The
prophet Amos warns against injustice to the poor. Those who place all their
values only on wealth and profit cannot but be unjust to the poor. The good
news is that God identifies with the poor and takes this injustice upon
Himself, “The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: ‘surely I will never forget
any of their deeds’” (Amos 8:7). In other words, those who help the poor are
actually making friends with God.
Jesus
elaborates this need of winning friends for the Kingdom with the parable of the
astute servant. The young man was wise enough to make friends for future
security with the wealth placed in his charge. Though he was dishonest in his
dealings, he was smart to get some sort of insurance for the future when he
might be in need. Such prudence is required of children of light.
Hence
Jesus tells us, “Make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so
that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal habitations” (Lk
16:9). Such friendship with God secures eternal future, and is a sign of
wisdom. Unlike the servant, the children of light must be honest and faithful
in their dealings. But following the smartness of the servant, we must use our
rightful wealth to favour others, and help the poor. In this way we become
friends with Heaven. Thus, acquiring wealth cannot be the end or simply to
satisfy the pleasure of having. This would amount to love or devotion to money.
It is God alone we serve!
“No
one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other,
or he will he devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God
and mammon” (Lk 16:13). By being just and fair in our dealings, we show that we
are trustworthy for eternal wealth. And by helping those in need with our
wealth, heaven becomes our real personal treasure, kept secure even with
multitude of friends praying for us.
Hence
St Paul recommends prayer for all men, especially those who are highly placed.
Prayer is the friendly gesture we offer to help all men to be saved. “That is
good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our saviour, who desires all men
to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1Tim 2:3-4). In prayer
our hearts rise above material wealth as we draw heavenly blessings. In this
way, we equally acquire holy desire for others, and avoid being manipulative in
our affairs. In fact, Paul presents prayer as a sort of wealth with which we can use to help all men in their need. “I
desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands...”
(1Tim 2:8).
Fr
Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Our
Mother of Perpetual Help Shrine,
Ugwogo-Nike,
Enugu, Nigeria.
September
18, 2016.
