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How many of you have seen the show Shark Tank? It is a panel of 5 successful millionaire/billionaires who are looking for the next big idea or startup to invest in, looking for someone who has created a better mousetrap. I really enjoy the program for the ways you get to see driven persons pitching new ideas for products and companies. Some of the biggest success stories have come from very simple ideas; looking at an unfilled need or an untapped market and seeing how to fill it.
After watching a few episodes, you see a pattern in both the sharks and the people who get a deal. It is not enough simply to have a good idea or invention; the entrepreneur needs to have the right qualities as well. Those qualities are:
They need to be all in; this cannot just be a hobby or part time gig.
They need to have ownership in their idea/company rather have sold it off
They have to be willing to work hard and sacrifice sleep, money, time, etc…
They need to be relentless and never take no for an answer.
As you hear the stories of those who are successful, you can’t help but admire their tenacity, ingenuity, and drive. Many sacrifice the security and comfort of a good job for their idea. Some of them cash in their retirement or take out a 2nd mortgage to fund their cause. Many go door to door to get sales, work 16hrs a day, and receive dozens of no’s before hearing a single yes.
And yet they keep on going because they believe they have something special, something worth fighting and sacrificing for! And the sharks are the same way! Even though they have more money than we could ever dream of, they give nothing away and fight to make every possible penny on a deal. Even if you don’t agree with their priorities, you cannot help but admire their skill in making their wealth grow.
But it’s not just millionaires and billionaires who know how to find and seal a good deal. Whether it's buying a used car, selling a house, or shopping online, all of us learn how to get the most for our money. This is not something new. It's part of human nature and Jesus was aware of this. The parable he told recognized human ingenuity when it comes to worldly matters and personal comfort. Jesus is not praising the dishonesty and sinful of the bad steward; What is being commended is how the dishonest steward did whatever it took to make sure he would have a future after he was fired. He went all the people that owed his master money and slashed what they owed, making sure they would take care of him when he was let go. Jesus’ point is that we often demonstrate our intelligence in worldly matters and endeavors, but too often we don't apply that same ingenuity and skill to the one thing that really matters: our eternal salvation.
Imagine if we were plopped into the spiritual shark tank to pitch our faith. Would we be deemed investable?! Would we have the same qualities that make an entrepreneur successful? Are we all in or is our faith just a part-time thing that we practice once a week, or several times a year, only in parts of our life? Do we own our faith or is it something we do out of habit because it was passed down to us? Are we willing to sacrifice for our relationship with God, to do the hard work of growing and going deeper, never letting anything get between us and eternal life? And last of all, are we relentless in our faith, working hard to not give in to discouragement, not throwing in the towel when challenges arise or we meet resistance?
Today, the Lord is telling us, "You have intelligence and ingenuity, use it not only to get ahead in this life but to make sure you have eternal life. We must be as resourceful and dedicated in the ways of God as we are in the ways of commerce and politics. Jesus' parable challenges us to be as eager and ingenious for the sake of God's reign, to be as ready to use our time, talent, and money to accomplish great things for the Gospels as we are to secure our own happiness and earthly success.
Some people, like those in the first reading, have perfected how they can out-smart others. They cheat with their scales. They inflate money. Even though they have 6 days a week to make money, it’s not enough. The one day of rest for the sabbath is torture; all they can think about is making more money and getting every last cent out of others. What about us? Are we any better? Do we even rest for one day a week from our planning and spending? That is not why God gave us intelligence. He gave us intelligence and perseverance not just to make money and acquire things but to make His presence real in the world. Imagine if we put that same energy and ingenuity into our faith?!
At the end of the first reading the Lord says about the cheating merchants, "Never will I forget a thing they have done." This is bad news for them. This is good news, though, for all who fight the temptation to use others for their own gain. This is good news for those who put Christ before immoral profit. If, as the first reading says, God is aware of the bad things that men do, it follows that He is also aware of the good things we do. God will never forget how we helped someone, even though it was not our responsibility. God sees the times we help others and protect them from those who would take advantage of their situation. God will never forget how we chose not to do something we wanted because a friend or family member needed us to help them. God remembers every time you forced yourself out of bed to take care of your children, even when no one else noticed. God sees, God knows, and God loves.
The best news of all is that we are not on our own! God has already invested in us, in the spiritual shark tank! God did not create us and then abandon us. Jesus did not just call us to follow Him and then leave us to figure it all out. God gives us His Holy Spirit to empower us. He strengthens us with His Word and His Body and Blood. He gives us the courage to stand up for the poor, the vulnerable, those about to be born, those being treated poorly by others. But in addition to grace and prayer, we must also use our intelligence, ingenuity, tenacity, and drive that helps us be successful in everyday life.
The cleverness, skill and boldness the bad steward used to save his skin and secure his future, we must use to make God's ways real in our world and secure our salvation. You are a gifted group of people here at Incarnate Word; make sure your gifts are at the service of God and his kingdom.
