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
Several months ago my wife and I began to talk about eventually moving into housing that does not require as much maintenance, cleaning and care as is necessary in our present home. So we made an offer on a home located in a senior living community. On the day that we formally committed to the offer, signing the necessary papers and writing an earnest-money check, I returned to our home, looked around and thought, "What are we going to do with all our 'stuff'?" There was both disappointment and relief when our offer was not accepted. We bid on another home in the same community only to experience the same feelings when once again we were not the highest bidder.
It is very easy to become attached to what we call "our stuff" in this life. There is something about what we can see, touch and hold in our hands that ends up making its claim on us. Jesus calls us to abandon our trust in the material things that are so visible and tangible and to trust in the living God to be at work in and through us to provide all we really need.
Prayer
Living and loving God, give us wisdom to see the difference between what is of real and eternal worth and what is mere decoration in our living. Then give us the courage to do what is right, helpful, loving and just as we gratefully use all you provide. Amen.