“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as hecomes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and servethem. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. “But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” Luke 12:35-40

“Whether we’re eating or working or meditating or listening or talking, the reason that we’re here in this world at all is to study ourselves. In fact, it has been said that studying ourselves provides all the books we need.”(Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times)

Attentiveness and watchfulness can be dangerous when applied to our faith. How is that for a statement. Let me explain. If we are not watchful, and we focus on earthly things instead of heavenly things, we may find ourselves missing the very presence of G-d in our midst. So if we are being watchful, looking for Jesus and the Holy Spirit in our midst, we are going to see thepresence of G-d every day.

It is so easy to get bogged down in our problems. We cannot ignore the injustices and atrocities that occur around us or we are no better than the drowning man who waves the rescue boat away claiming that G-d will save him. We cannot save ourselves. We need to be able to recognize the presence of G-d and to interpret both the here and now, and the times that are to come – both require a faith that puts us to work to fight for justice and peace, and prepares us for that hour when Christ will come.

Pastor Dave

“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! And do not keep striving forwhat you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:28-34

“I have complete confidence that God is able to take care of any situation and provide an answer to any question or problem – He has all the resources of the universe to draw upon in helping each one of us through any type of crisis if we will trust Him.” (Charles Stanley, Finding Peace)

When your treasure is in heaven, when Christ is your treasure, your heart is Christlike. What does that mean? Christ came down to minister to the last, least, little and the lost. This is what was in the heart of Christ. When Christ is in our heart, then our hearts go out to those who are poor and less privileged. Then we should go to them and minister to their needs.

Abraham had great wealth that was a great blessing. Abraham was also willing to sacrifice his only son when G-d commanded him to do exactly that. Sometimes an individual is given something they have been waiting for their whole life only to have to sacrifice it for something greater than themselves. We are asked to do the same with our wealth — distribute it to the poor– because that wealth is a great blessing.

Our greatest treasure is a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Anything else is fleeting and will pass by. We should not put our value on earthly treasures, for in the end they will rust and beworthless to us.

Pastor Dave