The Reward of a Good Steward

            The great apostle Paul writing on ability gifts, specifically on the gift of giving, said, “ he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity (or liberally)” (Rom. 12:8 KJV). In the New Living Translation (NLT), it is expressed this way: “If you have money, share it generously”. The wise King Solomon said, “It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy but those who are stingy (or “Kuripot” in Visayan or Ilocano dialect) will lose everything.

Liberality is a duty on no account to be neglected; but let not the rich or poor for a moment entertain the thought that their offerings to God can atone (or substitute) for their defects of Christian character. Again, says the great apostle Paul, “Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (or love), it profiteth me nothing” (KJV). The giving, therefore, must be motivated by LOVE – LOVE of God and of neighbor, to be a real blessing.

The “giving” is not necessarily in money or silver and gold. It can be service, more appropriately for businessmen or professionals, or any kind attitude or consideration, or even just a smile.

About three years ago, a group of banana growers in Dujali, Sto. Tomas and Carmen, Davao del Norte, was referred to me by a client. An astute businessman-farmer convinced these lowly farmers to convert their lands, mostly planted to rice, into a banana farm so that in three years they will become millionaires. Who does not like to be a millionaire?

The businessman-farmer borrowed P60 million from the bank which he spent in developing the farms into a banana plantation. However, one obscure paragraph of their contract, with the businessman is that for as long as the loan is not paid, these farmers will receive only P10.00 per 13.5 kg. box of banana for export.

The trouble was that the loan in the bank was not being paid as stipulated in the businessman’s mortgage with the bank, so the lands were sought to be foreclosed by the bank. Besides, the P10.00 per 13.5 kg. of bananas was not being paid on time, and the needed farm inputs like fertilizers, chemicals and aerial spray are not supplied regularly. The laborers are not also paid up-to-date. The farmers’ dream to be millionaires could not be fulfilled.

The farmers who were harvesting 400 cavans of palay twice a year because their lands are irrigated, receive only an average of P3,000.00 a month. So, they can no longer send their children to school, and they lacked money to buy their daily necessities. The worst part of it was they did not have money to finance a case to cancel their contract with the businessman-farmer.

When they came to me, I told them to organize themselves into a cooperative as “in union there is strength”. Not having sufficient funds, I told them to just produce the needed filing fee in court which amounted to P40,000.00, and to give me transportation allowance everytime the case is called for hearing at Tagum City, which is 54 kilometers away from Davao City where I hold office. After almost two years of legal battle, they secured a rescission of their contract with the businessmen-farmer, and are now dealing directly with the bank. From the former average of a few thousand pesos, now they are receiving several thousands of pesos, depending on the area of their farm. Now, they are very happy beyond description in words, because their dream to become millionaires is on its way to fulfillment. All because someone gave them almost a free legal professional service at the inception of their case.

My personal reward from them is $.05 per 13.5 kg. box of bananas for the next fifteen years. This makes me like a retired Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge pensioner. Indeed, the scriptures is true, that “If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make soon for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving - - large or small - - it will be used to measure what is given back to you” (Luke 6:38 NLT).

All the riches entrusted to us will prove only a curse unless we employ them to relieve our own daily wants and the wants of the needy around us, and to glorify God by advancing His cause in this world of tears and joy.

The Majesty of heaven yielded up His high command, His glory with the Father, and even His own life to save us. And now what will we do for Him in return? Of course, we should not live for ourselves alone! The first and best of everything rightfully belongs to God. It is in this life that God requires all our talents to be put out to use for His glory and to help our fellowmen in need.

The very wise King Solomon said: “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Prov. 11:24-25 NIV).

(FGBMFI Davao City Chapter Weekly Bulletin, August 18, 2012)