pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Heed the Warning!

Reading: Luke 12:13-21

Luke 12:15 – “Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed. After all, one’s life isn’t determined by one’s possessions.”

In today’s text Jesus addresses money – a frequent topic in his teachings. In the story a presumably younger brother asks Jesus to tell his brother to give him what is due to him. Jesus declares that he’s not the judge or referee – or the relationship counselor. Good thing because we all want what we think should be rightfully ours. This often includes money or possessions but can also include our time, our talents and gifts, and even our prayers and worship.

Jesus then tells a story to illustrate the gravity of his warning. Often we have to figure out which person we are in the story – or who we hope to be. Today’s story, however, has just one character. A rich man has a bountiful harvest. We get a bonus at work or that commission on the big account comes through. The man’s barns are not big enough to take in the wonderful harvest, adding to what’s already stored up. While there is always more “room” in the bank, we’ll rent storage units for our new stuff. Finding himself at the crossroads between generosity and self-indulgence, the man decides to tear down his current barns to horde more stuff in bigger, newer barns. The man thinks he’s all set – there’s plenty in the bank. Oops – in the barns. He thinks that he can now “Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” Life is good!

Alas, Jesus says, the man will die that night. He horded and was not “rich toward God.” He was storing up treasures in earth, not in heaven. The truth of Jesus’ warning is realized: “Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed. After all, one’s life isn’t determined by one’s possessions.” May we hear the lesson and heed the warning.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the warning and good story to back it up. Really, God, we all struggle with some kind of greed. Yet we read the story and almost all of us ask the question, “How much is enough?” Even this question betrays our trust in you to provide all that we need. Lord, teach us to be content with what you provide and guard our hearts against the hunan desire to strive for more. Amen.


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Heart Treasure

Reading: Luke 12:22-34

Verse 33: “Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail.”

Yesterday we looked at Paul’s invitation to strain forward towards the prize that we will one day receive in heaven. Along this journey we can face many challenges. Sometimes we get stuck. This happens most often when the things of this world rise up, getting in the way of our faith. So today we turn to Luke 12 to hear Jesus’ words about an emotion that can be very hard to deal with or to push past: worry. We often get stuck when we become overly focused on our “stuff” – the things that make us feel safe and secure. Instead of looking heavenward, though, we choose to concern ourselves with the things of this world.

Jesus first addresses our basic needs: food, water, clothing. He begins with the ravens. Look how God feeds them! Jesus then points to the lilies – look at their splendor! With both examples, Jesus reminds us that we are far more valuable than birds or “the grass of the fields.” God knows we need these things and will meet our needs. Next, we are reminded to first seek the kingdom of God – the things not of this world. This is the greater need. Here too Jesus offers encouragement: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” This calls us to trust.

Jesus then addresses our actions step: “Sell all your possessions and give to the poor.” This action step sits at the core of who and what we trust. It calls us to trust at the deepest level. Like Abel, who gave to God from the firstborn lambs in Genesis 4, and like the widow who gave all she had to live on in Mark 13, can we also offer up our possessions to God, trusting that God will provide? Doing so we will “provide purses that will not wear out” for ourselves. Doing so, we will lead with the heart, the true source of our treasure – our faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, we know that you love us beyond our understanding. We know that you care for us and for our well-being. We know the promises of presence and of resurrection life. Help us to loosen our grip on the things of this world, freeing us to better grasp the things of heaven. Amen.


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Try It

Reading: Matthew 25: 14-30

Verse 18: “The man with one talent went off, dug a whole in the ground, and hid his master’s money”.

In the parable that we will read today and tomorrow, there are three servants. One is not like the other two. One is afraid. He is afraid of failing, of losing his master’s money, of stepping outside of his comfort zone. Unfortunately, many followers of Jesus are like this servant. We are given a talent or gift or skill or dream by God and we stuff it down, we hide it away, we try and pretend it doesn’t exist. Our fear of the “what if” and the “what then” are greater than our trust in God.

Sometimes I wish our faith were more like Thomas Edison’s efforts with the light bulb. It is said that he failed a thousand times before arriving at what we know as the first light bulb. Imagine if we “failed” at being Christ’s light and love a thousand times before someone was moved to accept Christ in that moment. For Edison, each failure was a step closer to his goal. Imagine the impact on others that we would make along the way and consider the change that would be wrought in your faith. Actually, we are each just seed planters, scattering faith here and there, trusting that one day it will sprout and grow. It does not matter if we were the first to plant a seed of faith or if we were the 427th or even the thousandth.

Oh, the power of fear. What if that person rejects me or if they ridicule me? What if I lose that person as a friend? What if the pastor or the church rejects my idea for a good pantry? What if… And there are the “what then”s. The pastor and the church said “yes” and the food pantry has taken off – what then? The step into helping with youth has ignited a passion for serving God and the church – what then?

We want a safe faith, an easy faith. We like a faith without challenge, without risk. I would dare to say that when this is our faith, we have a shallow faith, a hollow faith, a faith without much life or energy. When we step out and step up, when we accept the challenge or calling and risk for our faith, then it comes alive. Don’t believe me? Then try it. Follow the nudge you’ve been feeling, share that ministry idea that God has planted in your heart, say ‘yes’ to that role that you are feeling called to. Try it. Give of yourself and see where God takes you. Go ahead. Try it.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the ways and times when you have led me beyond myself and into your plans. As I continue to journey, may I risk for you, for the kingdom of God. Open my eyes and ears and heart to where you are leading. Encourage me to step up and step out in faith. Show me the way. Use me as you will. Amen.


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He Provides

Reading: Psalm 127

Verse 2: “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for while they sleep He provides for those He loves”.

We can build our own lives. We can labor to build our city or our business or our personal wealth or possessions. But unless God is involved, all is done in vain. If not us, we certainly know folks who rise early and work late, trying to get ahead. They toil for many different reasons and for many different things. But all is in vain unless God is with them.

The passage today is not saying that laboring or working is in vain. It can be in vain, but scripture is pretty clear on the subject – if able, we are to work. Our labor can be in vain for at least two reasons. First, if our work is given to bring us recognition or if it is done to amass wealth or possessions, then it is vanity. In this case, we want the light to shine on us. The second reason that our labor is in vain when we work without God is that none of our earthly stuff will leave this earth. If our life here is simply about amassing stuff, the our stuff becomes our idols.

When we labor with God – following His plans and His ways for our life – then it is not in vain. When our focus is on shining the light on God, then there is no human vanity. When we labor with God, then the rewards or stuff is not found here on earth. Tje treasure we store up is treasure in heaven. Life is good when lived with God. Our passage says, “for while they sleep He provides for those He loves”. God loves and cares for and provides for those that walk with God, those who love God. For the love and care in the here and now and fir the eternal life one day, we rejoice and shout out, thanks be to God!

Lord, keep me humble and focused on you. Keep me in tune with working with you rather than trying to make my own way and my own decisions. Thank you. Amen.