Sermon on David and Goliath

Luke 12:41–48

Luke 12:41-48 

English Standard Version 

  We know that God doesn't entrust everyone with the same level of responsibility.  As much as I would love to be entrusted with a billion dollars, that does not seem to be my lot in life.  It's easy to sit around and spend our time wishing we had what another had, or imagining what great things we might do if we had been given something different.  We often focus on what we don't have rather than what we do.

  What God expects from us, regardless of what we have, is faithfulness.  We've all been given some level of responsibility.  Can we be steadfastly obedient as stewards of whatever gifts we have?  Do we exercise discipline and care?  Are we thoughtful in how we use what we have?  Do we consider how God is calling us to use the gifts we have?  I don't think we need to be perfect, although we certainly ought to strive for it.  I do believe that we should see this life as an opportunity to demonstrate gratitude to God by faithfully taking care of the people and opportunities that surround us, whatever those may be.

Luke 12:35–40

Luke 12:35-40 

English Standard Version 

  Jesus is telling us not to live as though we are simply waiting for death, at which point we'll enter the Kingdom of God.  Scripture tells us that we are joined with Christ in our baptisms, and we are united in his life, death, and resurrection, meaning that our entire lives are to be lived with a joyous anticipation of union with Christ.  Christ is to be first in our hearts and minds -- as hard as that is to maintain, it's the call.  It's an uphill climb most days, given the things competing for our attention... but only one of those things promises you life beyond death.  Only one of those things can provide true and lasting joy, even in the face of grief.  Only one of those things knows you completely, believes you are fearfully and wonderfully made, and can redeem you from sin and death.  So may we give ourselves over, day after precious day, so that we may know Christ fully and be fully known.

Luke 12:32-34

Luke 12:32-34 

English Standard Version 

  I love the image of Jesus riding on a white horse on the glorious and victorious day of resurrection, but Jesus also has these wonderfully tender moments where he comes with gentleness to remind us that God delights in giving us the Kingdom.  It's not something we pry grudgingly out of God's hands -- God opens his arms and pours love into us, so that we might have a treasure store beyond imagining.  We think about wealth and riches in terms of dollars and cents, but Jesus is reminding us that no matter what we do, we'll one day surpass the world where that is useful to us.  So why not choose to set our hearts on a more permanent treasure, one that cannot be stolen or taken from us?  If I told you that you'd live for a million years and you could choose between a treasure that was good for a hundred years or a treasure that was good for a million, which would you choose?  The world will convince us that we're only going to live for a hundred, but Jesus is reminding us that there is a life beyond this one, more real than this one, and we ought to think about investing for that Kingdom more than this one.  That doesn't mean we should ignore this world, but when we choose which is first in our hearts... may we choose wisely.