Ready, or Not (2 of 6)
Series: Luke's Parables
Keith Krell
Luke 12:35-48
Do you struggle with procrastination? If so, you're not alone. A recent study of ''the top temptations that American face'' found that 60% of Americans procrastinate. This sin is tied for first place with worry and anxiety. The temptation to procrastinate affects nearly every area of our lives: filing our taxes, saving for retirement, dieting, exercising, handing in our homework, and even buying Christmas gifts. To make matters worse, there are even consequences to procrastination: it costs money, it undermines relationships, it affects our health, and it lowers job performance. A University of Windsor in Ontario study found that procrastinators had higher stress levels and more household accidents than non-procrastinators. Clearly, procrastination is not without its problems. While we like to dismiss and make light of our procrastination, it can indeed have severe consequences.
Procrastination can also creep into our spiritual lives. There is a bumper sticker and t-shirt slogan that sarcastically proclaims, ''Jesus is coming. Look busy!'' That is the attitude of spiritual procrastination. I'll wait and wait, do things my way and live how I want right up until I see the clouds parting and Jesus descending. Then it's time to ''look busy.'' Yet, for disciples of Jesus, this slogan reminds us of an underlying and sobering truth: Jesus is coming back, and we can either attempt to ''look busy'' or be found faithful.
In Luke 12 Jesus has been challenging His disciples to be faithful stewards. Verses 1-12 have addressed the disciple's stewardship of the gospel. The disciple must make good use of the gospel by boldly living and proclaiming it. Verses 13-34 have addressed the stewardship of possessions. Our preoccupation must not be with material things, but with true ''life.'' We need not worry about our life, but we should use things to minister to people's needs now in order to lay ...
Series: Luke's Parables
Keith Krell
Luke 12:35-48
Do you struggle with procrastination? If so, you're not alone. A recent study of ''the top temptations that American face'' found that 60% of Americans procrastinate. This sin is tied for first place with worry and anxiety. The temptation to procrastinate affects nearly every area of our lives: filing our taxes, saving for retirement, dieting, exercising, handing in our homework, and even buying Christmas gifts. To make matters worse, there are even consequences to procrastination: it costs money, it undermines relationships, it affects our health, and it lowers job performance. A University of Windsor in Ontario study found that procrastinators had higher stress levels and more household accidents than non-procrastinators. Clearly, procrastination is not without its problems. While we like to dismiss and make light of our procrastination, it can indeed have severe consequences.
Procrastination can also creep into our spiritual lives. There is a bumper sticker and t-shirt slogan that sarcastically proclaims, ''Jesus is coming. Look busy!'' That is the attitude of spiritual procrastination. I'll wait and wait, do things my way and live how I want right up until I see the clouds parting and Jesus descending. Then it's time to ''look busy.'' Yet, for disciples of Jesus, this slogan reminds us of an underlying and sobering truth: Jesus is coming back, and we can either attempt to ''look busy'' or be found faithful.
In Luke 12 Jesus has been challenging His disciples to be faithful stewards. Verses 1-12 have addressed the disciple's stewardship of the gospel. The disciple must make good use of the gospel by boldly living and proclaiming it. Verses 13-34 have addressed the stewardship of possessions. Our preoccupation must not be with material things, but with true ''life.'' We need not worry about our life, but we should use things to minister to people's needs now in order to lay ...
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