Tobit 12:1-5: a reflection

1And Tobit called his son Tobias, and said to him, “See, my child, that the man which went with you have his wages, and you must give him more.” 2And he said to him, “Father, it is no harm to me to give him the half of those things which I have brought; 3for he has led me for you in safety, and he cured my wife, and brought my money, and likewise cured you.” 4The old man said, “It is due to him.” 5And he called the angel, and said to him, “Take half of all that you have brought.”

When Tobias returns safely from his journey, his father Tobit is eager to reward the companion who had guided and helped them so well. See that the man who went with you has his wages, he tells his son, and you must give him more. And when Tobias proposes giving him half of all they had brought, Tobit agrees: It is due to him. Grateful for the great help they had received, they wanted to reward the one who had helped them generously, not grudgingly or minimally, but abundantly, giving even half. Their gratitude for the help expressed itself in a generous desire to reward the helper well.

Notice the generous gratitude of Tobit and Tobias toward the one who had helped them. They did not think of giving the helper as little as they could get away with; they wanted to reward him generously, even with half of all they had, recognizing how much he had done for them. Their gratitude was not stingy but generous; the help they had received moved them to want to give abundantly in return. It is due to him, Tobit said, feeling that generous reward was the fitting response to the great help received. Their thankfulness overflowed in a generous desire to reward the one who had helped them.

That is worth taking to heart, for gratitude for help received should move us to generous, not stingy, thankfulness toward those who help us. When others help us greatly, we can be tempted to give as little as we can in return, to be stingy in our gratitude; but Tobit and Tobias wanted to reward their helper generously, even with half, feeling it was due to him. Genuine gratitude for help received is generous, not grudging. Do not be stingy in your gratitude toward those who have helped you; let your thankfulness be generous, rewarding them well, as Tobit and Tobias wanted to give their helper half. Show generous gratitude to those who have helped you, rewarding them well rather than as little as you can, as Tobit and Tobias wanted to give their companion half of all they had; for genuine gratitude for help received overflows in generosity toward the helper, and it is fitting to reward well those who have done us good.

Lord, when Tobias returns safely from his journey, his father Tobit is eager to reward the companion who had guided and helped them so well. See that the man who went with you has his wages, he tells his son, and you must give him more. And when Tobias proposes giving him half of all they had brought, Tobit agrees: it is due to him. Grateful for the great help they had received, they wanted to reward the one who had helped them generously, not grudgingly or minimally, but abundantly, giving even half. Show me the generous gratitude of Tobit and Tobias toward the one who had helped them. They did not think of giving the helper as little as they could get away with; they wanted to reward him generously, even with half of all they had, recognizing how much he had done for them. Their gratitude was not stingy but generous; the help they had received moved them to want to give abundantly in return. It is due to him, Tobit said, feeling that generous reward was the fitting response. Take that to my heart, for gratitude for help received should move me to generous, not stingy, thankfulness toward those who help me. When others help me greatly, I can be tempted to give as little as I can in return, to be stingy in my gratitude; but Tobit and Tobias wanted to reward their helper generously. Genuine gratitude for help received is generous, not grudging. Keep me from being stingy in my gratitude toward those who have helped me; let my thankfulness be generous, Lord, rewarding them well, as Tobit and Tobias wanted to give their helper half.