Sept 25 - Luke 12:48

Jesus said, “From everyone

to whom much has been given,

much will be required.”

Luke 12:48

I had a friend who grew up in an old New England church, old New England family ... old New England money. She frequently quoted this verse. Said it was kind of the philanthropic code she was brought up on: "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required.” 

Do you know the context for this verse? (I didn't. I had to look it up!) 

Jesus is telling a number of parables. Earlier in the chapter he's talking about a rich man with an abundant harvest who is busy building bigger barns and is surprised when death sneaks up on him. The point: He is rich in the things of earth, but poor spiritually, and thus unprepared (and unfit) for eternity. 

From this parable of bigger barns vs. a bigger eternal destiny, the key statement from Jesus is, "Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Now read that through the lens of today's verse:  “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required." 

Ahh. Interesting, right? Rather than an earthly attitude of "19 relax, eat, drink, be merry," we could make the case that we are to be philanthropic rather than selfish. We are to be spiritual rather than worldly. Those are good points… but that's the wider context, not the specific context, of this verse.

This passage really has a more eschatological bent. This passage is from the interpretation that Jesus gave to his disciples about watchful servants. Their master has gone to a wedding feast, and wise and faithful servant's stay awake to let him back into the house when he returns. Not knowing the day or hour of our heavenly master's return, Jesus admonishes us - his kingdom servants - to "35 Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit." 

Indeed, talking of the unexpected hour of "the master's" return, Jesus says, "43 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives." 

And what is our work? Well, if "from everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required," then our work depends on what we are given? Thus, what are we given? In Romans 12:6-8, we are told that "we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness."

My old New England friend was taught to make today's passage be about giving money and leading with our superior Ivy League intellect -"From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required." We should indeed use whatever worldly gifts we have to bless the world. But isn't Jesus calling us to see the world, our priorities, and our gifts through a spiritual lens? We are really called to minister, lead, and be compassionate based on our spiritual gifts. "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required." 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who is not fully

happy or whole unless

he's ministering