The Wise Christian(2)
Luke 16:1-13
With the Second World War
behind him, the German Lutheran pastor, Martin Niemoeller, wrote his now famous confession called "I
Didn't Speak Up." The following are his words: “In
We need to take our
Christian task very seriously. We
need to take action. Lately some of our Bible Study groups discussed our role
as Christians in being light and salt. One of the interpretations of
being the “salt” is to stop something form decaying. Christians need to take action in bringing
social justice. Not only Christian justice, but also sharing the Good News
of salvation which is the most important thing in bringing a real change in
humanity.
When my wife and I were
serving in Ainjar, beside being pastor I was school principal. Having boarding
department for children who were neglected or abused was our way to bring
social justice for those children who were in pain and suffering.
We need to learn from the
world. Tomorrow is Monday.
Do you take your work seriously?
Do you prepare yourself to
give your maximum in your work?
Of course, you will do your
best. Nothing is wrong with that. “People of light” learn from “the people
of this world”. Life is going on and we as Christians have
responsibilities. The best thing that evil can do is to convince us to
postpone things. In the end, nothing is achieved, because we think that
our Christian life and growth can wait, that church life is second, third,
or almost in the end of the list, and even sometimes it is not even in the
list.
2- Jesus said to his
disciples, “I am sending you out like sheep among the wolves. Therefore be as shrewd
(wise, KJV) as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matt. 10:16).
This verse, or any verse
should not be taken out of context. Jesus is encouraging his disciples to go
out and spread the Good News. There will be towns that will welcome you and
there will places that will reject you. Jesus uses the words “shake the dust
out” for the houses where they close the doors.
Let me make one thing very
clear. We are nothing without God. This is His mission and we are His
hands and feet. Yet today’s parable is talking about our role and our responsibilities.
If the Holy Spirit does not work in people, our strategies are nothing.
First we need to learn to
pray that the Spirit of the Lord
moves the church and outside the church. Let us pray and ask God to prepare the
field for us. That is the reason CACC deacons and I believe very much in the
power of prayer. This means we take time for prayer.
By the way, this verse (Matthew
10:16) is using the same Greek word provimous (wise, shrewd) as today’s
parable.
Jesus used this word provimous
in different places:
“Everyone who hears these
words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise (provimous)
man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24)
Also the same word is used
for the five wise virgins whose lamps had oil. (Matthew 25:4)
Coming back to the verse, secondly,
Jesus is warning his disciples: outside is full of wolves. Learn
from the snake. Yet, do not compromise your Biblical perspectives; be
humble as doves. Have a strategy in your church, or in your spiritual life.
For example, loving and
respecting newcomers is a good strategy for evangelism. Whenever I meet a
new person, I try to know them and find something of common interest to talk
about. It does not mean it will always give results. One never knows when the
result will show.
Three days ago when I was visiting
Best Buy store, I wanted to find something. One of the assistants paged calling,
“Vahe.” I quickly realized that Vahe could be Armenian. When we saw him, we
talked in Armenian. Later my wife found out that he is from LA. He wanted did
not know if there was any church in this area. I am going to visit him again.
Yesterday my neighbor said, “Things
are going bad in this house; there is an evil spirit. Please I want you pray in
my house.” Of course, I will pray. But this should help us to find a way to
have conversation as Jesus had a conversation with Samaritan woman (see last
Sundays’ sermon).
3- Whatever you have, use
it wisely. Be a good steward
This parable is located between
two parables. On one end there is the parable of the prodigal son, (usually
I say the father who has grace towards both sons). On the other hand, there is
the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus. Both parables talk about using
whatever we have wisely. The prodigal son misused his inheritance money.
The older brother, who was in the house with his father and had everything, did
know how to use all the riches that he had. He was lonely and “poor”.
On the other hand, the rich man did
not share with poor Lazarus his blessings, and he was trying to do
something later after life, it was too late.
People of light learn from
the people of this world. Whatever you have use it wisely.
Once I read about business
people: “First they were work very hard; second they work very smart; third
they are not afraid to fail.”
Last year a certain magazine
tried to sell their subscription to my family. They offered a price that we
refused. They lowered the price and wrote to us again and again. We refused.
They sent more reminders, with lower prices. Finally, we accepted their offer:
one-year subscription for $20 (cover price: $252.45). Now this year they started it all over again.
This time their offer was more attractive because there was a gift involved
which we liked to have along with the $20 subscription.
You see, business people have
priorities. I am not saying we should have the same priorities, but learn
from them persistency, hard work and follow up.
I think Jesus is challenging
us this morning and to us as church saying watch out. Take an inventory and see if there are things that occupy our life so much that we do
not have time to put all we have in the investment for God.
If we do not do spiritual
inventory, we will not grow in faith and eventually we will be robbed by other
things.
Please ask yourself these
questions:
-How is my prayer life?
-How is my personal
devotional life?
-How hungry am I for God?
Do I have a desire to seek Him?
-Was I faithful only when
it was convenient? Am I a “Christian” in
certain circumstances?
-To whom did I witness
lately?
-Did I encourage someone
in this last month or before?
John Wesley learned to live
wisely. He used to make 30 English pounds. He lived by 28 and gave 2 to others.
Then he made 60 pounds he lived by 28 and gave away 32 to others. Then he made
120 pounds he lived by 30 and gave the rest to the poor. Once he said, “What
should rise is not Christian’s standard of living but the standard of giving.”
Wesley’s standard of giving
is not worldly economy. Yet, his efficiency in giving is wisely done, as if
worldly people know how to do business, we should be better than that.
In this Lent season, while we
are looking to Jesus and going with his steps, let us examine our spiritual
inventory. Let us learn from the world how they take things seriously and act.
Let us pray that God will mobilize us to grow in faith and make His message
alive in our dark world.
Amen
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