Kingdom Building
September 8, 2019
Scripture Reading: Luke 14:25-33
Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions. –Luke 14:31-33
My Bible study group is studying 1 Samuel and this week we are reading chapter 24. As the story goes Saul is pursuing David with an army of 3,000 to kill him while David is working hard to avoid Saul with a ragtag group of 600 men. As in turns out, David and some of his men hid in an apparently deep cave which Saul enters to gain some privacy as he defecates. He apparently was unaware of the audience he had behind him. David’s group wants David to kill Saul but David refuses. He does sneak up and stealthily cut off part of Saul’s royal robe. Saul then exits the cave and David follows Saul out to let him know that he had been in danger and David chose not to take advantage of his vulnerability. Saul is impressed and for a moment, only a moment he seems rational and recognizes that David will take Saul’s throne. The coincidence of my study material and our scripture for today made me wonder if Jesus remembered this story of David and Saul when he taught the lesson about being willing to give up everything for God.
The scripture above bothers me because it seems a little overcautious until at the end Jesus drops in that phrase if you do not give up all your possessions. I describe it as overcautious in the beginning because how many times have well trained, large armies been beaten by small and less equipped groups with more motivation. The American Revolution comes to mind.
The scripture is relevant today and the message it sends is crucial, our world is caught in real wars but perhaps more dangerous wars of money and power against the common good. Do we recognize the power we have in Jesus Christ to do the right thing against these odds, to do justice?
Prayer: God of Might, cleanse us so our hearts and minds are in sync with you, then send us forth to protect and provide for the common good. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.