兌現真實的錢財 TO CASH IN YOUR MONEY

兌現真實的錢財（路16:9-15）

所謂「施恩莫望報」（路6:35）。為甚麼耶穌竟然教導我們「用不義的錢財交結朋友，為在你們匱乏的時候，好叫他們收留你們到永遠的帳幕裡」（路16:9）？

表面上，耶穌的教導非常功利：你現在所做的好事善事，是為將來預備後路，有如不忠信管家一樣。將來當你遇上困難的時候，受過你恩惠的人會報答你。這樣理解的話，就解釋不到「收留你們到永遠的帳幕裡」的意義了。「永遠的帳幕」當然是指天國裡或天堂上的一席位。但除了天主，誰人有權收留你到天國裡去呢？所以，不是受過你恩惠的人，而是受過你「恩惠」的天主會收留你到天上去。

其實，在今世幫助有需要的人，祗不過是善用天主所賜的能力和恩寵，祗不過是「在小事上忠信」而已。倘若有能力幫助人卻不肯出手相助，這就是「在小事上不義了」。耶穌的結論非常清楚簡單：「小事不忠，大事勿用」。（16:10） 再深入一層反省，我們的才幹、健康、金錢和時間，都不是屬於我們的，而是來自天主的，我們祗不過是這一切的管家。所以這屬於天主而又不屬於我們的東西，可算是「不義的錢財，別人的財物」了。倘若我們埋沒了天主所委託的才幹和恩寵，又怎能把這些才幹和恩寵兌現成為「屬於我們的，真實的錢財」呢？（16:11-12）

天父啊，我感謝祢給我忠信的機會。我願意努力兌現祢賜下的恩寵，以獲得心靈上的富足。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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TO CASH IN YOUR MONEY (Luke 16:9-15)

“Do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.” (Luke 6:35) Why then did later Jesus tell us to “make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations.” (Luke 16:9)

Superficially, Jesus’ teaching is very utilitarian: Now you do good to prepare a safe house like the Shrewd Steward. In the future, when you run into troubles, those who owe you favours will repay you. If we interpret in this way, we cannot explain “receive you into the eternal habitations” adequately. Of course, “eternal habitations” refers to a vacancy in the Kingdom of Heaven or Paradise. But other than God, who else has the authority to give you a shelter in the Kingdom of Heaven? Therefore, it is not man who owes you favours, but God who owes you “favours” will welcome you into heaven.

In fact, helping the needy in this life is only making good use of God’s given talents and grace. We are only “faithful in a very little”. If we are able to but refuse to help, this is “dishonest in a very little”. Jesus’ conclusion is clear and simple: He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. (Luke 16:10)

Let us reflect deeper. Our talents, health, money and time do not belong to us. They come from God and we are only stewards. That which belongs to God and not to us is truly “other people’s money”. If we bury the talents and grace which God entrusts us, how can we cash in “that which is our own”? (Luke 16:11-12)

Heavenly Father, I thank you to give me opportunities to be faith. I wish to work hard to cash in the grace you give me to obtain richness in my soul. Amen