The second reading of the 25th Sunday of the ordinary time warns us all on the danger of needless accumulation of wealth and the destructive insensitivities that could be attached with those ruled by the spirit of money. James 5:1-2 reads: “Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten”. This reminder is most welcome in this very materialistic age wherein “God given values” are being fast eroded.

But the kingdom of God is not about food and drink (or what money can buy); it is about: righteousness, peace and joy in the holy spirit (Romans 14:17). Money cannot buy these, but God has offered us these things free of charge and we should be content with the basics. “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6: 7-10).

The wise steward then is he who uses money and material goods to make the lives of others better; they are people who control money and are not controlled by it. They are aware that money is not their own and will surely fail at some point (Luke 16:9). The wise servant therefore practices on daily basis, what I call the spirituality of distribution as against the spirituality of acquisition which is quite self destructive. Let us heed the warning in 1 Timothy 6:17 on the use of material goods for if your money and goods don’t add value to other people’s lives, you are a very poor person indeed and you will know no peace since you are hoarding that which is not yours.

Beloved, as we reflect on these truths, let us stop evaluating our challenges and proposed plans for improvement and success from “how much money we have or have not.” Rather, the question we should ask is: does God want this desire of mine to materialize according to His will or not? In this regard, we shall properly be guided as faithful stewards and dispensers of God’s generous gift to all creation for the for the Lord’s is the earth and its fullness; the world and all it peoples (Psalm 24:1) and that includes me and you