The Investment of a Lifetime

Recently a Chicago hotel was reported to offer help to guests with a "BlackBerry addiction." It seems these portable handheld devices, which are intended to aid in one's daily life, have actually become an encumbrance for many. Rick Ueno, general manager of the hotel, admits his own obsession with constantly checking his E-mail. The hotel now offers guests the opportunity to lock Blackberries in the hotel safe at no extra charge. Rick reported since he locked up his BlackBerry, "I think I'm more effective, I feel better, [and] I sleep better.1

In this time when we have so many things designed to make our lives easier, it seems we are more distracted, busy, and worn out than ever. Increasingly, our lives are focused on maintaining what we have already acquired and on our hope to enjoy a successful future. Added to all of these issues is the never-ending barrage of news stories that flash the next crisis even as it occurs. This formula can create an atmosphere of stress, worry, and fear.

Even though our world has changed drastically since the time Jesus was on this earth, it is interesting to note the basic needs of humanity have not really changed. In a culture where people rarely traveled no further than a few miles from their home during their entire life, when no one carried Day-Timers or talked on cell phones, Jesus challenged people to not worry or be afraid. It seems, therefore, this tendency for humanity to get so wrapped up in living life has less to do with the culture and more to do with an innate need within every person. It was this need within His own disciples that led Jesus to teach them how to respond in such a way their lives are focused on what matters to God.

In Luke chapter twelve we find Jesus having a time of personal teaching for His disciples. It is interesting Luke notes thousands of people are listening in, so even though He is addressing His disciples, Jesus undoubtedly wants these people to hear what He is teaching. Throughout this chapter we find Jesus talking to His disciples about their fears and worries and each time reminds them the heavenly Father knows where they are and what they need. Jesus also calls His disciples to responsibility--focus on seeking God's kingdom. It is in this context we are drawn to today's text. (Read: Luke 12:32-40).
Jesus is teaching us what really matters in life. He is reminding us life is about more than making the next appointment, retrieving all the E-mail, aiming for the next promotion, or taking the dream vacation. Jesus reminds us of what really matters because He understands our tendency to get wrapped up in the things of this life. Many of these may be good things, but they become a higher priority than knowing God. They become the focus of our lives . . . the reason we get up in the morning. To this Jesus offers us words of comfort, "Do not be afraid," words of assurance, "your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom" (v. 32), and words of instruction found in the remaining verses (vv. 33-40).

Today, I challenge you to meet head on what Jesus teaches. Allow His words to penetrate your mind and heart. As they do, I invite you to deal with the most important questions in your life.

“What will be the object of my allegiance?” is the first question you need to answer. Jesus said, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (v. 34). By confronting us with this, Jesus gives a simplistic formula of life for people living in a very complex world. Jesus wants us to understand it is important our lives be given to Him first and foremost.

Jesus confronts us with our tendency to make the material objects of this world first in our lives. If we put material wealth or possession first we find ourselves giving our time and energy to them. More importantly, our tendency is to put our trust into material wealth and the possessions we accumulate. It's no wonder Jesus has to remind us to not be afraid, because our trust is in the things can be literally gone tomorrow. Anyone who trusts in the stuff of this world is bound to be filled with fear.

Jesus went so far as to give a litmus test for our allegiance in this life: "sell your possessions and give to the poor” (v. 33). I want to suggest Jesus is not speaking against owning material possessions but against material possessions owning us. Jesus said if a need is present around us, if our allegiance is really with Him, we will turn loose of our possessions to help others!

Bill Gates has announced he will soon step away from handling the day-to-day operations at Microsoft and devote his primary efforts to his charitable foundation. Gates said, "I believe with great wealth comes great responsibility--the responsibility to give back to society and make sure those resources are given back in the best possible way to those in need. It's not retirement, it's a reordering of my priorities."2 This man, who I have never heard speak of spiritual issues or of a relationship with Christ, is modeling Jesus’ attitude and lifestyle. Do we as Jesus’ professed followers have such a view on material possessions? Are we as willing to pursue a reordering or our priorities? Today, Jesus is confronting us with the object of our allegiance and asking if our allegiance is to this world or to God.

You must question how you will deal with the urgency of your preparedness. In other words, Jesus is deeply interested in you being ready for the moment of His return. Jesus ties being ready together with how you are living today, "be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return . . ." (vv. 35-36). The key word in His sentence is the word "ready." Actually, we find being ready as a recurring theme throughout today's text. When Jesus speaks of being ready He does so with urgency, not because being ready is some future event, but because it is a present reality. The likelihood of you and me being ready when we meet Jesus grows from our willingness to be ready today.

Many Christians are living their lives as if there is plenty of time to be prepared. They believe right now there is a family to raise, a home to pay for, and retirement to plan. Getting ready to meet Jesus is something that can be put on hold life’s agenda. But Jesus paints a different picture of what it takes to be ready. Jesus speaks of being ready as an issue for today; it is to be agenda item number one every day of our lives.

Jesus suggests how we will approach “being ready.” One picture He gives us is of a lamp continually burning. Think about an oil lamp burning. If it is to continue to burn, the lamp is going to have to be tended. The oil must be replenished, the wick has to be maintained, and the flame has to be adjusted. This metaphor is a vivid reflection of our spiritual lives. The longer I walk with Christ the more I understand the utmost importance of daily tending to my spiritual life. If I don't, the flame of the Spirit will grow dim. Jesus reminds us of the urgency of being ready because being ready is about what you are allowing God to do in your life today; it's not about tending to your spirituality at a more convenient time.

Jesus gives us a second picture to be "dressed ready for service." This picture comes out His culture and refers to the practice of one pulling up the hem of their robe in order to run. Jesus is clearly calling His followers to action. Jesus connects our willingness to serve with being prepared when He returns. I can't help but wonder if Jesus isn't giving us the most practical step we can take. Follow my thinking for just a moment: Earlier we reflected on our allegiance and the need to move our focus off of ourselves and to the things of God. It seems to me the best way for that to happen is to begin to live a life of service to others for God. Jesus is saying the best way to get our focus off of ourselves and all the stuff around us, is to busy ourselves in service. Every time I speak of this in our modern culture, I realize what is going through most of your minds: Oh, no--not another responsibility! I don't think Jesus is asking us to take on another responsibility, I believe He is asking us to reorient our lives so service takes prominence in our lives
Jesus has taught us about our allegiance, our readiness, and now our future. As we read this text we cannot help but be confronted with the question of what we will do about the “uncertainty of our future.” Why is our future uncertain? It is uncertain only because we do not know the time when we will stand before God. Jesus told us He will come "at an hour when you do not expect him" (v. 40).

As I deal with people on a daily basis I see so many Christians who are distracted. Some are distracted by good things happening in life. Others are distracted by difficulties, still others by personal failure. If honest, most of us live each day with little thought about the possibility of Jesus' return. We awake, live our busy days, and fall in bed late at night exhausted. In the midst of this, Jesus reminds us of the uncertainty of our future. He wants us not to live in fear but to be ready. We know we have a great hope because of what Christ has done and is doing in our lives. Our hope is in Him alone. But Jesus was concerned enough to remind His own disciples to be ready, because of the uncertainty of when they would face Him at the end of life. Be careful you stay watchful and alert to your spirituality.

Today we have been presented three questions to consider: Where is your allegiance? How are you dealing with the urgency of being ready? What will it take for you to realize the uncertainty of your future? As we leave today we should go realizing two very important things about our lives. First, our priorities reveal what our lives are focused on. I encourage you, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to assess the priorities of your life. Second, the focus of our lives determines our destination. Why? Where our lives are focused is where we end up investing our time, money, and energy. Jesus calls His people to invest themselves in "a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted" (v. 33). Are you making the investment of a lifetime with your life?

1. Chicago Hotel Helps Clients Beat BlackBerry Addiction. FoxNews.com. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,198697,00.html
(Accessed 6/28/06).

2. Amanda Cantrell, Gates To Leave Day-to-day Role at Microsoft. CNNMoney.com.
http://money.cnn.com/2006/06/15/technology/microsoft_news/index.htm. (Accessed 6/28/06).