Watching And Waiting

Luke 12:32-40

The concern of a possible thief breaking into one’s house is a real one for many people.  No one wants to come home and find his home ransacked, and his valuables stolen. That is why selling home security systems is a big business.  Twice in our brief passage today from the Gospel of Luke Jesus mentions thieves. The first time in respect to stealing one’s treasure, and the second in respect to being prepared and ready.

As Jesus is talking with His disciples and the crowds of people gathered around to His teachings, He teaches a lesson on treasures.  Back in the 1980’s there was a television show, “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”, which showcased the extravagant houses, cars, and belongings of wealthy people.  Big houses filled with expensive items, pricey cars, designer clothes, and more jewels than you’d see in a showcase at Tiffany’s. One of the effects of that TV show was making the viewers to wish they had such houses and belongings.  However, Jesus warned us about seeking such treasures (vs. 33-34). Those houses will age and start to fall apart. Those cars will get rusty and also fall apart. Moths eat up fancy clothes just like they do cheap ones. Which house is more likely to be a target for thieves - one with a lot of valuables, or one without?

Jesus wants His followers to have a much different attitude towards wealth and treasures than the world does.  Keeping their wealth and belongings safely within their grasp is many people’s goal. However, Jesus wants us to use our money for God’s purposes, not in seeing how much we can accumulate for ourselves.  When God’s love touches our money we are storing up treasures in heaven. The safest place to put one’s treasure is a place where it can never be stolen by a thief, where it can never grow old or rusts away.  There is no such place here on earth. The surest place to put one’s treasure is in heaven, not here on earth. Our heavenly treasures are safe from thieves or decay, for our security does not lie in material resources.

What we think about most, where we put our time, money, and our energy in is where our treasure is.  What we talk about most, what we keep returning to in our minds reveals what is really in our heart (vs. 34).  Jesus wants our treasure to be in His kingdom, not in things here on earth.

Jesus then continues in His teachings about being ready for when He will return (vs. 35-40).  He gives two examples of the necessity of being ready - that of servants whose master is out, and a homeowner being ready if a thief should break in.  Good servants are ready for the master when he returns, standing waiting at the door to open it for him, no matter what the hour. They will be rewarded (vs. 37).  If the homeowner knew when the thief would break in, he would be ready to catch him, probably with the police there, as well. Jesus is teaching us to be ready for His return at all times, for we don’t know when it will happen.  We don’t want to be caught off guard and unprepared. Jesus is coming again, and we need to be living productively for Him. He will bless those who are when He returns.

Who is the thief that is waiting to break into our lives and steal what we have, the one we need to be on guard for?  Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that the devil, Satan, is the thief, and he comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. We need to be on our guard at all times against him and his attacks.  Christians need to be vigilant at all times, both watchful against Satan’s attacks, and also looking for and ready for Jesus’ return. Christians who are ready for Jesus’ return are sincere, not hypocrites.  They are ready to witness to others. They are not always worried, but trusting in God. They are generous, and diligent to do His work.

When Jesus opened this passage, He called His followers “little flock”, an endearing term (vs. 32).  He is the Good Shepherd, who loves His flock, and is willing to lay down His life for them (John 10:11).  When we remember His tender care and love for us, His little flock, we do not need to be anxious or worried.  As a good shepherd, Jesus wants us to live in the safety and security of knowing that He loves us, and is with us wherever we go.