Luke 12:32-40. Ready and Prepared 8/8/10
{32} "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. {33} Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. {34} For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. {35} "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, {36} like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. {37} It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. {38} It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. {39} But understand 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. {40} You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
What a tremendous thing God has done for us by not just promising us the kingdom of heaven, but also making it possible for it be ours. He even had his own Son to die in our place so that it can be ours: all and more guaranteed. And despite our track record, he is only too pleased to give it to us, who trust in him and what he has done for us. Wow! This is the best – the most important and valuable thing to have happened in our life; right?
‘Well, yes it is terrific. We are thankful for all that has been done for us. It is important. But. But, look I have all these other things to do and focus on. Look I need to get my nice house, car, caravan, boat and be able to go on long holidays and enjoy my life here now. I need my security and I have all these other things to that I have to do. Yes, it is good to know Jesus and what he has done. Well, in the end, it will good to known that; but for now I have got all these other things that have to be done. My life is just so busy - well bit later - she'll be right.’
Yes, our heart will always be where treasure is!
That is why Jesus gives us both an encouragement and a warning here in this reading. Make sure we are alway ready and prepared. He is seeking here to impress on us the importance of this for all of us. And he uses a couple of real life situations so that we get the idea. The servants are to be ready and prepared for when the master comes home. Also, the owner of a house is to be prepared for a thief when he comes. Now I would like to update these illustrations just a little, this morning.
First, you are working for a company where the big boss told you that he would be coming to visit your office in the near future to give a hefty bonus to all the workers. Now, a number of weeks passed and he still hasn't come, despite the fact that you know that he is one who keeps his word. How happy will you be if the boss finds you working diligently when he comes? Particularly when you find he intends also to sit down with you and put on a real banquet. Of course, the other side of the situation also needs to be kept in mind. Can you imagine, if when he comes he finds you instead of working at the task that is set for you, he finds you working on your own projects in the bosses time, using his resources for your own gain, and using his good name and company contacts for your own ends, to detriment of the boss and his company. Do you think he would be happy with what he finds? Would you expect him to still give you a bonus, as well as keep your position? Hardly likely! If that is case, think about this with regard to your spiritual life.
Secondly, if we knew a thief was at work in town and many, many house in the area had already been broken into, surely we would take every precaution to lock our place up and be vigilant in ensuring that we have every deterrent possible used. There is no way that we would leave our windows and doors open and go out for hours on end. Even go away for a week at a time, leaving the papers on the lawn and the mail in the letter box for all to see. Thinking, she'll be right, it won't happen to me. We are not that stupid, are we? Well, if I think of the spiritual life of many people, I am not so sure.
Again, think about what the Lord has done for us - what he has promised us. He reminds us that he is only too happy to give us a part in his kingdom: ensuring eternity in heaven where he himself will give us the best of everything that we need; ensuring us an eternity free of suffering and death. His rule will be the absolute best - without end. This is surely the best treasure and wealth that we could ever have or want. And he wants it to be ours – he is only too pleased to ensure that it is there for us. Isn’t that something that is so good and important for us? Doesn’t that surpass all that we are so desperately chasing after in this life, which is here today and gone tomorrow? Surely, this is a real treasure for us? Surely?
But here again there is problem for many of us. Where is it? We can't see it – or experience it – or wait for it. We want it now and at the same time to be able to do as we please. However, the coming of this kingdom is delayed. It is not here yet visibly - within our grasp. So we look elsewhere for our pleasure and security. Because his time is not yet right – because there are others he wants as a part of his kingdom, we give up on the idea and the promise. After all, the world around has many good things for us to have and enjoy; and they promise us that the rewards are great. Never-the-less, this kingdom is ours guaranteed by our faithful and trustworthy God. In many ways, this kingdom has come already, but physically, for the moment, it is not our experience.
As a result, we are too often tempted to look elsewhere: To place our interest and trust in other things; and even work at ensuring our own future, security and welfare. Other things can so easily become our riches and we become complacent in our Christian life. We all too readily live for now and give little thought to the future and the important things of life. It is almost as if we afraid of being out of step with the rest of society, or that this ‘christian stuff’ may not be for real in the end, or that it doesn’t really matter.
But hear again, what Jesus says: "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Be faithful, in the midst of the times we are living in. Be sure that Jesus and what he has to say is for real. Remember the treasures of this world do not last and we cannot take them with us: Whereas the treasures that he has in mind for us are truly great and lasting, even though we are not fully experiencing them now. Remember both the glories and sufferings of this life are nothing in comparison to the riches of the glory that he has in mind for us for the rest of eternity. Here remember God’s Word is proved to be true and reliable. History has again and again attested to this fact. God and what he has promised is for real.
Now this is the treasure that we are to hold as of greatest importance. Jesus Christ and all that he has done for us and won for us is surely the best that we could ever have. So let us hold this wonderful treasure near and dear to us. The things that our world has to offer are nothing by comparison to the greatness of all that we have in and with Jesus Christ.
Along with that however, we need to also remember that our Lord will come and he will come unexpectedly: our time will come sooner or later; and we are called on to be ready and prepared. We are called on to repent – to turn back to God and take him seriously - seeing the Lord and what he has to offer as our greatest treasure that we could ever have.
Also, remember the parables and the implication for those that are not ready and prepared and are caught up in the treasures of this life. God Word is clear that those who turn their back on Jesus and reject what he has to offer, by clinging to the treasures of this world as though they are all important; they will not be receiving the kingdom. They in stead will be cast into hell.
So to conclude, remember the Son of Man; Jesus himself, will come again when we are not expecting him. So be ready and be prepared. But above all, do not be afraid to trust in all of this, for the Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. To him be all glory and honour, now and always.
AMEN
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
{32} "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. {33} Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. {34} For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. {35} "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, {36} like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. {37} It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. {38} It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. {39} But understand 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. {40} You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
What a tremendous thing God has done for us by not just promising us the kingdom of heaven, but also making it possible for it be ours. He even had his own Son to die in our place so that it can be ours: all and more guaranteed. And despite our track record, he is only too pleased to give it to us, who trust in him and what he has done for us. Wow! This is the best – the most important and valuable thing to have happened in our life; right?
‘Well, yes it is terrific. We are thankful for all that has been done for us. It is important. But. But, look I have all these other things to do and focus on. Look I need to get my nice house, car, caravan, boat and be able to go on long holidays and enjoy my life here now. I need my security and I have all these other things to that I have to do. Yes, it is good to know Jesus and what he has done. Well, in the end, it will good to known that; but for now I have got all these other things that have to be done. My life is just so busy - well bit later - she'll be right.’
Yes, our heart will always be where treasure is!
That is why Jesus gives us both an encouragement and a warning here in this reading. Make sure we are alway ready and prepared. He is seeking here to impress on us the importance of this for all of us. And he uses a couple of real life situations so that we get the idea. The servants are to be ready and prepared for when the master comes home. Also, the owner of a house is to be prepared for a thief when he comes. Now I would like to update these illustrations just a little, this morning.
First, you are working for a company where the big boss told you that he would be coming to visit your office in the near future to give a hefty bonus to all the workers. Now, a number of weeks passed and he still hasn't come, despite the fact that you know that he is one who keeps his word. How happy will you be if the boss finds you working diligently when he comes? Particularly when you find he intends also to sit down with you and put on a real banquet. Of course, the other side of the situation also needs to be kept in mind. Can you imagine, if when he comes he finds you instead of working at the task that is set for you, he finds you working on your own projects in the bosses time, using his resources for your own gain, and using his good name and company contacts for your own ends, to detriment of the boss and his company. Do you think he would be happy with what he finds? Would you expect him to still give you a bonus, as well as keep your position? Hardly likely! If that is case, think about this with regard to your spiritual life.
Secondly, if we knew a thief was at work in town and many, many house in the area had already been broken into, surely we would take every precaution to lock our place up and be vigilant in ensuring that we have every deterrent possible used. There is no way that we would leave our windows and doors open and go out for hours on end. Even go away for a week at a time, leaving the papers on the lawn and the mail in the letter box for all to see. Thinking, she'll be right, it won't happen to me. We are not that stupid, are we? Well, if I think of the spiritual life of many people, I am not so sure.
Again, think about what the Lord has done for us - what he has promised us. He reminds us that he is only too happy to give us a part in his kingdom: ensuring eternity in heaven where he himself will give us the best of everything that we need; ensuring us an eternity free of suffering and death. His rule will be the absolute best - without end. This is surely the best treasure and wealth that we could ever have or want. And he wants it to be ours – he is only too pleased to ensure that it is there for us. Isn’t that something that is so good and important for us? Doesn’t that surpass all that we are so desperately chasing after in this life, which is here today and gone tomorrow? Surely, this is a real treasure for us? Surely?
But here again there is problem for many of us. Where is it? We can't see it – or experience it – or wait for it. We want it now and at the same time to be able to do as we please. However, the coming of this kingdom is delayed. It is not here yet visibly - within our grasp. So we look elsewhere for our pleasure and security. Because his time is not yet right – because there are others he wants as a part of his kingdom, we give up on the idea and the promise. After all, the world around has many good things for us to have and enjoy; and they promise us that the rewards are great. Never-the-less, this kingdom is ours guaranteed by our faithful and trustworthy God. In many ways, this kingdom has come already, but physically, for the moment, it is not our experience.
As a result, we are too often tempted to look elsewhere: To place our interest and trust in other things; and even work at ensuring our own future, security and welfare. Other things can so easily become our riches and we become complacent in our Christian life. We all too readily live for now and give little thought to the future and the important things of life. It is almost as if we afraid of being out of step with the rest of society, or that this ‘christian stuff’ may not be for real in the end, or that it doesn’t really matter.
But hear again, what Jesus says: "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Be faithful, in the midst of the times we are living in. Be sure that Jesus and what he has to say is for real. Remember the treasures of this world do not last and we cannot take them with us: Whereas the treasures that he has in mind for us are truly great and lasting, even though we are not fully experiencing them now. Remember both the glories and sufferings of this life are nothing in comparison to the riches of the glory that he has in mind for us for the rest of eternity. Here remember God’s Word is proved to be true and reliable. History has again and again attested to this fact. God and what he has promised is for real.
Now this is the treasure that we are to hold as of greatest importance. Jesus Christ and all that he has done for us and won for us is surely the best that we could ever have. So let us hold this wonderful treasure near and dear to us. The things that our world has to offer are nothing by comparison to the greatness of all that we have in and with Jesus Christ.
Along with that however, we need to also remember that our Lord will come and he will come unexpectedly: our time will come sooner or later; and we are called on to be ready and prepared. We are called on to repent – to turn back to God and take him seriously - seeing the Lord and what he has to offer as our greatest treasure that we could ever have.
Also, remember the parables and the implication for those that are not ready and prepared and are caught up in the treasures of this life. God Word is clear that those who turn their back on Jesus and reject what he has to offer, by clinging to the treasures of this world as though they are all important; they will not be receiving the kingdom. They in stead will be cast into hell.
So to conclude, remember the Son of Man; Jesus himself, will come again when we are not expecting him. So be ready and be prepared. But above all, do not be afraid to trust in all of this, for the Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. To him be all glory and honour, now and always.
AMEN
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish
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