On Trustworthiness

Reflection on Am 8:4-7; Ps 113: 1-2, 4-8; 1Tim 2:1-8; Lk 16:1-13

Our Scripture readings focus on trustworthiness as a requirement of Christian Stewardship. Webster’s dictionary defines trust as assured reliance on the character, ability, strength or truth of someone or something. It defines a steward as an employee in a large household or estate who has been entrusted with the management of domestic concerns, which includes certain property or resources to be used in accord with the owner’s instructions or purposes.

Each and every one of us is a steward of the Lord. As parents, we are stewards of our children, whom we have been entrusted to love, care, nurture, guide, educate and raise, that they may become good and productive citizens in the land where the Lord settles them, and more importantly, holy and fruitful citizens of God’s kingdom. As workers, professionals and business people, we are stewards of the knowledge, skills, capabilities and material resources that He gave us, in order to provide for our families and our needs, to help fulfill our God-given potential and in the process help to build a prosperous, caring, sharing and peaceful society. As members of His Church and His disciples in this community, we have been entrusted with the gospel, His flock and His resources, in order to fulfill the mission to bring the light and goodness of Christ to our children, our friends, to all tribes and nations, for the praise and glory of God the Father.

In the parable of the dishonest steward, we learn that the steward broke his master’s trust by squandering the latter’s property. To squander means to dissipate, waste or be unfruitful. As a result, the master demanded a full accounting of his stewardship, telling him that he can no longer continue as the master’s steward. True to his selfish nature, the steward discounted the debts of his master’s debtors in order to ingratiate himself with them.

The gospel itself teaches us three key lessons. First, all of us will be called to account for our stewardship of the Lord’s people, gifts and resources- hence the call to trustworthiness. Second, we are to be trustworthy in great and small matters, in worldly wealth and true wealth. Third, the trustworthy steward knows and serves only God, not mammon. The other readings for Sunday reveal to us other essentials of Christian stewardship: integrity and justice, concern for the needy and the poor, and thankfulness, prayer and intercession.

What is the path to trustworthiness? It starts with the choice of service over self-interest. The spirit of service requires us to hold in trust the well-being of the larger entity- our family, our parish, our community, our workplace, our nation. That trust is best served in obedience to the two greatest commandments, which is authentically expressed when we place a higher value on pleasing God and working for the good of others. Stewardship is about humility and servanthood, not self-interest, ownership and control. The proud and arrogant person would primarily be concerned with himself, and not the good of others. The humble steward relies and trusts not on his own abilities and strengths, but on God and God alone. Only God is trustworthy (Jn 3:33). By ourselves, we are weak and broken, hence undeserving of God’s trust. Yet He calls us to Christian stewardship (1 Cor 1:26-29).

In power made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9-10), the Lord equips us in and through Christ to respond fruitfully to His call. He aids us to trustworthiness in Christ by renewing our minds in the Holy Spirit, so that we may discern and be united with His perfect will (Rm 12:2). Through Christ who empowers us, we, His stewards, have strength for everything (Phil 4:13). Our reliance on Christ makes us reliable; our trust in Him makes us trustworthy. Those who trust in and are one with the Lord bear much fruit (Jer 17:7-8; Jn 15:5).