4 November 2016 - citizenship in heaven

[ Today's Readings ]

Their minds are occupied with earthly things.

Are our minds occupied with earthly things? Are we so attached to them that we can't let them go even when to do so is the easiest way to have a place for us when our stewardship is at an end?

I know what I shall do so that,
when I am removed from the stewardship,
they may welcome me into their homes.

We take profit from this life over and above what God gives us. We consider as gain that which is temporary and will ultimately be lost. God allows us to do so. But we must not cling to gain like this because, ultimately, we cannot. It is ultimately all part of the stewardship with which God entrusts us. At some point we answer for all of it. Trying to cling to the extra measures of olive oil and wheat which we take for ourselves above what the master demands is finally impossible. It is much better to put all surplus to good use.

Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’
He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’ 
He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note;
write one for eighty.’

It is much better to use what we receive to lighten the load of others. We can't hold onto the excess anyway. Let's get value from it while we can! We need to remember our true identities so that our minds do not become occupied with earthly things.

But our citizenship is in heaven, 
and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He will change our lowly body
to conform with his glorified Body 
by the power that enables him also 
to bring all things into subjection to himself.

This is stewardship which we now possess is temporary. Let us spend any wealth we gain with a view toward our eternal homes.

I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”