Fact #4: I Owe A Lot
Not money. Let’s get that clear right off the bat. What I’m talking about is the fact that Jesus says in the last part of Luke 12:48, “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”
Stranded
A few weeks ago, I was stranded on a stretch of road out in the “sho-nuf” country between two towns. It was dark. There was nothing but woods and one cell tower all around me. It was 10:30 at night, and I was returning home from preaching a youth service when the truck I was driving just quit on me.
Fortunately, the truck was equipped with that system where you can punch a button on the mirror and call for help. So I did. And they responded. And they tried to get a tow truck to bring me, along with the truck back into town. But they failed.
So they escalated their service to the next level customer service agent who had access to more towing companies. And I waited. And waited.
Sadly, the service was unable to get anyone to come tow the truck into town. So, I called a friend who drove 30 minutes to where I was, nearly an hour to my house, and 30 minutes back home. That’s a good friend. That’s a really good friend. Especially considering he had to go out of town early the next morning.
You too?
Fast forward to this morning when my phone rang and a different friend had their vehicle strand them on their way to work. Do you think I hesitated to go help? Do you think I put them off? Not a bit! And not because I’m such a stellar friend or such a great disciple of Jesus, but because much had been given to me and I believe that much is required of me, I leapt at the opportunity to help someone else. I knew what it felt like to the one making that phone call… knew what it felt like to wait for someone to come to my rescue.
LOTS & LOTS!
But this truth grabs my heart much beyond broken down vehicles. In my life, I’ve been shown a lot of love, encouragement, grace and hope. So is it any surprise the Lord has given me the life purpose of loving and encouraging others, offering them grace and hope? It’s not a struggle for me at all. I know what it feels like to need those and receive them. So I gladly give them and don’t feel like it’s a big deal.
What is it in your life which you have received a lot of that you might be required to offer to others? Is it kindness? Is it generosity? Is it forgiveness? Will you feel like it is too big a deal to give it after having received so much?
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