To Whom Much has Been Given

At this time of the year, it is appropriate to be thankful. Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season, a festive time complete with food, family, friends, and exchanging gifts. For Christians, it is the beginning of Advent, a time of expectation and preparation leading up to Christmas and the celebration of Christ’s birth. While believers focus on the true meaning of Christmas, holiday shoppers flock to malls and shopping centers in search of the best deals. Others sit in the comfort of their homes and shop online. The holidays wouldn’t be complete without excessive spending, elaborate gifts, and an abundance of presents under the tree. In the wealthiest nation on the planet, Christmas is the consumer’s holiday, chock full of ‘things’ to purchase. Disposable income and access to credit allow for grand indulgence and the procurement of the ‘finer’ things in life. After all, citizenship is imbedded with inherent rights and privileges. Americans are entitled to enjoy their wealth and spend as they see fit, right? But what about Christians? Does the same hold true for them?

            In the Gospel of Mark, beginning in chapter ten, verse seventeen, Jesus defines a pattern of behaviors that should embody the Christian life. He begins by addressing wealth. Specifically he addresses its significance, or lack thereof, as it pertains to salvation. In his familiar words about a camel passing through the eye of a needle, he depicts the burden wealth can become. Full of allure and temptation, wealth can become a distraction and impede our ability to fully serve God. American society is under constant bombardment from advertisers, especially during the holiday months. Like a virus, consumers eagerly bleed their host dry, draining bank accounts and maxing out credit cards. The quest to obtain more and more runs off the track amid increasing dissatisfaction and the need to feed the consumption appetite. Like the rich man to whom Jesus spoke, consumers misplace their faith, preoccupied with transient possessions.

            The Christ of Christmas preached a different message, one that is contradictory to society’s. His message was one of service and humility. Echoing his words in Mark 9, Jesus expanded his message of service and stated that whoever wanted to be great in the Kingdom of God “must be slave of all.” Slaves didn’t enjoy lavish lifestyles, nor were their lives filled with possessions especially to the point of excess. The life of slavery was one that possessed no status, offered little comfort, and was not enviable. No one had a desire to be a slave. Yet in order to achieve greatness Christians are called into a life of slavery. Christianity is not, and was never intended to be, a life of privilege or superiority. On the contrary, it is a life of service. As such, it should be separate and distinct from the world. For what value do finite possessions and fleeting status have in an infinite kingdom? None, which is why Jesus’ message was redundant and emphasized this basic tenant of Christianity.

            In Mark 12, Jesus noted the greatest commandment was to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.” Interestingly, this commandment embodies all of the others. If we do as Jesus said and love God in that way, we will be able to keep all of the other commandments. If we put God first by loving him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, the things of this world will become irrelevant; our desires will be tamed; and we will indeed become slaves to God’s kingdom. The Westminster Catechism of Faith states, “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” If we love God the way Jesus described, we will indeed glorify him by becoming his slaves. The term slavery has many negative connotations, most of which are rooted in the annals of history. However, the Hebrew translation means “someone who waits on another.” There is no coercion involved in this case; it is voluntary. God is not going to force us into slavery. Rather, recognizing what God has done in our lives by sending his son to die on the cross in our place, we should willingly be his slaves.

            Returning to the issue of wealth, Mark concludes chapter twelve with the familiar story of the widow’s offering. Giving all she had, Jesus exclaimed her offering was far superior to that of the rich people, who gave out of their wealth. When it comes to money, God doesn’t need ours. He’s loaded! After all, the streets of Heaven are paved in gold. To believe we can give anything of any significance from creation to its creator is utterly foolish. God is not impressed with wealth or status. Yet in this story the rich people believed they could please God and impress members of the crowd by giving large amounts. Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross so that those who believed in him would not die but have eternal life. He gave it all. The widow gave everything she had. She sacrificed. She was willing to do without in order to serve God. Perhaps she recognized the transient nature of this life and the insignificance money has in God's kingdom. The text doesn’t tell us. Nevertheless Jesus’ words say it all. “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others” (v. 43). Monetarily it wasn’t comparable. But in the Kingdom of God, where service and sacrifice are the true currency, its value was incomparable.

            Following this story, Mark begins chapter thirteen by discussing the End Times. He closes out the pattern of Christian behaviors by detailing the end of the world. This is an interesting, but I believe necessary, ending that solidifies and clarifies Jesus’ previous messages. Viewing the messages chronologically, Jesus discusses what it means to be great in God’s kingdom. He acknowledges wealth can be an incredible obstacle to salvation and Christian service. He further indicates that service should be on the order of slavery – that Christians should wait on others. We are commanded to love God fully and completely and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This is an integral component that serves as the glue that holds everything together. Such love, if achieved, would allow Christians to becomes slaves, eschew the temptations wealth brings, and refrain from seeking greatness according to the world’s standard. The explanation for these behaviors is quite simple: this life and world are transient. Jesus said it very plainly. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” The greatest person by the world’s standard is last by God’s. Wealth has no value in Heaven. Therefore, the Christian life should embody the behavior Jesus preached.

            The month of November is synonymous with Thanksgiving, a holiday based on the Pilgrims, who paused and took the time to give thanks for their lives, each other, and God’s bounty. Today the holiday has become a shopping spectacle fraught with greed and the uncontrollable need to acquire more possessions. As I reflected on the days of my youth, I recalled the many celebratory feasts at my house and grandparent’s house. Surrounded by family, I enjoyed the traditional meal of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and rolls. At the time I never considered that I had much. In comparison to others, my upbringing was modest.  My grandparents had lived through the Great Depression and were simple people. Frugality was their mantra. Now I look back and realize I have much for which to give thanks. And that made me think of a verse from Luke. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked”(12:48).

            Often times we take what we have for granted. Never experiencing hunger, we don’t give reaching in the pantry a second thought. With water on tap, we don’t know thirst. In a country overflowing with abundance, we don’t consider suffering. Insulated from need, we live contently in a society replete with convenience. We quickly forget we have been given much and focus on acquiring more. Soon we get caught up in the vicious cycle of consumerism. That does not negate the fact that much will be demanded from us. Jesus’ painted a picture of Christian behavior embodied by service, love, sacrifice, and proper management of wealth. ALL Christians have been given much in that they have received salvation, and through that salvation have obtained eternal life. That alone demands service and the sharing of the Gospel. Add to that the availability of resources we have in this country, and our duty is clear – to share God’s love and abundance. This Thanksgiving, do more than just be thankful. Demonstrate thanks through service, sacrifice, love, and generosity!