Reflections:
Luke 16:1-9
Read the text here.
First, this servant is called ‘dishonest,’ showing his moral depravity. Some other versions of the Bible describe him as, “shrewd.” The word “shrewd” is not always negative. It is actually a compliment. A businessman is shrewd when he is able to spot some hidden opportunity and take advantage of it. Shrewd also may have the connotation of being cunning, which is negative, meaning “good at deceiving others.” These two appellations may well aptly describe the character of this servant. Since Jesus already called him 'dishonest', we can safely say that his shrewdness was in the negative; being deceitful, dubious, wasteful and devoid of good morals. He was praised, nevertheless, for his ability to think smart and quickly devising a disingenuous means of achieving his purpose. Criminals, in fact, are fast thinkers! They are almost ahead of others. Which is why, most times, they beat others in their game and find a way to circumvent every rules or system.
So, what lesson does a ‘dishonest’ servant have to teach us?
This story was told for us to learn some lessons from what the ‘dishonest’ servant did to achieve a purpose. Reports of his dealings got to his master. He had been shortchanging his master in a clever dealing. His master confronted him, “What is this I heard about you? Hand in a complete account of your handling of my property.” How did his Master get to know of the servant's secret shady dealings? Who reported the information to him? Jesus warned his disciples to be careful of what they say or do at any time, because "there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known" (Luke 12:3, 8:17, Mk.4:22, Mat.10:26). We are also reminded that we are surrounded by such "a great crowd of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1). And they monitor what we do in our daily life. The Corinthian Church probably did not know that it was being monitored. And some people were taking notes of all the un-Christian things happening among the believers and reporting the same to St. Paul. It only got to know when St. Paul wrote to the Church and revealed that “Some people from Chloe’s family have told me quite plainly that there are quarrels among you” (1 Cor.1:11). Chloe's family is still embedded in every community today to cooperate with the angels and saints in their mission of witnessing. Therefore, nothing can truly be hidden from the Master, even things done in secret. For the Eyes of the Lord is ten thousand times brighter than the sun (Eccl.23:19). We must not think that He who created the ear cannot hear, and He who created the eyes cannot see (Psalm 94:9). God sees. He hears. He takes notes of everything we do. And He investigates, too, in accordance with His nature as a just God! We read in Genesis how the Lord, having heard all the allegations against Sodom & Gomorrah, decided to find out things by himself (Gen 18:16-21).
From the foregoing references, it is clear no one can outsmart God. No matter how clever a servant is, the wisdom and experience of his master supersedes. He says to himself, “My master is going to dismiss me from my job. What shall I do?” The first wise thing this 'dishonest' servant did was to ask himself these questions. He went into deep soul searching. He assessed himself. He did his strength, weakness, opportunity and threat (SWOT) analysis. He told himself the honest truth. “I am not strong enough to dig ditches.” That is his weakness. He saw opportunity in his master’s debtors, co-partners in dishonest dealing! He fell back to his shrewd intelligence, which is his strength; because he realized that the threat of dismissal and losing his Master’s favour was real. His smart wise effort earned him commendation from his Master. He was praised for “acting prudently!”
Now, what is prudence?
Prudence is that prime human virtue that enables someone to act and behave right, in accordance with right reason, to discern practical solution to a challenge confronting one at any point in time. Prudence is discretion. It enables man to be focused on a goal he wants to achieve and to discover the right means or method of achieving it. Like any other human virtue, it is a firm, stable and consistent attitude to do the right thing (CCC1804-1806). Father Joseph John Rickaby, Jesuit priest and philosopher, aptly described prudence as "right reason applied to practice." Its function is to point out which course of action is to be taken in any concrete circumstances. According to St. Thomas (II-II:47:8) prudence does "three things:- to take counsel; that is, devising best means suited to reach certain end of a moral virtue; to judge soundly of the fitness of the means suggested; and, finally, to command their employment."
Which of us has not been unfaithful to the gifts God has given to us? Which of us has not misused and mismanaged what is entrusted into our care? Sometimes we think that both spiritual and material gifts God has given to us are for us and us alone! We see ourselves as owners of such blessings and gifts. We may begin to use them to oppress others. Or we become so engrossed with them that we become so selfish and slaves to these gifts! This is not the purpose for which God bestows these gifts. They are to be used to achieve the purpose of seeking God, finding God, cooperating with God in building God's Kingdom, and bringing others into it. We are mere custodians of God's gifts. How we effectively use these gifts to achive the righteous purpose of God is the work of prudence.
Prudence is a virtue Jesus would want his followers to develop in sufficient measure to enable them achieve heaven. The ‘dishonest’ steward used his dubious connections and dealings to achieve his end purpose, that of ensuring the safety of livelihood when his Master dismissed him. In the same vein, Jesus advised us to use all what we have in our possession now to achieve kingdom of heaven. Everything we have should lead us towards God, and towards heaven, not to detract us from it. Because all riches of this world count to nothing, if we allow them to lead our souls astray. Riches of this world had been described as “iniquitous mammon.” If the Children of the Light could be a little more prudent in their daily dealings, they can, indeed, tame this “mammon” that poses great risk to their soul and convert the same "mammon", as the shrewd, dishonest servant did, to their own advantage to achieve the purpose of heaven! That is the point Jesus Christ was making in telling this parable. Sadly, it doesn’t seem to look like the "children of light" are getting the message, or sufficiently knowledgeable on how to go about achieving this intricate and delicate act of balancing (discernment)!
What Jesus requires of us today, even now, is:
Stop and think! Ask yourself some questions.
1. What is my purpose in life?
2. Does the kingdom of God really matter to me?
3. Do I seriously desire it and want to be there?
4. What do I need to do to make this happen?
5. What are my honest weakness(es) that I have to own up first?
6. What are the opportunities open for me to take advantage of in overcoming my shortcomings?
7. What am I capable of doing?
8. What is the real danger I face if I fail to make it?
These are some of the soul searching, deep introspections the 'dishonest' servant did. And he came up with a practical steps to solution of his challenge. You too can learn from the one called 'dishonest' servant, who, nevertheless, is wise, shrewd, smart and prudent in managing his own crisis. As Children of the Light, who have Christ Jesus as the Source of light (Light of Nations), we should do better! We should be better informed, enlightened and act with better clarity than those living in darkness of the world. Let it not be said that the "children of this world are wiser than the Children of Light!"
May God help us to think right, act right, and live right always, as Children of Light in Jesus name.
Drop us a note, if you care!
Click "home" on top left corner to see other posts.
Click "subscribe" button on top to be alerted when new post is made.
Comments
Post a Comment