“From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.⁴⁹ “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! ⁵¹ Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! ⁵² From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; ⁵³ they will be divided:

father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

⁵⁴ He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain’; and so it happens. ⁵⁵ And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. ⁵⁶ You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? ⁵⁷ “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? ⁵⁸ Thus, when you go with your accuser before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle the case,^[i] or you may be dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you in prison. ⁵⁹ I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.” Luke 12:48-59

Attentiveness and watchfulness are necessary – yet they can be dangerous when applied to our faith. Why do I say that? Well, for example, if we are watching carefully, and we see trouble coming toward us, we can suddenly shift our focus completely on to the earthly trouble, and therefore take our focus away from Christ, and thus lose our trust in Christ. Trouble always wants us to think that we have to put all “Our” efforts on fixing it. And when we think we have to handle everything, then where is there a need for Christ? In that same vein, if we are so focused on being watchful, and ignore the injustices and atrocities that occur around us, we are no better than the drowning man who waves the rescue boat away claiming that G-d will save him. 

Now, I know this sounds counter-intuitive – but that is because our society is always telling us that we have to be our own person – and handle our own affairs. We need to be able to interpret both the here and now, and the times that are to come – and, both require a faith where we put our trust in Christ ahead of our own efforts. Now, we are still called to work for justice and peace – and we are also to prepare for that hour when Christ will come. It will take the help of the Holy Spirit for us to be able to prepare as Christ compels us to prepare.

Pastor Dave

“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. ²⁸ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! ²⁹ And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. ³⁰ For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ Instead, strive for his^[f] kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. ³² “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:27-34

In Philippians 1:21 Paul says: “For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.” Luke puts it another way: when Christ is your treasure, your heart is Christ-like.  What is that like? According to the Gospel of Luke, Christ came down to minister to the last, least, little and the lost. Having an emphasis for those who are the lowest of society, the poor and the less privileged, Luke’s Jesus (his love, mercy and grace) is a treasure for all people – not just the rich and connected. This is why the church should be in the business of having a heart to serve those who are poor and less privileged. We can go to them and minister to their needs.  

Sometimes an individual is given wealth that defies description; as such, that wealth is a great blessing. But that wealth is also a great responsibility. The exercise of living out our faith, of doing the will of Jesus Christ, is one of the choicest riches any of us can experience. The things of this world are fleeting: and none of us can take them with us when we die. We should not put our hope in the riches of this earth, but into the treasures that await us all in heaven.

Pastor Dave