SCRIPTURE: Luke 12
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Jesus warns His disciples about spiritual and material worldliness, as seen in the Pharisees (focusing on religious performance) and the story of the rich fool. Jesus shows that a worldly spirit does not alleviate worry or trouble, it only makes it worse. He then goes on to show that a life of surrender and service to God and Jesus as King is the best way to live. Seeking first God’s kingdom actually offers “these things” (life, blessing, peace, contentment) as well. It is not an easy life, in fact it will likely result in ridicule, rejection and possibly persecution. But the Lord, by His Spirit, will speak through us.
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. [Luke 12:48] Life is not about how much we accumulate but about what we do with what we have received. Jesus sends out His disciples on a mission, a dangerous mission, where their success will not depend on great resources, great programs, great facilities, great numbers… but on the power of God at work through them. He reveals the folly of ‘accumulation’ with the parable of the rich fool, and also with the anxiety that a focus on things brings. Though following Jesus in a life of generosity and sacrifice will lead to tension, conflict and hardship, those who are faithfully living this way will be blessed when Jesus returns. It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. [Luke 12:43]
We have been blessed with so much. We celebrate thanksgiving today (in Canada), but I sometimes wonder whether we remember WHY the Lord has blessed us with so much – from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. God is sharing His blessings with us, so that He can share His blessings through us. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. [Luke 12:33] The idea here is not that we are to have no possessions, but that we are to use our possessions to bless the poor. Don’t spend your resources on luxuries and frivolous trinkets that do nothing but look nice. Make your top priority, how can I bless others with what I have been entrusted. Those who have more, can certainly do more… and God will expect more from them (us, me).
PRAYER:
Lord, take me beyond thanksgiving to thanks-living, devoting myself to blessing others, especially the poor.
Thanksgiving = thanksliving. I need an attitude of gratitude with altitude. God has given me much and for this I am grateful. But as we read, much also means more responsibility. And the much also means more to share. God has blessed me and I need to be a blessing to others.
All too often we spend the first half of our lives gathering our toys. And as we get older, grayer, God opens our eyes and we see why we are really here and we get rid of our toys. Our relationship with God seems to grow also with age. Yet as He tells us, we must be ready at all times for His return.
And so as I wait for the Lord, I continue to serve Him. He has blesssed me beyond expectation – of health, food, kids, work, friends – my daily bread. May I realize that every day – the joy of the Lord is my strength – so that this day also, once again I contnue my journey in joy in His Sonshine my pilgrim’s progress until the day I will meet Him face to face. By the grace of God I continue my journey of serving.
All that I am I owe to Thee,
Thy wisdom, Lord, has fashioned me;
I give my Maker thankful praise,
Whose wondrous works my soul amaze.
Ere into being I was brought,
Thine eye did see, and in Thy thought
My life in all its perfect plan
Was ordered ere my days began.