Luke 12:32-40 (NRSV)
Read Luke 12:32-40 on biblegateway.com
Verse 32"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Verse 33Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. Verse 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Verse 35"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; Verse 36be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Verse 37Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. Verse 38If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. Verse 39"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. Verse 40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."
Devotion
In the many cultures of Jesus’ time, the social safety nets were family and neighbors. In later Jewish culture, there were people called schnorrers. This is a Yiddish term for someone who receives from others, typically in the form of charitable gifts. In some European villages, the local rabbi would certify a person as a schnorrer, one who is truly poor, deserving of charity, and allowed to go about begging. The schnorrer helped the better-off Jewish villagers fulfill their mitzvah, or command to be generous and charitable.
In our culture, we have many social safety nets. These stark words from Jesus challenge us to examine our hearts, and relationship with money—in our personal lives, in our charitable giving, and in the policies our governments enact or reduce. Do our actions help others and help us to place our hearts where our treasure is?
Prayer
Most holy and loving God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit: Create in me a generous heart, and wisdom to be obedient in faith and practice. Amen.
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