“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded. . .” – Luke 12:48
I came of age during a difficult time. The Vietnam War was raging when I was a young college student and of prime draft age, at the exact time I was becoming more politically aware. So, like many young American men during that time I lived in constant fear that my ultimate fate upon graduation was not to pursue my hopes and dreams, but to be thrust into that bloody conflict, a conflict I neither understood nor necessarily supported. The future seemed grim to me back then, over a situation that was impacting my life yet which I felt helpless to influence.
It all worked out eventually. I did serve in the military, but not in Vietnam, nor ever for one moment put in harm’s way. It’s been the story of my blessed life since the day I was born. I was raised in a stable and loving family, supported by an extended family who served as role models by their values and character, had a large circle of friends, my best friend living right across the street whose own family I could practically claim as part of my own. Throughout my childhood I never lacked for anything. My whole life has been like that in fact – a long happy marriage, children and grandchildren who I love dearly and who bring me great joy; good health, a nice home, nice car, always able to pay my bills, lacking for nothing. What a blessed man I am, no doubt all by God’s grace!
These too are difficult times, at least for some it is, if not for many. Doesn’t at least some segment of every age and generation suffer difficult times in some way? Has there ever been a time when there were not people struggling and hurting, lost and lonely, hungry and homeless, sick and suffering, broken and destitute, or unfairly treated?
Why, I often wonder, even to the point of guilt, has my life been so richly blessed, albeit undeservedly, while so many others suffer unjustly? Perhaps I will never know for sure, except that Jesus does call upon those of us who are blessed to even things out. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded,” he says. Or as Dr. Jim Denison expressed recently in one of his articles, “the best way to advance God’s kingdom on earth is to keep our focus and energy on the parts of our lives where we can make a difference.” Imagine how the world would be if more of us who are blessed were to share more of our blessings – advancing God’s kingdom on earth.