Do you ever take the time to put teachings, verses together when one confirms the other. I certainly do – example:
“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe [Me] because of the [very] works themselves [which you have witnessed]. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name [as My representative], this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it.” (John 14:11-14)
and
“From everyone to whom much as been given, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.” (Luke 12:48b)
What do these two scriptures tell you? How are they ‘joined’, confirm each other? Do you feel that you are one of the ‘much given’? Now what? What do you do about your status? Remember the last part of the sentence says ‘much will be required’. What’s being asked of you? What is required?
According to ‘Got Questions’:
“The idea of ‘to whom much is given, much will be required’ is that we are held responsible for what we have. If we are blessed with talents, wealth, knowledge, time, and the like, it is expected that we use these well to glorify God and benefit others.”
I sometimes wonder if a part of this is founded in our relationship and based in our awareness and then acceptance of what’s been given us, what we’ve learned, what we Know. Minimally, they do affect or provide a context.
Another question to answer is… who do you serve? We all serve… consciously or not because we choose who we follow – either the Lord or the devil. Seriously. Only 2 choices. Who do you serve? Look at where you expect to receive praise, who is it you want to please? This gives us a lot of information about our personal motivations, goals, intentions, etc. These aren’t idle questions.
“(Jesus speaking): I do not receive glory and approval from men; … How can you believe [in Me], when you [seek and] receive glory and approval from one another, and yet you do not seek the glory and approval which comes from the one and only God? … For if you believed and relied on [the Scriptures written by] Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me [personally]. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” [John 5:41,44. 46-47]
Who we serve tells us a great deal about how ‘greater’ and ‘much’ is defined in our lives. If it isn’t the Lord then you believe in following the devil. Simple question… when was the last time you received something from the devil? He wants to be served, he has no intention of being a source to mankind (whom he hates). And… the Lord, who owes us nothing, chooses to give us everything.
So, what say you? Who are you serving… yourself? Where do you seek approval
… from others? How do you regard scripture? Is it your manual? Perhaps most important… are You aware of how you present yourself to the world? Do ‘greater’ and ‘much’ define your ‘abundant’?
