Scripture Reading(s)
Luke 12:32-40
12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
12:33 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.
12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
12:35 “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit;
12:36 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 he comes and knocks.
12:37 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 serve them.
12:38 If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
12:39 “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.
12:40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”
Reflections
Throughout the course of Jesus’ ministry, He taught many lessons. One of the most important lessons that He taught was that time is short and that God was coming back to take His children home to be with Him in Heaven. Out of that lesson outflows another important concept that Jesus emphasized was that our lives here on earth are to be lived not for ourselves, but to do His work.
Jesus longed for His disciples to understand that our heart’s treasures should not be invested on things on earth, but on the hope that we will one day spend eternity with Him. What do we look forward to in this lifetime? Is it our next promotion, meal, get together, or special event? Are our hearts filled with things that are centered around Christ and one day being with Him or on the temporary? Investing in things like relationships, church, and even our job are not bad things. It’s how we prioritize them is what truly defines the character of our hearts.
This truth about us, one day spending eternity with Him, should fill our hearts with joy and hope. We have something better in store for us and nothing can compare to the joy we will feel when we are in His presence forever.
Like a bride waiting for her groom
We’ll be a Church ready for You
Every heart longing for our King
We sing
Even so come
Lord Jesus, come
Lyrics by: Chris Tomlin
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 he comes 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 serve them.
Jesus is explaining to those who are present that being ready for the Lord is more valuable than any treasure you will find on this earth. We are to be watchful and obedient servants of the Lord. We are to build up a “purse” that will never wear out (a heavenly purse). Part of building out heavily purse we are to abandon our material world. Man cannot serve two masters, both God and money.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
[Featured image from godminders.org]