Wednesday, September 27, 2023
“Use your heads as
you live and work among outsiders. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every
opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in
others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.” (Colossians 4: 5 -6, The Message Bible)
Since I retired several years
ago, I sometimes wonder whether I have been making the most of every
opportunity. There seems to be a vast,
out-of-proportion sitting in my big, blue recliner with my nose stuck in a
computer or occasionally in a book. But for a few rare moments, i.e., when
called to fill-in as a hospital chaplain or preach somewhere or maybe this blog,
I can’t say that I have been contributing much to the welfare of the world
around me. My well-worn, all-too-comfortable, blue recliner calls to me. Its
siren call is very alluring. Sloth – thy name is Laz-y-Boy.
Making the most of every opportunity
is challenging.
Jesus told parables about the
necessity for being alert and ready for opportunities to serve. “Be dressed
for service and keep your lamps burning…” (Luke 12:35, New Living
Translation) According to these stories, it is up to each of us to be alert, prepared,
ready and able to respond to the sudden and surprising appearance of the Messiah
in our world. You never know when or where he might show up, “as though you
were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be
ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.” (Luke
12: 36, NLT)
Indeed, his well-known parable
about the sheep and the goats in Matthew’s Gospel helps us to understand what
making the most of every opportunity is all about while alerting us to his Messianic
presence.
“Then the King will say to
those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s
coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s
foundation. And here’s why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you
gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you
gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you
came to me.’
“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking
about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a
drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then
the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these
things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’” (Matthew 25: 34 -26, TMB)
Jesus Christ appears, not only just at the End of the
Story, but he shows up wherever there is an opportunity to do good in this
world. Jesus shows up, not in his glimmering, Sunday-go-to meeting, white-robed
Jesus’ clothes, but in in his rugged, practical, everyday, work clothes,
calling us to join him in his Kingdom work.
Right now, truth be told, my
service is “looking after” Susan while we live with the challenge of her cancer.
She is doing quite well, all things considered, no pain, and her meds seem to
have slowed down any progress. It’s a loving
joy to serve her.
What opportunity do you have to
serve the Lord? It doesn’t have to be big, glamourous, showy or life-changing.
“And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers,
you will surely be rewarded.” (Matthew 10:42, NLT) I fill up Susan’s glass
of water every night before she goes to bed. No biggie – but it helps.
Look, there’s Jesus now. “So,
let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will
harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every
time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the
people closest to us in the community of faith.” (Galatians 6:10, TMB)
Dale
No comments:
Post a Comment