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Published: 07 April 2016

Have you ever started looking for something in a storage space and found something else even better than what you were looking for?  That emotion is one of the joys of Bible study.   I can’t believe that I get paid to do this.  What a privilege.  I have to pinch myself every now and then to see if I am dreaming.  I went to our text for Sunday (Matthew 25:14-30), looking for things that I knew were there.  I knew there were truths about the Kingdom.  I knew there was a big emphasis on faithfulness.  I knew there was a “politically incorrect” statement indicating that those who waste lose more and those who invest gain more.  I knew the words, “well done good and faithful servant” were found in the text as well.  But, one word caused conviction, sadness and joy all in one moment.  I wasn’t looking for it.  It’s a simple word.  I’ve read it dozens of times.  The Greek word is “ide,” it is often translated “look” or “see” but in some places it is translated, “behold.”  The word is in v.20 where the man who had received five talents excitedly gives his stewardship report.  Mere words on a page cannot convey the tone but there is clearly some giddy joy going on in the story.  The man says, “Behold, I have gained…”  What really struck me was the man’s motive.  He did his work for the Master’s pleasure because he was sure the Master would be pleased!  Just typing these words is bringing me great joy.  I wasn’t looking for that but when I found it I was stunned.  How often have I done my work for me?  How often have I done my work for mere duty?  How often have I done my work without thought of Him?  What if the motive for my work, life and living was simply to please the Master because I know He will be pleased?!  If I allow myself to think that God is aloof, that He doesn’t care, that He is a “hard boss,” or any other crazy idea, I will surely start to hide the assets.  I’ve had more than one day when I have been looking for the shovel!  Sometimes I want to hide my life and be done with this work!  But, burying my life for safe keeping is not the purpose of my life.  God has given us life to invest.  What will we bring on the day of accounting?  Are we really going to say, “Well I just buried what you gave me, here it is?”  OR, are we going to say, “Wow God, you have given me life and I invested it in prescribed ways; I can’t wait to show you what I’ve done with it!?”  Only those who believe the Master can be pleased will do the latter…and believe Jesus, you don’t want to be in the camp of the former.

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Published: 31 March 2016

I just finished re-reading the account of C.S. Lewis’ conversion that he titled “Surprised by Joy.”  Before he converted to Christianity, he began to notice “pointers” or signs along the way.  He wrote, “I think that all things, in their way, reflect heavenly truth…”  He noted that myth, fairy tales and epic stories of the Norse gods all had similar themes.  He began observing realities in human history, in nature and in literature that pointed him to certain undeniable truths.  His journey to Christ started to seem more like he was the responder than the one initiating the search…as if Someone was drawing him in and providing clues along the way.   As we study the teaching of Jesus we see His use of the everyday stuff to help us see eternal realities.  Maybe these things are more than mere illustrations; could they be pointers?  Is it possible that the everyday stuff is actually being used by God to bring us to Himself and remind us of His ways?  Jesus taught that His present reign would permeate culture and civilization like leaven in a lump of dough.  How many times has leaven been used in human history?  Jesus taught of the division of good fish from bad fish, of wheat from tares, of sheep and goats.  He said it will be that way at the end of the age.  How many times have we sorted good from bad, one to the garbage and another to our pleasure?  Jesus talked about trees, birds, flowers, oppressed widows, prodigal children, lost coins, sheep that went astray and a plethora of other reminders of “everyday stuff.”  What if all of these things are clues to something more?  Have you ever been invited to a wedding?  Were you asked to rsvp?  (R.S.V.P. stands for a French phrase, "répondez, s'il vous plaît," which means "please reply.") Of course etiquette means that you wouldn’t show up if you hadn’t made reservations in advance.  Depending on how fancy the reception hall may be, there may be someone at the door with a list of names.  If your name is not on the list (because you didn’t respond), you wouldn’t be allowed inside.  Does this seem unjust or rude?  We take it “as a matter of course” that things would be that way.  Could that seemingly mundane occurrence also be a pointer to something more?  Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25 sure makes it seem that way.  Western wedding culture is slightly different than eastern wedding culture of the first century but the point of Jesus’ story could not be missed.  The everyday stuff He talked about begged the question, “Are you prepared to meet the Groom?”