GIVING AWAY THE KINGDOM
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32, R.S.V.
In a wave of growing appreciation for human rights and democratic principles, most Western countries have adopted representative forms of government. Yet several nations have also retained many of their traditional forms of royalty. It seems that the trappings of royalty have a marvelous way of capturing the imaginations of us common folks.
Have you ever savored in your imagination being in the place of attractive Queen Esther as she approaches King Ahasuerus? This incredibly wealthy potentate, who rules 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia and is able to hold sumptuous feasts lasting 180 days, looks fondly at his young queen and says, "What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom" (Esther 5:3, R.S. V.).
What sovereign authority, to give one more than one could ever use in a lifetime! And just for the indulgent fun of it, we let our minds explore: "What would I have asked from Ahasuerus? Would I have wanted a nice home, or even a whole seaside resort of my own?" Our imagination surveys the kinds of things earthly kingdoms are prone to accumulate--and that we are prone to covet!
Perhaps this is why our response is often so flat when we hear Jesus' bold promise, "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Are the treasures that He has accumulated in His kingdom the ones we are inclined to long for? Do we long for the lifestyle of this Servant-King who has freely offered us a share of His kingdom?
The world is full of people who have amassed fortunes at the expense of others. But history remembers fondly the ones whose values centered around a deep love for people. The world has seen enough of royalty who have crushed the masses for the dubious benefit of the slender few. But Jesus was advocating the formation of a new royalty: kings and queens with hearts that are tender and large, whose treasury is made up of people made whole through love.
Our Father takes no delight in giving us a kingdom that would burden us with the anxieties of materialism. He would not countenance any joys other than the ones that bring pleasure to Himself--the joys of loving people into wholeness. The treasure He imparts are those of a transformed heart, and they are eternal!
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32, R.S.V.
In a wave of growing appreciation for human rights and democratic principles, most Western countries have adopted representative forms of government. Yet several nations have also retained many of their traditional forms of royalty. It seems that the trappings of royalty have a marvelous way of capturing the imaginations of us common folks.
Have you ever savored in your imagination being in the place of attractive Queen Esther as she approaches King Ahasuerus? This incredibly wealthy potentate, who rules 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia and is able to hold sumptuous feasts lasting 180 days, looks fondly at his young queen and says, "What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom" (Esther 5:3, R.S. V.).
What sovereign authority, to give one more than one could ever use in a lifetime! And just for the indulgent fun of it, we let our minds explore: "What would I have asked from Ahasuerus? Would I have wanted a nice home, or even a whole seaside resort of my own?" Our imagination surveys the kinds of things earthly kingdoms are prone to accumulate--and that we are prone to covet!
Perhaps this is why our response is often so flat when we hear Jesus' bold promise, "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Are the treasures that He has accumulated in His kingdom the ones we are inclined to long for? Do we long for the lifestyle of this Servant-King who has freely offered us a share of His kingdom?
The world is full of people who have amassed fortunes at the expense of others. But history remembers fondly the ones whose values centered around a deep love for people. The world has seen enough of royalty who have crushed the masses for the dubious benefit of the slender few. But Jesus was advocating the formation of a new royalty: kings and queens with hearts that are tender and large, whose treasury is made up of people made whole through love.
Our Father takes no delight in giving us a kingdom that would burden us with the anxieties of materialism. He would not countenance any joys other than the ones that bring pleasure to Himself--the joys of loving people into wholeness. The treasure He imparts are those of a transformed heart, and they are eternal!
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