Today’s Reading: Luke 16
Last week, the kids started school again. It is always a pleasure to see them go to the next level and the next grade. So currently we have a fifth grader, a second grader, and a first grader.
Each year, each teacher will send a note welcoming and introducing themselves to each of the students. This year my youngest is starting first grade and she received a letter from her teacher. This was one of the first times she could read the letter by herself. As we were reading the letter she needed some help with some of the words and was able to sound out the others by herself. At the end of the letter the teacher states that the student will be a first grade reader, writer, scientist, mathematician. For the first three words she needed some help. But I was the last and most complex word she was able to see it without any hesitation and complete competency and fluency: Mathematician. This made me smile because some of the hardest words are complex and difficult to pronounce or say, but with support and confidence and they are able to shine in shock us.
In Luke chapter 16, we have two major scenarios in which each individual after being presented with dire consequences of their actions they try to think outside of the box and become more intentional about their life.
In the beginning there’s a manager who is not honest with his masters work. This manager has worked with the master for quite some time. The master knows the heart of this manager and he calls him to terms or his life is in jeopardy. This manager then becomes very intentional and thinks outside the box to fulfill his masters duties. In doing so the manager is able to correct his actions and set up his master for success. Jesus doesn’t want us to be dishonest as this manager, but wants us to see his example and be diligent and intentional about our own life in reference to what God has given us. The manager had to think outside the box because his life was in jeopardy. How many times do we have to be pushed to the edge to become intentional at our lives?
The second scenario is that of the Rich man and Lazarus. The rich man having all of the good things in life and Lazarus being poor and unable to care for himself. This parable is not a judgment on rich and poor, but the intentionally of each persons life. When the rich man is in Hades he starts to try to think outside the box to get his eternal life back on track. While he’s in Hades he tries to do several things he tries to get Lazarus to come and cool his thirst. The next thing The rich man does is try to get Lazarus to help his siblings to not make the same mistakes. So in these two scenarios the Richmond still thinks about himself and his brothers, but he’s thinking outside the box he’s thinking outside of his normal.
It is interesting in these two scenarios that the individuals knew what to do from the beginning. But they made a choice not to do the good or proper thing. Not to do these correct things or live intentionally for others. And because of those choices that they made they find themselves 1.) in fear of their earthly life; 2.) fear of their eternal life. How many times are we presented with opportunities to help or assist others? How many times are we scared or frightened because of the choices that we’ve made that have impacted us? How many times do we need to hear that our blood pressure is high before we make a change to our health? How many times do we need to be brink of diabetes before we are willing to change? How many times do we have to be presented with the loss of our family or friends before we make a change? This is the time that we need to become more intentional about our decisions and about our lives.
At the end of the chapter, one last statement from Christ about the state of affairs about intentionally. If we do not listen to the prophets and Moses, “ The Law”, how would we listen to a person who was raised from the dead? Are we hearing what Christ is telling us?