“Optimizing one’s chances”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Sunday, August 7, 2022
Luke 12:32-40 (Forward, p. 9) CEV p. 1078
Right now, in my home community, there is something of a ‘feeding frenzy’. (That term, by the way, originally had a reference to the way that predator fish, such as sharks, were attracted to a large cluster of potential prey). But here I am referring to the excitement and frenzied devotion to a particular Chase the Ace contest. The overall jackpot, should one’s name be drawn, and that person pull the Ace of Hearts from the deck, would be, this week at least, something akin to $703,384. And with only ten cards remaining, the affectios are trying their level best to optimize their chances. So, as you might guess, various strategies are considered, namely the number of tickets bought, the time of the week they are purchased or staggering one’s purchases. And all this is for the fleeting and elusive prospect of cashing in the overall jackpot.
In one sense, in today’s passage, Jesus is also talking about optimizing one’s chances. However, in His case, it doesn’t have to do with whether we ‘win’ the kingdom or not. (That, I must re-iterate, isn’t ‘up for grabs’; that is already decided, decided on the basis of our faith in Jesus Christ). What is ‘up for grabs’ here—should I use such a crass term—is our rewards in the kingdom. So, with this regard, Jesus advises us to try two winning strategies:
a) Firstly, to not let any material possessions or considerations get in the way. And, here I would add anything of our world that might impede us from being close to Jesus or more fully following and obeying our Lord. In the case of possessions, Jesus advises them to sell them and give the money to the poor if those possessions are proving to be a hindrance or stumbling block. (I’m taking this tack of not saying that we have to sell everything as some sort of absolute rule in that Jesus did not apply it to the cases of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. In other words, it doesn’t seem to be an absolute rule but one that is, instead, coloured by the context and the person’s situation.)
b) And secondly, we are to remain faithful, to remain focused and ‘on task’ with whatever responsibilities God has given us. And that, regardless of the time of day or situation. We need to be ready to greet Christ no matter when He returns and not be caught napping, as it were.
So, these are some God-given strategies for maximizing our chances, optimizing them, so as to receive God’s richest rewards in heaven. One other thing: when it comes down to it, we are not really doing any of this simply for the reward, but rather, to please our Saviour and express our gratitude and love towards Him. Amen.
Forward notes: “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet” (verses 35-36a).
“’Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit.’ That’s good advice, I thought, as I got ready for a festive dinner. We had a grand feast—appetizers, salads, and entrées, all followed by a flaming dessert. Once home, I reached for a magazine to relax before bed.
“The cover featured a child in a refugee camp. He was lying on his back, his legs as thin as saplings. His beautiful skin clothed him so tightly that you could count his ribs, every single one. And his eyes, eyes that should have gazed with bright curiosity, were shut, a treasury of ideas and imagination lost to the world.
“What kind of meal did he have, I thought? Which one of us is dressed for action, ready to open the door to welcome in Jesus? I thought of my dinner and prayed for forgiveness. I vowed, through my tears, to learn the way to welcome the one who prepared such a feast for us that we will never again be hungry.”
Moving Forward: “What does it mean to you to ‘dress for action’ as a follower of Christ?”