Unrighteous mammon

[Patricia]

Thanks Shin and Bailey, now I understand better.

What is meant by this? And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations.

Why would God ask us to make friends by means of unrighteous mammon?



Luke 16: 1 - 13
1   He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a steward, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.
2   And he called him and said to him, `What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.'
3   And the steward said to himself, `What shall I do, since my master is taking the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.
4   I have decided what to do, so that people may receive me into their houses when I am put out of the stewardship.'
5   So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, `How much do you owe my master?'
6   He said, `A hundred measures of oil.' And he said to him, `Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'
7   Then he said to another, `And how much do you owe?' He said, `A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, `Take your bill, and write eighty.'
8   The master commended the dishonest steward for his shrewdness; for the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.
9   And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations.
10   "He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.
11   If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will entrust to you the true riches?
12   And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?
13   No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

[martin]

I found this reading difficult to understand too Patricia.
I tried to find a good Catholic commentary on it but to no avail but the line that stood out for me was where our Lord says, "for the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light."
For me that explained much what the story was all about.
Worldly people will devise and scheme in so many ways to make sure that their temporal affairs are provided for and even be commended for their shrewdness in doing so while the children of God, even the most enlightened can be so lax in providing for things pertaining to their eternal salvation.

If we put the same effort into caring for our souls as we do in caring for our bodies, then we'd be all walking saints on earth.   

What is meant by this? And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations.

I think this would be referring to money and it's use. Even though money is a tainted thing it can be turned to good when used for good. For example if I helped the needy with whatever extra I had or better still from what little I had, then no doubt the needy will be there to welcome me into eternal life and plead for mercy on behalf.

But I wonder if I'm doing enough to qualify.   

[Brigid]

I found this reading difficult to understand too Patricia.
I tried to find a good Catholic commentary on it but to no avail but the line that stood out for me was where our Lord says, "for the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light."

Difficulty here too, Patricia.

Even though money is a tainted thing it can be turned to good when used for good. For example if I helped the needy with whatever extra I had or better still from what little I had, then no doubt the needy will be there to welcome me into eternal life and plead for mercy on behalf.

This is a really good explanation, Martin! Even tho' I had the idea of that, I wouldn't have been able to put it into words. Thank you!

[Bailey2]

Worldly people will devise and scheme in so many ways to make sure that their temporal affairs are provided for and even be commended for their shrewdness in doing so while the children of God, even the most enlightened can be so lax in providing for things pertaining to their eternal salvation.

I absolutely love this Martin!!  Never thought about it this way; right on the money (pun intended  )