Church Requel
How much have you been given? Are you entrusted with much? Compared to other Christians down through the ages, the answer might surprise you! We continue our study of Jesus’ promise to return again in Luke 12:41-48. Along the way www consider 3 applications of Jesus’ instructions.
Luke 12:41-48 NIV
Three Difficulties:
#1 - Jesus doesn’t seem to ________________ .
In our straightforward literary / journalistic approach, we expect a more direct answer to Peter’s question, “For us or everyone?” Instead Jesus goes with yet another parable. So we’re left to ask, “What did Jesus mean?”
#2 - We struggle with the ___________________ .
Jesus talks about the beating of a servant as if it is expected. The only difference is a severe beating or a light beating. Our culture expects a “no beating” option. Jesus was speaking to the culture of that day. So our job is to understand how his listeners would have heard and understand, and then apply to us today. Not to shut our minds because of our morals.
#3 - Our application is _____________________ .
... meaning we see everything through the lens of our own culture, our own experiences, AND our own comparisons with others in our culture in our day and age. But the question of being entrusted with much is not just in relationship to others in this time, but to others down throughout history!
Main Message:
To whom much is ____________ , much is ___________.
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48b NIV
So when we stand before Christ and give an accounting for our lives, for our devotion to Him, for our obedience to His commandments, for our Christian service to others, the measuring basis for Christ’s evaluation will be based upon how much has been given to us… how much has been entrusted to us.
DON’T MISUNDERSTAND! This is not in opposition to Jesus’ grace to us in salvation. Nor is it an endorsement of performance-based, works-oriented salvation. This isn’t a requirement to “get into Heaven.” Our salvation is entirely the work of Jesus on the cross. There’s nothing we can do to earn His salvation!
We have seen throughout our study of the gospel of Luke that Jesus is talking about much more than salvation of individual people to cross the threshold of the pearly gates. Jesus is talking about a revolution in thought, actions, life-style of the community of authentic Christ-followers. Real Christians do something with their Christianity! It changes them. It changes how they live. It changes what they do. It changes their Christian impact upon an evil world around us.
Three Applications:
#1 -No generation has more __________,
so we should be more __________.
In this regard there can be no argument. We live in the wealthiest society in the wealthiest time of all history. The problem is that we do not have the relative view of history to show us this. We only have the relative view of contemporaries.
Even the poorest among us live better, healthier, wealthier lives than those who lived more than a century ago. So when Paul is writing to Timothy about instructions to give and he talks to the rich… he’s also talking to us!!!
“Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.”1 Timothy 6:18 NLT
So what are you using your money for? Personal gain? Or to do good? Rich in personal assets or rich in good works. Generous to yourself and family or generous to those in need? Always ready to purchase on Amazon or ready to share with others? To whom much is entrusted, much is expected.
#2 - No generation has more ___________,
so we should be more _____________.
We consider those who are educated to be those who have gone to school for extra years beyond High School - college, masters, doctors. But relative to history everyone in our society has been given much education. For most of history any schooling at all was rare for most people. For most of history, reading was not assumed. Most didn’t read.
On top of that consider the attitude of the church toward the Bible for most of history. The Bible was not something for everyone. It was only for those few within the church trained to understand it.
But us? We have the Bible not just in English, but in dozens of English translations! And not just in paper, but in digital form on our mobile devices, which we can take with us everywhere we go!
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NASB
Are you being diligent with the Bible? Or do you take it for granted? Has easy access diminished its value to you? We have no excuse for not being enlightened by the Word of God! We may not be able to understand all of it all the time. But if we read it, study it, memorize it, meditate upon it, and share it with others, we will be changed by it - transformed in our daily living. And today it’s easier than ever before.
#3 - No generation has more ______________,
so we should be more _______________.
Jesus was passionate about sharing the good news of his Kingdom with others. The last thing he told us before he ascended into Heaven was to go and tell and make disciples. But during his life he also told us this…
"This Good News about the kingdom will be spread throughout the world as a testimony to all nations. Then the end will come.”Matthew 24:14 GWT
His second return is tied to our work of spreading the Good News (the Gospel) throughout the world. And NEVER BEFORE has this task been more possible than it is today! Think of it! We have more opportunity to share the Good News with the world than ever before AND our sharing the Good News with the world hastens Jesus’ return! Shouldn’t we be more passionate than any in all of history? Shouldn’t we be focused and strategic with our evangelism?
We can talk to a person on the other side of the planet as easily as opening Facebook! What are you doing with this opportunity? We publish our worship services, our sermons, videos and pictures of special moments - not just so that we can see them ourselves. No! This is our opportunity to tell the Good News of Christ’s Kingdom to all the world. Are you taking advantage? Do you re-post? Do you share? Do you talk about? Write about what God is doing here and in your life? Let’s be passionate!
We have been entrusted with much! From us much more will be expected!