Trustworthiness With True Wealth (Lk. 16: 8b-17)

For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. 9 I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10 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. 11 If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? 12 If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? 13 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.”  14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. 15 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.  

In the parable of the dishonest steward from the preceding verses (Lk. 16:1-8a) Jesus tells his disciples that the children of this world (children of darkness) put their trust in ‘dishonest wealth’ and deal more shrewdly with their own generation than the children of the light (Eph. 5:8; 1 Thess. 5:5) who possess some knowledge of the Kingdom of God deal with the same generation.  Jesus told his disciples that the dishonest steward craftily made friends so that when he was called to account for his actions he would be welcomed by them.  Followers of Christ could be opportunistic and ‘make friends’ (with God) by using earthly wealth in accordance with Jesus’ teaching e.g., giving alms and helping people in need (Acts 4:34; Deut. 15:4), so that when they are called to account for their actions, they would be welcomed into the Eternal Kingdom (1 Tim. 6:17-19).  

If disciples of Christ are not willing to share their earthly possessions, they will not be entrusted 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 put their trust in both wealth and God.  The Pharisees mocked 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).  Whether in small or large things, in wealth or poverty, our gaze should always be fixed on God.

Almighty God, help us not to idolize wealth but to store up treasure for your Kingdom.  Grant us the grace to be trustworthy with your gifts and to have a living and working faith that leads others to you.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.

                Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.