Jump Start # 2427

Luke 12:48 “But the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging will receive but few. And from everyone who has been given much shall much be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”

He carried a name that was found in the Bible. He was actually named after his father and his father was named after his father. Three lines of descendants with the same first name. Not too long ago I stood at his grave. In his day he was a legend and a pioneer among early believers in Southern Indiana. His name appears in many historical books about the early restoration in Indiana. He was among the first to bring pure Christianity to these parts. Generations later, some of his family line still are following the simple N.T. pattern. But sadly, most have never heard of this early preacher. He was fearless in preaching the Gospel of Christ and very instrumental in getting whole congregations to see the need to toss away creeds and man-made rules and simply be Christians.

His name was Absalom, like David’s son in the O.T. Unlike the Biblical rebel prince who tried to steal away the kingdom from his father, this Absalom, my Absalom, tried to build the kingdom of Christ in the hearts of others. Now, 150 years after his death, outside of a handful of historians, the good that he did is pretty much forgotten.

I spent a few minutes looking at his old tombstone. It’s weathered, been knocked down and is leaning against another stone. Everything I’ve read about him says that he was kind in spirit, carried a joyous and happy disposition and was earnest in preaching the pure Gospel of Christ. Great qualities. I wish I could get ahold of one of his sermons, but none have been saved and none have been published. His times were tough. Contemporaries write about panthers, rattle snakes and Indian raids that were a constant danger. Men carried rifles with them everywhere, even to the church house. And, then there was the hard core religious ignorance and stubbornness that he chipped away at in sermon after sermon. These pioneer preachers preached nearly every day of the week. They gave lessons out under a tree. They taught in little log cabin homes. Anywhere there was an audience, they opened God’s word and spoke. Courageous, these early voices of truth, helped pave a spiritual highway that many of us travel down so easily today. We preachers of today do not face near the dangers, the struggles, the hardships that those pioneer preachers did. His work seems forgotten. His name is unknown to most. But to Heaven and to his generation, he made a difference.

And as I looked at that old tombstone, I wondered, if God allows this old world to continue on, if someday some preacher would stand looking at my tombstone and wonder about the work that I have done. And, this brings us to our verse today. A mighty principles set forth by the Lord. To whom much is given, much is required. Only the Lord can make a difference across all generations and for all times. However, you and I must do what we can for this generation. Much has been placed upon our shoulders and we must rise up to the occasion. Too many are so obsessed with themselves that they forget about the mighty work of God that is before us. If we do not do it, who will?

Consider a few thoughts:

Jesus placed the entire future of the kingdom into the hands of those first apostles. They were it. There was no “B-team.” There was no JV’s. If Peter went back to fishing and Matthew back to tax collecting, jobs they knew well and jobs that would not put them in harms way, what would have happened to the kingdom? Instead of going into all the world, suppose they simply went home. To whom much is given, much is required. Those apostles understood their roles. They were not to be worshipped. They were not to be honored. They would want all attention pointing to Jesus. They did what they could do. Aside from the writings of the N.T., most of the work of those apostles is forgotten and unknown. There are stories. There are legends. But in their time, they laid foundations that others built their lives upon.

The kingdom needs you and I to be busy in God’s work. This generation needs us. Our families need us. Our congregations need us. If not us, then who? We need solid churches today that are touching the lives of others. We need churches to be beacons of hope and truth. We need a legacy of leaders who are Biblical, godly and have the heart of servants. We need families that are strong spiritually and are making a difference in the community. Work, schedules, kids, and things of this life pulls us away from what really matters. Time passes and we leave few footprints and we do little good and so little difference is made. When I read about those first pioneer preachers, their work was surrounded by godly men and women who became the backbones of those congregations that were established. It’s those men and women who remained in those congregations as those preachers went out preaching that also made a difference. Lives were changed. A stake for God was planted in those prairie fields, as men and women facing dangers every day, put the kingdom of Christ above all other things.

I can only imagine what those apostles or even those pioneer preachers in young Indiana would have done had they had Facebook, Twitter, videos, emails, and texting at their disposal. Their tools were so primitive, yet they did so much good. To whom much is given, much is required. It’s sad to see so many congregations today sitting on their hands and not using the tools of our times to teach, strengthen and make disciples. We need to be pushing the envelope of technology and find way to get the message out, not just in the neighborhoods around the church building, but around the globe. Today, God’s people need to become global. There are so many powerful ways to help small churches worldwide, without having to fly across the world. We need to lift up our eyes and look upon the fields. You may connect with people who will never visit your congregation, but they are in the kingdom. Your work can help answer questions, provide encouragement and put tools into their hands that can help them in their work. As we near the end of a year and begin thinking about plans for next year, leaders need to consider what we are doing outside the walls of the church building. They need to be asking what are we doing globally? What are we doing beyond sending money to a preacher overseas? Put some thought into that. Put some energy into that. Look at your resources of sermons, class materials and other things that can be of use worldwide.

To whom much is given, much is required. Some day what we have done in our time will be looked at. If not by historians, or brethren, definitely, by the Lord. Have we done all that we could? Have we taken risks to push the borders of the kingdom? Have we made a difference in our times?

Absalom Littell is the name of the pioneer preacher whose grave I stood at. He was a hero among believers. He made a difference. Forgotten today, but not by Heaven. I hope to not only meet him in Heaven, but more than that, I hope that somehow I can make a difference like he has.

To whom much has been given…What has God given you? Talent. Time. Life. Opportunity. Open doors. To whom much is given, much is required. Make a difference by walking with the Lord! Make a difference by stepping up and doing what others are not. Make a difference by taking risks. Make a difference by not being overcome by the dangers of today. Make a difference!

Roger

Jump Start # 2032

Luke 12:48 “but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of flogging will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”

These words follow Jesus’ parable about a grand wedding feast. It starts with, “Be dressed in readiness.” Jesus adds, “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” Peter wondered if this lesson was for them or everyone. Jesus continues with the thought of being found faithfully doing your duty whenever the Master comes. The one who knew the will of the Master and simply did not do it, will receive many lashes. Then our verse. The one who did not know and did wrong, he too, will receive lashes, but not as many. Jesus doesn’t give a pass on doing wrong. Doing wrong is never excused.

What follows, is what grabs my attention today. The one who has been given much, much will be required. Let’s consider that statement. A college student called the other day. There is a choice, a hard one that must be made. The congregation that is more in line with what she believes the Bible teaches, is small, with no other college students and apparently just existing. The other choice would take her to a large congregation with lots of students and a lot going on. Some of the things that they are doing are not Biblical. Now, the tough choice. Which one? One that lines up closer to what the Bible says but doesn’t seem to have much life or spirit, or one that seems to have the right spirit but lacks in doctrinal conformity? Doctrine or spirit? A dead church that may be right or a live church that may be wrong?

I’m saddened that it has to be this way. This same story is repeated all over the country. Right in doctrine, but doing nothing and dead. No hospitality. Little encouragement. Very little passion. It seems that they are just holding on and maintaining. And is it any wonder that young college students fall away.

Now, to our statement at the end of this passage. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required.

A few thoughts:

First, we may not realize that we have been given much. What a blessed generation that we live in. The access to Biblical truth and powerful ways to grow have never been so easy. Look around us. On our phones, laptops and tablets, we have access to dozens and dozens of Bible translations. It is so easy. We can find passages in lightning speed. We can listen to sermons everyday of the week. There are articles all around us. There are all kinds of daily Bible reading programs. The volume of information, from the fields of science, archaeology and Biblical languages is the best it has ever been. Those hard to pronounce words in the Bible can be mastered by websites that will pronounce the words for you. It is so easy to make material for Bible classes. Live streaming, CD’s and so many tools all around us, make us the generation that ought to have more knowledge than ever before. Think about those saints in Europe during the 11th century. Knowledge was limited. Access to Bibles and means to make literature was expensive. Few homes have what you home today has. Facebook, Twitter, email, allows us to send articles, sermons, quotes, across the world in seconds. A letter would have taken a long, long time for those Christians in the 11th century. They didn’t know about folks on the other side of the world. Not only do we know, but we are in contact with them and can do so much for them.

Do we realize that so much has been given to us? And, we must ask, what are we doing with this? Are we finding ways to do more than ever before? Are we using the tools of technology for the glory of God? Are we finding ways to encourage, teach and help others by these great tools? One would think, but looking at this from afar, that this generation ought to be doing the most and have the greatest faith and knowledge because of all that has been given to us. Is this true?

Second, do we realize that God may be expecting more from us than He did from other generations? Look how long and how expensive it was for Guttenberg to make a Bible. I saw Bibles for sale at the dollar store the other day. A dollar for a Bible. We might be picky and not like the size of the print or the version it was in, but a dollar for a Bible. You can’t get a Happy Meal for a dollar. The modern farmer understands this principle. Sowing the seed comes down to getting the seed into the soil. In Biblical times, a farmer walked through the field scattering or throwing the seed out by hand. The seed flew through the air. Some landed on the hard path. Some among the rocks. Some in weedy places. Some on the good soil. Much of the seed was wasted. But that was farming back then. Today’s farmer could do the same. He’d have some seed come up and he’d have some harvest. But we’ve learned better. Give the farmer a tractor, a planter, better seeds and it is amazing what can be done. He is still putting the seed into the soil, but now, he is not wasting seed. He gets better results and a greater harvest. Has the church today learned that lesson or is the church content to walk through fields, scattering seed by hand. It works, but there are better ways today. Too whom much is given, much is required.

Not every church has the funds, nor the personnel to do much with technology. Not every farmer today can afford a $300,000 tractor that is equipped with computers and GPS. But there are still things that can be done.

What would you recommend to a small congregation?

First, it doesn’t take much to liven up the place. Have folks over in your home. That’s a great start. Get close to one another. Have a singing in your house. Have a Bible study in your house.

Second, have some challenging Bible studies. Do this in the church building and do this during the week in homes. Look at where people are and what they need. What’s the things that are keeping people up at night? Talk about those things. Practical. Helpful. Useful. Realistic. Drop the nets and look deeply into God’s word.

Third, do things a bit differently once in a while. Don’t change God’s word nor His pattern. We can’t and won’t do that. But the methods can. Bring in a guest preacher on a specific topic. Change the number of days he comes. Try some singings. Try visiting nursing homes. Try something that may interest college students. Try working with college students. Try something. Sometimes we have to move the furniture around in the house. Sometimes we paint the walls a different color. It’s amazing what little changes can do. We need to think about that with the teaching and preaching. Give homework. Have a quiz. Get folks thinking and using what they know.

Fourth, have a discussion about these things. Many have not given this much thought. They are drifting along a mighty river and have never thought about how things look to an outsider. Maybe the verse by verse Bible studies need to be parked for a while. Maybe the store bought class books need to be parked for a while. Maybe questions ought to be submitted and that be the basis of a class.

Much is expected from those who have been given much. Do we realize that? We are not living in 11th century Europe and Guttenberg isn’t where we purchase our Bibles from. It’s time for many congregations to catch up to the times we are living in.

Are we doing as much as we can? Could we do things better? Could we do more? Having answered that, we then must ask, why are we not? Could be, those very questions will be asked by God some day.

We have been given much…it’s time to do much!

Roger

Jump Start # 1723

Luke 12:48 “but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”

Our verse today is part of a long explanation that Jesus gave as an answer to a question that Peter asked. Jesus had been teaching about being ready and being alert. He used the illustration of a thief that came in the night. Had the man of the house been ready, no theft would have occurred. It is here that dear ole’ Peter asks, “Are you addressing this to us or to everyone else as well?”

Peter, Peter, why does that matter? If it is to you, the apostles, take the necessary steps to be ready. If it is for everyone, you still need to be ready. Stop worrying about everyone else. We do that. We point the radar gun at others more than ourselves. We watch every step of others and are quick to point out mistakes but rarely look in the mirror at ourselves.

Instead of simply answering the question, the Lord tells the story of servants and their relationship to their master. The ones that knew what the master wanted and accomplished that were rewarded. The ones that knew, but thought that they had plenty of time still, and used their time to do evil deeds, they were flogged. The ones who did not know the masters will and did evil will still be flogged, but not as severely. It is here that our verse is found.

Some want to read into this degrees of punishment and reward, as if Hell has hotter spots in it for those who are really bad. This misses the point. The apostles knew. They had been with Jesus. He was soon to leave. What would they do after He went to Heaven? Would they be faithful to the task or would they go back to their old ways?

The principle at the end of our verse is interesting. The Lord says, “To whom much is given, much will be required.” That’s a thought that we need to look at closely.

There are several levels or applications we could consider:

First, generational. To whom much is given, much is required. This generation has it when it comes to technology. Just consider our Jump Starts. I write this on a laptop, send it out by email, it goes to thousands of readers and then it is archived on our website for future reference. When I started preaching, thirty-six years ago, this wasn’t possible. I begin with an electric typewriter. Churches were still using overhead projectors. When friends needed material, it was copied on a copy machine and mailed. It took a few days for them to receive the package. Today, I can scan and send material worldwide in seconds. This generation of preachers has volumes of books in electronic form that they can take with them anywhere. In a second, verses can be compared in multiple translations. With the internet we can access videos from the Bible lands. We can watch sermons from across the country, many of them live. It is amazing what we can do without ever leaving our homes. Through Facebook we can connect with people, help people and invite people. Can you imagine what the apostle Paul would have done with Facebook? I believe this generation has more information, more tools, and more ways of sharing that than ever before.

The thought is: to whom much is given, much is required. Are we doing more with what we have? The modern farmer with technology, modern equipment, advanced development of seeds, can do more and get greater return than the farmers of any other generation. How are we doing with spiritually spreading the word of God?

Second, Congregationally. Today, we can print in bright, bold colors our own tracts and pamphlets for classes and to give to others. We can live stream our services. We can mass produce CD’s and using the internet reach and teach people globally. Today’s church is beyond the little neighborhood congregation. Today, we can reach more, do more and be more effective than ever. A farmer today, can still go out into his field and sow seed by hand. That still works. He will still get a return. But it is not the most effective way, nor the best use of his time. He needs to spend some money and invest in some new equipment so he can do more. We can’t make more time, but we can find ways to do more with the time we have. The same thought goes to what a congregation is doing. What worked in 1970, may still work, but it may not be the most efficient way nor the best use of time. Invest in some modern equipment, and there in lies the problem. Some don’t want to. Some see nothing wrong with doing things the way we have always done it before. I suppose black and white TV’s still work—but we don’t use those. I suppose those small 20 inch TV screens still work—but we don’t use those. We want the latest, largest and greatest in our homes. We want cars with all the options. We want whistles and bells on our phones and tablets. And, yet, in far too many church buildings, the poor preacher is working with hand-me-down junk that someone didn’t want around the office or their home. So, they take it to the church house and expect that to be what we will do the Lord’s work on. Step it up, folks. Get out that checkbook. Spend some money and get up to date. We are doing the Lord’s work. Everything ought to be top notch. Everything ought to be as good as we can do it. Get help. Bring in folks who know how to do things and learn. To whom much is given, much is required.  Some churches are stuck in the past. They need to flip the calendar and get with the times. Make some videos that are SHORT and to the point. Find ways to create interest. Don’t get stuck simply having a Spring and Fall meeting every year. Do things differently. Freshen things up. Put thought, energy and effort into what you are doing.

Remember, to whom much is given, much is required. Are we doing less with more tools available?

Third, Personally. With all the tools available today, we ought to know that Bible. We can have it everywhere our phone is. We can read it. We can study it. We can be stronger than ever before. But are we? Are we using all these tools to grow, to teach, to reach others? We ought to be developing faster. We ought to be turning out more elders. We ought to be seeing more and more teaching classes. The tools are there. Are we using them? We can keep lists of people to pray for. We can have daily Bible readings. We can have access to so much information, that our questions are answered. We have it. But is it doing anything to us? Are we better because of these things? We are in touch with more brethren worldwide than ever before. We can travel and visit more places than ever before. We make more money than other generations. We ought to be hitting on all cylinders. But are we? Are we as strong spiritually as our parents were? Are we as strong today as we were twenty years ago?

To whom much is given, much is required. That statement sure makes us think doesn’t it? We have been blessed. Are we utilizing our blessings in the best ways possible?

Roger

Jump Start # 1656

Luke 12:48 but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

  Our verse today is interesting. It is found at the end of a parable that teaches the coming of the Lord. Jesus uses the illustration of two different servants. One thought that the master would not be coming for a long, long time. He used that as an opportunity to mistreat fellow servants. He felt that he could get away with it. He was surprised at the sudden appearance of the master and he got it. Our verse indicates a servant who did not know the master was coming. He still did things wrong, and he was punished, but not as severely as the one who knew and did nothing about it. With knowledge comes responsibility. It is in these principles that Jesus uses the word “required.” To everyone who has been given much, much will be required.

This is the second time in this chapter that “required” is found. Earlier, in the story of the farmer who was tearing down his barns to build larger barns, that night his soul was “required” of him. He died and he wasn’t ready to meet God.

Our thoughts are on this expression, “to everyone who has been given much, much will be required.” We understand that with natural ability. The freshman may have more ability than the senior and he may find himself starting varsity. We understand this with maturity. In the home we expect more out of the teenager than we do the five year old. And we ought to see the same principle applying to us spiritually. To everyone who has been given much, much will be required.

  Think about this on the personal level: some of us have been Christians for decades. Some of us have sat through tons of sermons, Bible classes and special meetings. We have read volumes of bulletin articles. We, ourselves, have read the Bible through dozens of time. We have put in enough hours for multiple PhD’s. And yet, what do we do with this? All of this knowledge. All of this information. All of these hours devoted, have done what for us? To whom much is given, much is required. Don’t you think God wants and even expects us to use this knowledge to help others? Yet, across this country, sits congregations that are barely alive. They teeter on the edge of dying, yet within the walls of those church buildings sits members who have been Christians for 40 years. Cannot any of them teach? Cannot any of them preach? Cannot any of them use their knowledge to shepherd God’s people? Cannot any of them reach others? Cannot any of them turn the direction of that congregation from certain death? They wait for outsiders to come and preach and teach. They wait for someone to be hired to do what they ought to do. To whom much is given much is required.

  Think about this on the time level: The American dream is not always the Biblical dream. What we have been taught is that a man pours himself into his job. Forty years of hard word. Then, he retires. Then, it is his time. He says, “I’ve earned it.” “I have slaved away for decades. Now, I am going to enjoy my time.” That is the American dream. Little time to do much for the kingdom while in your working years, because the job is so demanding. And then when retirement comes, “it’s my time,” and off I go, traveling and again, little time for the kingdom. Too whom much is given, much is required. Think about that principle when it comes to money and time. A young family is strapped financially. Kids costs a lot of money. College. Cars. Mortgage. Kids take time. School. Sports. Been there with four kids. It was enjoyable but demanding. Mom sometimes goes one direction with one and dad the other direction with the another. Games and practices at the same time in different places. Dentists and doctor visits. Running and running all the time. Young families get it done. It’s often these young mothers that are the teachers of the babies at church. It’s these young parents that put on the VBS at church. They do what they can, but they are stretched. Then, at the other end, is the couple who are now empty nesters, retired and not nearly as stretched as the young family. The empty nesters often do not have the financial burdens as others do. They often have more time. Have they understood, to whom much is given much is required? They don’t have to get up Monday mornings, at a record breaking speed, to get the kids out of the house for school and to get to work on time. Years of knowledge, now more time, and often even more resources, are they seeing that in terms of helping the kingdom? Instead, we buy into this American dream concept, that I’m done with work, and now it’s my time and I get to do what I want, sounds a bit selfish. That doesn’t leave much room for the kingdom.

Think about this on the generational level: This generation is flying fast on the information highway. We have the Bible with us 24-7 because it’s on our phones and we are never without our phones. Our phones, with our Bible apps, are with us at school. They are with us at work. They are with us when we go out to eat. They are with us on vacation. In the plane, in the meetings, on the golf course. We always have our phones with us an on those phones is our Bibles. A generation before didn’t have that. Some took their Bibles in a brief case to work. But they didn’t carry those Bibles into work meetings. Most, back then, didn’t slide a Bible into their golf bags. But now, we are arms length from our Bibles at all times. To whom much is given, much is required. Think about the use of listening to sermons, or even watching videos of sermons anywhere you have your phone. Think about the ease of sending someone a Jump Start or a link to a lesson. You can teach, encourage and help someone faster and farther than ever before. With a push of a couple of buttons, this very Jump Start will be sent to nearly 3,000 people world wide. Do you realize how expensive and how long that would have taken generations ago. This is about 30 minutes of my morning. That’s it. Congregations need to be using videos, youtube, Facebook, Twitter and every avenue available to them. They need websites. They need to be busting it to get the message out. Yet, some act as if we are in the B.C. (before computer) time period. Can’t find those churches on websites, because they don’t have one. Those that are in charge, “don’t like all of this fancy technology stuff,” so they remain in a dark cave as the world passes them by. They wonder why they can’t reach anyone. They wonder why knocking on a stranger’s door doesn’t work. They wonder why just having two Gospel Meetings a year doesn’t change anything. It’s time to flip the calendar boys. It’s time to find the best way to reach people. To whom much is given, much is required.

The one talent man was given much. He was given a talent of money, which is a great sum. He buried it. He did nothing with it. We must ask and we must wonder, if we are doing the same with our time, finances, ability and opportunities, both as individuals and as congregations.

This generation ought to be flying down the highway in doing things for the Lord. There are so many ways to get the message out and to encourage and strengthen brethren. Use them. Learn them. Share ideas. Help each other.

Some day, the Lord is going to require our souls. What have we done with what we were given?

Roger