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Gary G. Hoag
“Jesus told His disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’”— Luke 16:1-2
"If then you have truly surrendered yourselves to God, as you say, abandon all care of yourselves, for He cares for you and will always do so. We may be compared to a servant who enters into service with a householder: the domestic is obliged to do all he can to please his master and the master is bound to maintain the servant while employing him in his house, unless prevented by poverty from feeding either himself or his dependents.
Here the case differs, for our Master is and always will be rich and powerful. It would seem very strange if the servant went to his employer every day to ask for his meals, knowing perfectly well that without this he would be fed and cared for. It would be waste of time, and his master might tell him to look after his own work, for if he worried himself about other peoples business he would do his own badly.”
Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) in The Way of Perfection (London: Thomas Baker, 1919) 206. Download this classic work in PDF form freely here.
This is the sixth of seven posts exploring the supernatural benefits of poverty and detachment. I surrender and abandon yourself to the care of His Majesty this week.
Today's Scripture recounts the first two verses of the parable of the shrewd steward. It reminds us that someday each of us will have to give an account to God of our stewardship of all He has entrusted to us.
And like the helpful illustration Teresa provided today, we should not focus on doubting whether or not the Master will do His job to care for us. We should give ourselves to making we do our part well and not badly.
What a powerful picture!
God, forgive us for the times our management of your money sends you a message that we don't trust you to care for us. Have mercy on us! Give us courage to handle your money obediently and to store it where you have instructed us for our good and your glory. Amen.
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