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the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his
lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of
meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord
then he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto
you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
Luke12:42-45 "He will make him ruler over all he hath" that is certainly the cry of the faithful. To be ruler over soul, body, relationships, finances, the environment, sickness, sin, hell, death, evil spirits, and the devil is the goal of the faith life, but how to get there? That is the question. How do we become ruler over all that one has? In the previous passages Jesus tells us to "Take no thought for your life", "Consider the lilies", "Seek the kingdom of God", "Sell that ye have and give alms", and "Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching". Abandonment to the kingdom of God seems to be crucial. "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."Luke14:33 Abandonment seems to be crucial. No attachments to anything but God. Not covenanted to wealth, or the law, or relationships, or power. "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, ye and his own life also, He cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple." Luke14:26-27 These may be the sternest words man has ever heard come from the mouth of Jesus. To gain everything, to be totally filled, we must be totally empty. God will give us ample opportunity to see if we not only will confess with our mouth and believe with our heart but "blessed is he who hears the word of God and does it". Putting the word of God into practice, "in deed and in truth" not only "in word and tongue" is the requirement for being "ruler over all" We are not talking about salvation here. We are talking about discipleship and ruler ship. We are talking about taking ground against the forces of evil and making an impact for God. Salvation requires confession and faith. Discipleship requires confession, faith, and works. It requires us to do something. We water down the word of God when we think Jesus does not mean what he says. He means exactly what he says. We just do not want to believe it. But if we take God at his word and put it into practice, we gain authority, ruler ship, and power. We manifest the gifts and the fruits and reap a harvest for the kingdom of God. But if we do not do what God requires of us, we thwart the will of God and we minimize the harvest. To desire the power means abandoning all. It means forsaking your life as you know it and letting God form you into the image of his Son. It means acting on the word not being hearers only. We are talking about being "ruler over all". We may not wish to be "ruler over all' but if we do, and then Jesus tells us what we have to do. It is the cost of discipleship. Salvation is free. Being firmly planted in the kingdom of God requires uprooting. Are you willing to be uprooted? Are you willing to suffer for the kingdom of God? Then do it. Amen. |