1343AFC102513
Read it online here, please.
Luke 12:48 – “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (NAB) [For] to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (ESV)
In all honesty I have to tell you this is one Bible verse that scares me. This is from the same chapter used last week (Luke 12:8-10), and today’s selection is from the Parable of the Good Steward which emphasizes that we must be ready for Christ’s sudden appearance. Most of us think of the End Times, the Parousia, and Judgment Day when we consider Christ appearing suddenly. Actually many lessons are taught about Jesus suddenly appearing in your life now, not as part of The End, but as an influence, a new paradigm, and a new understanding. So often we hear that we are to be vigilant for Jesus in the people we meet, and that Jesus is behind the faces of folks we encounter every day. And many of us know that this is true because we have direct and very real experience with that phenomenon. Having a one-on-one with Jesus at an unexpected time in an unexpected place is – to say the least – a very surprising gift. We are expected to acknowledge and accept that gift.
In this parable about readiness, if we take into consideration it could be about encountering Jesus right now, one clear message is that we are always to be mindful to be doing the right thing. In the parable there is a contrast between the Good Steward who does what is expected, and the “Not-So-Good” steward who abuses his master’s trust. Both were entrusted with respect, resources, and real expectations. All of these are gifts granted by and through the authority of the master. The trustworthy steward receives the blessings of these gifts; the more he is given, the more he is expected to honor that trust placed in him by his master. That’s where the scary part comes in, for me at least. My Master’s generosity in giving gifts to me is HUGE. Any way you look at my life, I am greatly blessed. My gifts include (but are not limited to (; ) music, literature, administration, teaching, exhortation, scripture, and much, much more. The largest and most amazing gift, far outpacing the combined value of all the other gifts, is Love. He has given me so much love that I can’t keep track of it, and I can’t give it away fast enough and deeply enough to reduce the overflow. And even with all those blessings, I can still act like that unfaithful steward and be a real jerk, someone even I don’t like to be around. I have been entrusted with much; the expectations of my Master, my family, and my friends are high; my performance under those expectations often fails. The recompense for failure is loss – loss of gifts, loss of respect, loss of resources, and usually loss of comfort. This recompense, however, never includes loss of Love. It seems no matter how much I lose anywhere in my life, Love floods in to fill the void, and then the Love nurtures and restores the gifts I have wasted.
It is scary to think that having received much, I must meet higher expectations. All I have to do is choose to be generous with my gifts, and if I can try my hardest to be as generous as my Master is, then all will be well for he more than replaces what I give to him and to others.
If it is scary to realize I have frittered away my gifts, it is just as scary to see gifted people (meaning of course everyone in the world for we all have gifts) ignoring and even abusing their gifts, squandering them on everything that is dissatisfying. “I can’t get no satisfaction” is a poignant reality. It is sad, shocking even, to know that all of us are called to Life in the Spirit, but only a few accept that gift. Indeed, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14) “The Call” here is perhaps not what we might think. The Gospel is present among us ready to be heard and acted upon. Do you remember what the first requirement of the Gospel is? Yes, you are right: Repent. In the Parable of the King’s Wedding Feast in Matthew 22:1-14, The King’s invited guests snubbed him, so he ordered his servants to bring in strangers, stragglers, and seat them for the banquet. Then there is a strange incident of a man who did not wear a wedding garment. How could he? He was drafted as an impromptu guest. Yet the other guests were prepared. What does this mean? How does one prepare for the Wedding Banquet of our King? What is our “wedding garment?” First of all, it is our repentance. The man had not changed his apparel before entering the feast and for that he was kicked out. He was called but not chosen because he dishonored the call. He had not changed before entering the feast; the unrepentant also have not changed and are not prepared for the Wedding Banquet.
Even among those who honor that calling, some it seems are bound hand and foot and cast into darkness for wailing and grinding of teeth. I am thinking now of friends and family whose bounteous gifts are pain, suffering, marginalization, addiction, disease, or poverty. They have so much genuine suffering in their lives that we wonder what they did to make God treat them so cruelly. That is how we see it, but not how God sees it. You may remember the story of Samuel being sent to anoint a new king to replace Saul. Samuel thought he spotted the best candidate right away – Eliab. But God told Samuel “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” When the Lord looks in the hearts of those who suffer so greatly, he looks for the faith and love he placed in those hearts to help deal with the suffering. These are truly remarkable people who have incredibly large gifts of love, of persistence, and an inspired capacity to persevere despite the suffering. They have answered the call and in their suffering supply what is lacking in the suffering of others – the ones who curse God for their pain because they denied his gifts of faith and endurance.
What then of people who have so many wonderful gifts, but refuse to acknowledge the Giver of All Good Gifts, and instead live the life of the unworthy steward, abusing their opportunities to serve? Sadly it seems many of them will be thrown out of the Banquet. But, since the Lord still loves them they will be invited again, and again, and again. Is there a soul for whom you are praying right now? If so, you may be sent to invite that one to the Banquet. That might be the Gift you are expected to use and use well. If you or someone you know is not seated at the King’s Banquet Table right this very minute, I am inviting you now. This is the moment Jesus met me on the byway and sent me to invite all to the Banquet of Love. I can testify with full authority that the Feast is ready and there is more than enough for all who come and are ready to sit at table with him, the King, the founder of the feast!
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved.
Share-A-Prayer
JE – Biopsy shows disseminated metastasized seminoma. This is a very aggressive cancer. Prognosis is far from excellent. There are lots of decisions to make, especially in light of the years of chronic illnesses already completed. Yet, here is a servant who is so prepared for the Banquet Table! Such faith, perseverance, persistence, and courage are truly inspiring.
GW – Hospice is increasingly difficult. The appetite is pretty much gone, body is breaking down under the endless assault of disease, and still husband and wife are so much in love, so willing to take the gifts of pain and suffering in order to give glory to God through their shared gift of gloriously beautiful faith.
SD – Young, talented, beautiful, intelligent, deeply loved; however, serves a life of binge-drinking, cursing, unmarried but living with a boyfriend. The initials here represent more than one young woman; SD = Someone’s Daughter. Along with her, pray for SS – Someone’s Son – living out of marriage with Someone’s Daughter, given over to drugs, can’t sense God in his life, refuses the Gift of Agape, can’t make ends meet because of his habit, yet professes that he loves his parents and wants their blessing to keep living with his girlfriend.
chick
Age Quod Agis
1343AFC102513
Read it online here, please.
Luke 12:48 – “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (NAB) [For] to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (ESV)
In all honesty I have to tell you this is one Bible verse that scares me. This is from the same chapter used last week (Luke 12:8-10), and today’s selection is from the Parable of the Good Steward which emphasizes that we must be ready for Christ’s sudden appearance. Most of us think of the End Times, the Parousia, and Judgment Day when we consider Christ appearing suddenly. Actually many lessons are taught about Jesus suddenly appearing in your life now, not as part of The End, but as an influence, a new paradigm, and a new understanding. So often we hear that we are to be vigilant for Jesus in the people we meet, and that Jesus is behind the faces of folks we encounter every day. And many of us know that this is true because we have direct and very real experience with that phenomenon. Having a one-on-one with Jesus at an unexpected time in an unexpected place is – to say the least – a very surprising gift. We are expected to acknowledge and accept that gift.
In this parable about readiness, if we take into consideration it could be about encountering Jesus right now, one clear message is that we are always to be mindful to be doing the right thing. In the parable there is a contrast between the Good Steward who does what is expected, and the “Not-So-Good” steward who abuses his master’s trust. Both were entrusted with respect, resources, and real expectations. All of these are gifts granted by and through the authority of the master. The trustworthy steward receives the blessings of these gifts; the more he is given, the more he is expected to honor that trust placed in him by his master. That’s where the scary part comes in, for me at least. My Master’s generosity in giving gifts to me is HUGE. Any way you look at my life, I am greatly blessed. My gifts include (but are not limited to (; ) music, literature, administration, teaching, exhortation, scripture, and much, much more. The largest and most amazing gift, far outpacing the combined value of all the other gifts, is Love. He has given me so much love that I can’t keep track of it, and I can’t give it away fast enough and deeply enough to reduce the overflow. And even with all those blessings, I can still act like that unfaithful steward and be a real jerk, someone even I don’t like to be around. I have been entrusted with much; the expectations of my Master, my family, and my friends are high; my performance under those expectations often fails. The recompense for failure is loss – loss of gifts, loss of respect, loss of resources, and usually loss of comfort. This recompense, however, never includes loss of Love. It seems no matter how much I lose anywhere in my life, Love floods in to fill the void, and then the Love nurtures and restores the gifts I have wasted.
It is scary to think that having received much, I must meet higher expectations. All I have to do is choose to be generous with my gifts, and if I can try my hardest to be as generous as my Master is, then all will be well for he more than replaces what I give to him and to others.
If it is scary to realize I have frittered away my gifts, it is just as scary to see gifted people (meaning of course everyone in the world for we all have gifts) ignoring and even abusing their gifts, squandering them on everything that is dissatisfying. “I can’t get no satisfaction” is a poignant reality. It is sad, shocking even, to know that all of us are called to Life in the Spirit, but only a few accept that gift. Indeed, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14) “The Call” here is perhaps not what we might think. The Gospel is present among us ready to be heard and acted upon. Do you remember what the first requirement of the Gospel is? Yes, you are right: Repent. In the Parable of the King’s Wedding Feast in Matthew 22:1-14, The King’s invited guests snubbed him, so he ordered his servants to bring in strangers, stragglers, and seat them for the banquet. Then there is a strange incident of a man who did not wear a wedding garment. How could he? He was drafted as an impromptu guest. Yet the other guests were prepared. What does this mean? How does one prepare for the Wedding Banquet of our King? What is our “wedding garment?” First of all, it is our repentance. The man had not changed his apparel before entering the feast and for that he was kicked out. He was called but not chosen because he dishonored the call. He had not changed before entering the feast; the unrepentant also have not changed and are not prepared for the Wedding Banquet.
Even among those who honor that calling, some it seems are bound hand and foot and cast into darkness for wailing and grinding of teeth. I am thinking now of friends and family whose bounteous gifts are pain, suffering, marginalization, addiction, disease, or poverty. They have so much genuine suffering in their lives that we wonder what they did to make God treat them so cruelly. That is how we see it, but not how God sees it. You may remember the story of Samuel being sent to anoint a new king to replace Saul. Samuel thought he spotted the best candidate right away – Eliab. But God told Samuel “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” When the Lord looks in the hearts of those who suffer so greatly, he looks for the faith and love he placed in those hearts to help deal with the suffering. These are truly remarkable people who have incredibly large gifts of love, of persistence, and an inspired capacity to persevere despite the suffering. They have answered the call and in their suffering supply what is lacking in the suffering of others – the ones who curse God for their pain because they denied his gifts of faith and endurance.
What then of people who have so many wonderful gifts, but refuse to acknowledge the Giver of All Good Gifts, and instead live the life of the unworthy steward, abusing their opportunities to serve? Sadly it seems many of them will be thrown out of the Banquet. But, since the Lord still loves them they will be invited again, and again, and again. Is there a soul for whom you are praying right now? If so, you may be sent to invite that one to the Banquet. That might be the Gift you are expected to use and use well. If you or someone you know is not seated at the King’s Banquet Table right this very minute, I am inviting you now. This is the moment Jesus met me on the byway and sent me to invite all to the Banquet of Love. I can testify with full authority that the Feast is ready and there is more than enough for all who come and are ready to sit at table with him, the King, the founder of the feast!
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved.
Share-A-Prayer
JE – Biopsy shows disseminated metastasized seminoma. This is a very aggressive cancer. Prognosis is far from excellent. There are lots of decisions to make, especially in light of the years of chronic illnesses already completed. Yet, here is a servant who is so prepared for the Banquet Table! Such faith, perseverance, persistence, and courage are truly inspiring.
GW – Hospice is increasingly difficult. The appetite is pretty much gone, body is breaking down under the endless assault of disease, and still husband and wife are so much in love, so willing to take the gifts of pain and suffering in order to give glory to God through their shared gift of gloriously beautiful faith.
SD – Young, talented, beautiful, intelligent, deeply loved; however, serves a life of binge-drinking, cursing, unmarried but living with a boyfriend. The initials here represent more than one young woman; SD = Someone’s Daughter. Along with her, pray for SS – Someone’s Son – living out of marriage with Someone’s Daughter, given over to drugs, can’t sense God in his life, refuses the Gift of Agape, can’t make ends meet because of his habit, yet professes that he loves his parents and wants their blessing to keep living with his girlfriend.
chick
Age Quod Agis
