Taking Initiative

Gospel: Luke 16: 1-9

Jesus uses the example of the enterprising steward in today's parable not as a model of virtue.  What the man does is clever as it is for his own self-interest, and while he does forgive some of the debt owed by others it is not out of virtue that he does so, but rather for his own ends and welfare.  So if this story is not an example of a virtuous man, what purpose does Jesus have in telling the story to us?  What might we learn from this man?

The man sets about to forgive the debts of others, or to at least ease the burden of debt people have.  Jesus has repeatedly taught us to forgive the debts of other people.  This man did so out of his own self-interest so that others might help him.  We have infinitely better reasons for forgiving others, and yet we do not do so.  We may very well be like this enterprising steward ourselves, only forgiving others when it benefits us in our own welfare and pursuits.

In the Lord's prayer we pray "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."  In the manner we forgive others forgiveness is given to us.  God has no self-interested motives in extending forgiveness.  God forgives solely out of love, and that must be our motive in forgiving as well.  The steward indeed helped others in some small way.  How much more can we accomplish in the work of mercy if we are animated by the love of God that has been given to us!