Two Black Fridays
Good Morning Friends,
Today, the day after Thanksgiving and yesterday’s beginning of Hanukah, a date that will not converge again for 79,000 years, I am draw to the name culture has given the annual event this day means for businesses. Today, for the believer, it can relate to Christ’s Passover story as much as for its illumination of the Christmas story. In the rethinking of today’s scripture, I reflected on my own experience with money and buying stuff. And I discovered that my own experience confirmed Jesus’ commentary regarding treasure and human nature. Friends, tipping the scales in our favor are Two Black Fridays.
Scripture: Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered in thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops. ‘I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. 7But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. ‘And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how* you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.’ Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.’ But he said to him, ‘Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?’ And he said to them, ‘Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.’ Then he told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?”
Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’ He said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.
For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?
If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 12:132-34 (NRSV)
And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (NRSV)
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
John 15:7 (NRSV)
Message: I really do not know what Jesus would think of today. Still the reading of scripture creates an exchange somewhat like when we buy a product. My guess is that at the heart of consumerism rests a complex bargain involving our loyalty. It is a bit of a mystery how it all works and how closely the transaction mirrors our initial transaction with Christ regarding our sins allowing Him to buy us out of hock. The central mystery of consumerism and the paradox of God purchasing us are powerful forces for good. One is pure the other the best we have until Christ returns to complete the exchange. Pray that when He does we are not found to be hypocrites
Pray that our wants match up with what Christ thinks we really need. Pray we receive the cure for greed. Pray we realize that ready or not Jesus will come again. Pray we realize the folly of living the comfortable life, dependent of the things of the world for our joy. Pray we discover the ultimate treasure of sharing our faith and serving others. Pray for all those retail workers who today will be tested more than once. Pray we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christmas…the coming of Christ.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 