Luke 16:12

If ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s... — The ruling idea of the verse is clearly that which the parable had enforced, that in relation to all external possessions and advantages we are stewards and not possessors. The Roman poet had seen that to boast of such things was the emptiest of all vanities —

“At genus, et proavos, et quæ non fecimus ipsi,

Vix ea nostra voco.”

[“ Lineage and name, and all that our own powers

Have not wrought for us, these I scarce call ours.”]

That which is your own? — This is obviously identical with the “true riches” of the preceding verse. Wisdom, holiness, peace, these the world has not given, and cannot take away; and even looking to God as the great Giver of these as of other good and perfect gifts, it may be said that they are bestowed by Him as a possession in fee, the reward of the faithful stewardship of all lower gifts and opportunities, so that, though His gift, they become, in very deed, our own.