"Mas Maalam Magpakigbagay Sa Ila Isigkatawo Sang Sa Mga Tawo Nga Ginpasanagan Na Sang Dios"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 16:1-8)

Nagsugid si Jesus sang isa ka paanggid sa iya mga sumulunod. Siling niya, "May isa ka manggaranon nga may suluguon nga gintugyanan niya sang iya mga pagkabutang. Karon may nagsugid sa manggaranon nga ang iya mga pagkabutang ginausikan lang sang iya tinugyanan nga suluguon.

Gani ginpatawag niya siya kag ginhambalan, 'Ano ining nabatian ko nga ginausikan mo lang ang akon pagkabutang? Maayo pa magsumahay kita parte sa akon pagkabutang kay halin karon pahalinon ko na ikaw.'

Tungod nga ginapahalin na siya sang iya agalon, nagsiling siya sa iya kaugalingon, 'Ano bala ang akon himuon? Indi ako makasarang sang mabug-at nga obra pareho sang pagkutkot sang buho, kag nahuya man ako nga magpakilimos.

A, nahibaluan ko na kon ano ang akon himuon agod nga bisan pahalinon ako sang akon agalon may makadtuan ako nga mga tawo nga magabaton sa akon sa ila mga balay.'

Ang iya ginhimo, isa-isa niya nga ginpatawag ang mga may utang sa iya agalon. Nagpamangkot siya sa nahauna, 'Pila ang imo utang sa akon agalon?'

Nagsabat siya, '100 ka lata nga lana sang olibo.' Nagsiling ang tinugyanan sa iya, 'Sige, yari ang imo resibo, pungko kag isulat 50.'

Pagkatapos nagpamangkot siya sa ikaduha, 'Pila ang imo utang sa akon agalon?' Nagsabat siya, '100 ka sako nga trigo.' 'Sige, yari ang imo resibo, isulat nga 80 lang ka sako.'

Pagkahibalo sang agalon sang iya ginhimo, gindayaw niya ang dayaon nga tinugyanan sa iya kaalam tungod nga nakapreparar na siya para sa iya palaabuton. Kay ang mga tawo nga nagapasulabi sa mga butang diri sa kalibutan mas maalam magpakigbagay sa ila isigkatawo sang sa mga tawo nga ginpasanagan na sang Dios.

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Meditation:  

Do you make good use of your money and possessions? Jesus seemed to praise a steward (a manager entrusted with his master's goods) who misused his employer's money. What did the steward do that made Jesus praise him? The steward was responsible for managing his wealthy landowner's property. The steward very likely overcharged his master's tenants for their use of the land and kept more than his fair share of the profit. When the landowner discovers the steward's dishonest practice he immediately removes him from his job, leaving him penniless and ashamed to beg or do manual work. Before news of his dismissal becomes public knowledge, the shrewd steward strikes a deal with his master's debtors. In discounting their debts he probably was giving up his generous commission. Such a deal won him great favor with the debtors. Since he acted as the landowner's agent, such a deal made his master look very generous and forgiving towards those who owned him money. Surely everyone would praise such a generous landowner as the town hero! Since the master could not undo the steward's cancellation of the debts without losing face and making his debtors resent him, he praises the steward for outwitting him as a generous and merciful landowner. 

Jesus obviously thought that the example of a very clever steward would be a perfect illustration for a spiritual lesson about God and how God treats those who belong to his kingdom! What's the point of Jesus's parable? The dishonest steward is commended not for mishandling his master's wealth, but for his shrewd provision in averting personal disaster and in securing his future livelihood. The original meaning of "shrewdness" is "foresight". A shrewd person grasps a critical situation with resolution, foresight, and the determination to avoid serious loss or disaster. Jesus is concerned here with something more critical than a financial or economic crisis. His concern is that we avert spiritual crisis and personal moral disaster through the exercise of faith and foresight. If Christians would only expend as much foresight and energy to spiritual matters which have eternal consequences as much as they do to earthly matters which have temporal consequences, then they would be truly better off, both in this life and in the age to come. 

Ambrose, a 4th century bishop said: The bosoms of the poor, the houses of widows, the mouths of children are the barns which last forever. True wealth consists not in what we keep but in what we give away. Possessions are a great responsibility. The Lord expects us to use them honestly and responsibly and to put them at his service and the service of others. We belong to God and all that we have is his as well. He expects us to make a good return on what he gives us. God loves generosity and he gives liberally to those who share his gifts with others. The Pharisees, however, had no room for God or others in their hearts. The gospel says they were lovers of money (Luke 16:14). Love of money and wealth crowd out love of God and love of neighbor. Jesus makes clear that our hearts must either be possessed by God's love or our hearts will be possessed by the love of something else. What do you most treasure in your heart? 

"Lord Jesus, all that I have is a gift from you. May I love you freely and generously with all that I possess. Help me to be a wise and faithful steward of the resources you put at my disposal, including the use of my time, money, and possessions."