[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during November 2026]
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Luke 12 v48 [NIVUK]
In some social circles the opulent display of worldly wealth can bring admiration and an encouragement for others to emulate such success. However, it can also arouse jealousy and attract the attention of people with intentions of a less noble variety. Equally importantly, being blessed with worldly success can bring a risk of pride or complacency.
Luke’s account of the teachings of Jesus includes a story about a man whose land had produced a rich harvest. He was faced with the problem of storing his abundance.
Then he said, “This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain”.
Luke 12 v18 [NIVUK]
He thought that he was set up for the rest of his life. He was – he just did not think that his life would be so short. Jesus called him a fool and gave us some rather different advice.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matthew 6 v19 [NIVUK]
Too often we think of ‘blessings’ as a euphemism for wealth but God’s blessings are not confined to such a narrow definition. Very few of us will be blessed with an excess of riches but the more important question is how we relate to the blessings that we do receive.
Do we acknowledge that our wellbeing comes from God rather than our own endeavours?
In olden times it was often thought that worldly success was evidence of God’s blessing. More recently, we are more likely to ascribe it to our own endeavours and belittle any divine contribution. We can become so accustomed to God providing for us that we start to take his blessings for granted.
That attitude runs the risk that will God remove the objects, or people, which threaten his place. This can be a painful experience but it is ultimately beneficial if it forces us to return to him.
The dearest idol I have known, whate’er that idol be,
help me to tear it from Thy throne and worship only Thee.
William Cowper (1772)
Can we echo Job’s response when we experience similar discipline?
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.
Job 1 v21 [NIVUK]
A nineteenth century hymn-writer advised us to count our blessings and recognise that they come from God.[1] We can respond with some well-known words from the seventeenth century:
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Thomas Ken (1674)
References:
[1] “Count your blessings”, Johnson Oatman Jr. (1897)
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Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys