Are we, today, those to whom much has been given?

We complain about the fast pace of life today.  I understand.  When I was working 50 hours a week regularly (and I realize this isn't all that much compared to the 60+ hours a week worked by some), it seemed I never had time to take care of even the basics.

Things like laundry, groceries, washing dishes, cooking food, cleaning, and so on seemed to use up what little time I had left over in the day.  How, then, could anyone expect to have any time to think about any of the big questions, like whether God exists? Even for Christians (believers), how can any of us make time to study God's word? It seemed like the business of just living took up all my time!

Yes, I made time to attend church and Sunday School each week.  I did volunteer activities.  Somehow, I fitted this in.  Yet, with or without these, I still felt sorry for myself and for our generation. I felt we didn't have enough time to think about God and study His word.

But when I stopped to really think about it, I realized that actually we probably have more time and resources available to think about God, than in generations past.

We don't have to painstakingly wash clothes by hand.  We have washing machines.  We don't have to spend hours hunting and gathering food each day; we can grow vegetables in our backyards and go to the grocery store for other foods.  It takes very little time compared to in the past.  Cleaning products of today save us time and effort - vacuum cleaners can get our carpets clean with very little effort on our part.

“The servant who knows what his master wants him to do, but does not get himself ready and do it, will be punished with a heavy whipping. But the servant who does not know what his master wants, and yet does something for which he deserves a whipping, will be punished with a light whipping. Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given.
Luke 12:47-48


As we can see from the verses above, much is required from those of us to whom much is given. 'Much' need not mean financial means. We have the time and educational level to read the Bible. We are not people of leisure, but by comparison to the harsh life led by most in the Dark Ages and Middle Ages, we have plenty of time to read and ponder the word of God.

We, today, are those to whom much has been given. We must not make the mistake of thinking "poor us; the pace of life is so busy these days, there is simply no time anymore." 
Sure we have stressful jobs, but we are literate and can read the word of God (again, unlike most in the Dark Ages and Middle Ages). 

We have more resources and, therefore, more is required of us than many of our ancestors. For example, not only can we read the Bible ourselves, we can also use the internet to look up certain passages or certain keywords. In the past, the only options were Bible Concordance books, and not every home had one of those. Nowadays we can discuss things more easily with others too (in person, by phone or online). In times long past, none of this was an option for the average person, both technologically and literacy-wise. 

The verse above makes it clear that people will not be punished harshly for a lack of resources on their part. Our Dark Age ancestors come to mind here. But someone who has the resources and does not use them, will be held accountable by God.

So you don't have a Bible? Read one online for free. Or buy an e-Bible for your device, or buy a regular Bible - they're not hard to find, you don't have to trek for miles in winter to the nearest trading post! Live far away from the nearest bookstore? And/or you don't drive? No problem: you can buy a bible from online retailers and have it shipped directly to your home. In times past, none of those were options.

In the past, a Bible was something that only scholars would have, and it would be costly. These days, anyone can own or read a Bible. A cheap used Bible will cost only a little more than a cup of coffee. A Bible has ramifications on the eternal plane. Coffee doesn't.

So, if anyone can own or read a Bible nowadays, we really are those to whom much has been given. Use your Bible and your literacy wisely. It is expected of you.

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