Have you ever heard the saying: I would rather be clever than smart? I even used it myself when I was much younger. It was a trait that peaked my imagination to allow me to be creative. People were more responsive when I said or did something either because it made sense or it made me look like I knew something they did not.
Over time I learned that being witty or inventive did not help me to understand the larger aspect of what was under consideration. What was needed was wisdom to be able to discern in what direction needed to be taken not just to solve a dilemma, but to make sure the solution works for all involved. That takes good judgment.
Cleverness is what we are reading about in reference to the dishonest steward who mismanaged the rich man’s wealth in St. Luke’s Gospel today. Taking clever steps to protect him from being fired was a selfish approach that his owner praised him for because of his ingenuity to take the proper steps at a time of monetary crisis. He was not praising him because he lost profit and damaged the owner’s future ability to deal as he did before this. The cleverness covered dishonest dealings that put everyone in jeopardy. No one won in this scenario.
Jesus is not praising the steward for his dishonesty. He is telling us that we, like the steward, must be more creative and resourceful in finding solutions that are just and fair to all. As Jesus says, we cannot serve two masters: God and wealth. We also are stewards, not owners of what we possess. We have no right to anything we have since all our gifts come from God. That is why the greater our gifts, the greater our responsibility is to share them with those who have less.
The difficulty of doing this on a regular basis stem from our human nature that teaches us how to get the most for our money. Most, if not all of us, would welcome a better monetary deal on what we pay for something. Saving money helps us live a better life and gives us more for purchases. The problem with this is that it does not usually take into consideration those who do not have the ability to do the same. Our immediate response, which is acceptable, is to write a check to a charity that manages such matters. Our frequency in doing this is infrequent and so we tend to forget and not be proactive.
Charitable organizations are always looking for numerous ways to reach out to those in need. They offer opportunities to believers to be initiative-taking in either their programs or to ideas they must promote a better life for those in need. Many times, ideas we use in the business world are capable of being transitioned into the chartable one. How wonderful it would be to share a plan with an organization in their specific areas of need.
Take this week to investigate ways you have expanded ideas to help others to see if they might be applicable for a charitable purpose. You may find that your cleverness leads to a wise choice for all in need.
Reading 1: Amos
8:4 – 7
Psalm: 113:1
– 2, 4 – 8
Reading 2: 1
Timothy 2:1 – 8
Gospel: Luke
16:1 - 13
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