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Luke 17:20-37

Great Depression

In the 1930s there was a massive shortage of work. One in three people were unemployed. Many lacked what we take for granted. They went hungry, they wore hand me down clothes and considered themselves fortunate if they had a pair of shoes to wear on special occasions. What people wanted most was an opportunity to provide for themselves. They wanted work not charity.

The great depression affected not just those who lived through it. The next generation was brought up not to be wasteful, to value every scrap of food and to not throw anything away because it might prove useful someday. The fear of deprivation was passed on from parent to child and then again to the next generation.

Today, I want to encourage you to live not in the shadow of your own personal ‘great depression‘ but to lift your vision to the coming of Jesus Christ and his Kingdom. Christ would have you live not in the shadow of your fears but in the light of his return. There is much in my life that gets me down, or stresses me out and makes me feel overwhelmed. The frustration of raising kids, feeling overloaded with work, disappointing myself and other. But no matter how much I lack or fail Christ is coming. When he comes he will set my life right.

When I’m hard pressed I’m encouraged that Christ is coming back. I don’t know when but I’m more sure of Christ’s return than I am of the sun rising tomorrow. I’m reminded that my life is more about his kingdom than about my happiness, possessions and friends. Christ’s return enables me to live beyond my ‘great depression.‘   the Rev

Money?

It is very easy for me to slip into thinking that money would be the greatest source of help to me. If I had more money then I would have a lot less stress. I would be able to afford a better car, to go on holidays, to pay my bills with enough left over to enjoy my hobbies. Before I was called into the ministry I had options to earn more - it was called over time or a second job. Work more and earn more.

But placing my hope in the security or the pleasure that money can buy is very illusive. I've found from experience that more money doesn't mean less stress or more happiness. Money can buy things but life is not about things. Life is about God and people. Many husbands and fathers like me have at times sacrificed time with their wife and kids in the pursuit of what money can provide and buy while missing out on what it cannot replace. Money can buy a house but not a home, it can buy a bed but not sleep, it can buy a clock but not time, it can buy a servant but not a friend, it can buy a Bible but not a relationship with God.

Christ warns me in Luke 16 not to follow the crowd, not to buy into the idea that money is the ultimate goal. Christ isn't interested in how much or how little I possess but rather what is my attitude towards my possessions. Do I think of them as mine? Like a young child who doesn't want to share his toy yelling out “No, it's mine.”

The first step is to accept that God entrusts all I have to me. It is not mine. Not just my bank balance, not just what I possess but also my relationships; with my wife, my kids, church family and community. Secondly, Christ wants me to think in terms of using what he has entrusted me with for the benefit of others rather than myself. He wants me to be generous with all I have so that I learn to invest my time, energy, money and abilities into developing Christ-like relationships in my family and community. Only then will money lose its hold over me so that I can begin to enjoy what money can't buy.  the Rev

If you would like to learn more then listen to this message @ www.gaplifechurch.net/money or I'd be happy to make a time to discuss this with you privately.