Our CLOTW guide stops this week’s reading before the parable…I’m a little disappointed. I encourage you to share with the children the entire reading and discuss the major theme of preparedness with them. Our book falls short of discussing preparedness but instead focuses on not worrying about the necessities of life, having faith in God who will provide. Having faith in God to provide for our needs does not minimize our physical need for food, or clothing but instructs us not to worry about those things (the birds do not worry and the flowers do not worry) but instead focus our concern on the kingdom of God, share what we have with the poor and “Keep your treasure in heaven where no thieves or robbers can take it away. Wherever your treasure is, that’s where your heart will be.” That last statement is a good one…if what is most important to you (what you treasure, what is your treasure) is GOD and the kingdom of God, your heart will be focused on God. If, however, your treasure is earthly things like money and belongings, your heart will be worried and focused on those things. You will constantly think about money…you will constantly want more and better things…you will not think about the less fortunate and you will not be concerned with the Kingdom of God and your own preparedness for the return of the Lord.
Release your worry and instead focus on God’s work and God’s ways. Those who have been blessed with that knowledge will have greater expectation placed on them by God. If, like in the parable, you know exactly what your master wants you to do and you do it, then when he returns you are rewarded and praised. If you know what the master wants but grow bored waiting for him to return and stop doing what the master wants when he returns and finds you not doing what he asked he will not reward you but will scold you, and punish you. We can all see the correlation between attending to flocks and farms in “the masters” absence and what we are supposed to be doing during the physical absence of Jesus. He will come at an hour we do not expect and we need to be found doing what he asked and awaiting his return. Prepared.
Do not dwell on the punishment aspects of this reading but instead focus on the important point made by those statements “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” Is this any different than how we manage the liberties and responsibilities of our children? Do we not instruct them of the great responsibility they are being entrusted with when we allow them to drive? Do we not scold them and punish them if they, knowingly against our will, do not live up to that responsibility? If you KNOW the will of the LORD much will be expected of you because you have been given a great responsibility. We know the will of the Lord by reflecting on the Word of God AND putting those lessons into practice in our lives. We strengthen our faith and our ability to do the will of the Lord through our daily prayer and when we release the worry about the necessities of life, focus our hearts on the treasure that is real and lasting, the Kingdom of God, then we will receive the promises of Christ Jesus, our reward for being a good servant, when we share in the Kingdom with Christ Jesus. “Do not be afraid and longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.”
The Psalm this week is Psalm 33: Blessed the People the Lord Has Chosen.