SECRET RECIPES

I had a flashback this morning when I drove onto the parish campus.  All the preparations for the annual Fall Festival was going on, it reminded me of the years I worked for Habitat for Humanity of South Brevard.  Habitat’s largest annual fundraiser the Strawberry Festival.  We had everything strawberry, with the main attraction was the strawberry shortcakes.  Planning for the festival was a challenge early on because all the individual food booths had “secret recipes”.  Recipes that were very reluctant to share.  It took me three years to develop the relationships to gain the volunteers trust so they were willing to share their secret recipes so we could better plan for future events.  Pondering today’s Gospel made me think about the benefits of sharing and the consequences of not sharing.

The Gospel starts out with a rich man (aka God) is preparing to fire his steward for what appears to be a just cause.  By the end of Jesus’ parable, however, the steward is actually commended for “acting prudently.”  In fact, the steward redeems himself by giving away goods that are rightfully his owner’s.  That makes no sense!  Giving away more of your owner’s stuff is all the more reason to be fired!

Millard Fuller, founding president of Habitat for Humanity International, in his book, “Love in the Mortar Joints” speaks of the Economy of Jesus.  He refers to the scripture that basically states, to whom much is given, much is expected.

In God’s gift economy, the steward’s prudent action makes perfect sense.  God is the eternal giver: the perpetual, indiscriminate sharer. “He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous” (Mt 5:45).  Giving and outpouring reflect the fundamental nature of God.  From this perspective, what is given has been given in order to be given.  In other words, everything we receive is a gift from God that is meant to be regifted to others.  That is why the dishonest steward is commended for acting prudently (wisely).  He is actually acting in a godly manner by forgiving debt and extending generosity to others.

To often in business and church have I experienced people hanging onto “secret recipes” or knowledge for fear of losing their identity that is rooting in the secret or the perceived loss of power/control if they shared their knowledge/gifts.

We would do well to emulate the redeeming qualities of the steward by giving away God’s stuff.  We were never meant to be share-holders; we are meant to be share-givers. God challenges us every day to outdo His divine generosity, compassion, forgiveness, and mercy.  Be a good steward and let’s step up to God’s challenge.