had and got…’ Do we even realize what we have received from God? Life, health, youth, beauty, talent, material possessions… But none of this was ours; it was only lent to us. We were merely tenants and administrators, not masters. Life belongs to God. He gives it and takes it away when he wants. The excuse doesn’t stand here: ‘Sir, but you gave me so little…’ If we think small, we will achieve great things even with a little, even if it is only one talent.
What is the administrator like? Is he reasonable? Or dishonest? He knows the administrator is quitting. He doesn’t have much time left. He does something very clever: he secures the favor of the debtors by forgiving part of their debts, thereby winning their friendship. He acts wisely within his means and his system of values. Jesus does not mean that we should take an example from fraudsters. He says, ‘The sons of this world are more understanding towards each other than the sons of light.’ Those who live only for this world know what they want and pursue it. What about us? Do we ever strive to build what is worth eternal life with such purposefulness? Through this parable, Jesus encourages me to be more foresighted, courageous, and wise, and to consider how I can most effectively secure eternal life for my soul. I am God’s administrator.
Be brave and prescient. Look for ways to live your life most worthily. Increase your dependence on God, your generosity towards others, and your willingness to serve and share. These are the things that matter in eternity. Words were said: ‘No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and mammon.” Loyalty in small things is the key to big things. Jesus continues: ‘He who is faithful in small matters will be faithful in great matters.’ The small things are often the things that make up our daily lives: the way we handle money, the way we treat people, and the way we tell the truth. That’s where character is formed. Jesus goes even further: ‘If you were not faithful with worldly goods, who will entrust you with true wealth?’“
Money, power, and status are all trials. If we cannot handle them, how can we expect God to entrust us with spiritual matters? What attitude should Jesus’ disciples have towards temporal and eternal values? A person can use their talents to evaluate material goods. But at the same time, they must recognize how easily they can become possessed by them. Jesus’ words are clear: ‘You cannot serve both God and mammon.’ At the same time, he offers one solution: ‘Make friends with unjust mammon, so that when it passes away, they will welcome you into the eternal realm.’”
We live in this world surrounded by material things, and of course we need them — we can’t manage without them. God does not say that we should not have material possessions or money, because they can be used for good purposes. However, the concept of ‘unfair mamona’ is problematic because ownership does not guarantee that it will be used correctly. Making friends with ‘unfair mamona’ means that wealth becomes a means of building relationships (with family and friends, for example) that last, even when mamona fades. The critical point is that it can be used for good or destroy me and my relationships. It can help you on the way to heaven or damnation. It depends on how it is used. There is nothing wrong with owning money and managing it responsibly and fairly. However, problems arise if money or mammon becomes our master. If it owns us, rather than us owning it.
If we take this approach globally, it’s not just about money. A mother is a symbol of many things, such as career, comfort, recognition and control. We must decide who our Lord is. Do we serve God, or do we just serve our own comfort? Jesus’ parable calls us to spiritual awakening. He says, ‘Be smart. Think about how you use what has been entrusted to you. And be faithful, even in small things.’ The dishonest steward thought about the future. What about us? Are we thinking about eternity? If we serve God, we have no reason to worry. He will entrust us with ‘true wealth’ too: a life that will never be taken away.
Therefore, everyone needs to consider which card to bet on carefully. Who do I want to rely on in life? Only people. That would be a tiny circle. Or only God? But God doesn’t want that either. We can achieve a great deal through faith in God and by working alongside our neighbors. This is how the children of light live. Mother Teresa summed it up nicely: “We will all be judged by what we have done for Jesus — for the naked, the hungry, and the imprisoned.”
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