Luke 12:32-40
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). These words speak an unqualified promise about God. They root God’s generosity in God’s desire. Jesus has just spoken (in 12:22-31) about trusting God while also seeking the “kingdom”; now he reminds everyone that the point isn’t to coax a grumpy or frugal deity into being nice to us. Rather, God eagerly wants the “kingdom” -- a whole new set of affairs reflecting God’s intentions for human flourishing -- to take root in the real, lived experiences of Jesus’s followers. Why? Because that’s God’s good pleasure. 

Jesus' point is that faithfulness demands diligence, but the parable also accentuates the surprise of a master who chooses to serve dinner to his slaves (see Jesus’ description of his own behavior as “one who serves” in 22:27). Normally the opposite would be expected. Even the slaves in the parable appear to be caught unaware by their master’s hospitality, since presumably they have done what Jesus tells his audience to do: gird their loins in preparation for service (12:35). The inversion of social roles between lord and slaves illustrates the new relationships envisioned through the almsgiving.

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In the service of LOVE,
Pastors Dennis and Heather Drake