"The God Pause Daily Devotionals" The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, August 04, 2016 with Scripture Luke 12:32-40

"The God Pause Daily Devotionals" The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, August 04, 2016 with Scripture Luke 12:32-40

Luke 12:

32 Have no fear, little flock, for your Father has resolved to give you the Kingdom! 33 Sell what you own and do tzedakah — make for yourselves purses that don’t wear out, riches in heaven that never fail, where no burglar comes near, where no moth destroys. 34 For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also.

35 “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit, 36 like people waiting for their master’s return after a wedding feast; so that when he comes and knocks, they will open the door for him without delay. 37 Happy the slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes! Yes! I tell you he will put on his work clothes, seat them at the table, and come serve them himself! 38 Whether it is late at night or early in the morning, if this is how he finds them, those slaves are happy.

39 “But notice this: no house-owner would let his house be broken into if he knew when the thief was coming. 40 You too, be ready! For the Son of Man will come when you are not expecting him.”

[Complete Jewish Bible]

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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.
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.
Jim Thvedt, '59
Retired; Speaker/Producer of "The Hour of Hope"
Luke 12:32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell 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.
34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
35 "Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit;
36 be 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.
37 Blessed 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.
38 If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
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.
40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."[New Revised Standard Version]
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