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APRIL 15
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destroys. For where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.
35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps
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burning; and you yourselves be like men 12:33 Sell what you have and give alms.
who wait for their master, when he will return Those who amassed earthly possessions,
from the wedding, that when he comes and falsely thinking their security lay in material
knocks they may open to him immediately. resources (vv. 16–20), needed to lay up trea-
37 Blessed are those servants whom the mas- sure in heaven instead. Believers in the early
ter, when he comes, will find watching. church did sell their goods to meet the basic
Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird him- needs of poorer brethren (Acts 2:44,45;
self and have them sit down to eat, and will 4:32–37). But this commandment is not to be
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come and serve them. And if he should come twisted into an absolute prohibition of all
in the second watch, or come in the third earthly possessions. In fact, Peter’s words to
Ananias in Acts 5:4 make it clear that the sell-
watch, and find them so, blessed are those ser- ing of one’s possessions was optional. money
vants. But know this, that if the master of the bags which do not grow old. These purses
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house had known what hour the thief would that do not wear out (so as to lose the money)
come, he would have watched and not allowed are defined as “treasure in the heavens that
his house to be broken into. Therefore you does not fail.” The surest place to put one’s
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also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at money is in such a purse—in heaven, where it
an hour you do not expect.” is safe from thieves and decay, as well.
41 Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You
speak this parable only to us, or to all people?” 12:34 your heart will be also. Where one
42 And the Lord said, “Who then is that faith- puts his money reveals the priorities of his
ful and wise steward, whom his master will heart. See 16:1–13; Matthew 6:21.
make ruler over his household, to give them
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their portion of food in due season? Blessed
is that servant whom his master will find so tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from
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doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you now on five in one house will be divided: three
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that he will make him ruler over all that he against two, and two against three. Father
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has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My will be divided against son and son against
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master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to father, mother against daughter and daughter
beat the male and female servants, and to eat against mother, mother-in-law against her
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and drink and be drunk, the master of that daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against
servant will come on a day when he is not her mother-in-law.”
looking for him, and at an hour when he is not 54 Then He also said to the multitudes,
aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the
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his portion with the unbelievers. And that west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is com-
servant who knew his master’s will, and did ing’; and so it is. And when you see the south
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not prepare himself or do according to his will, wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weath-
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shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who er’; and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern
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did not know, yet committed things deserving the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is
of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For every- it you do not discern this time?
one to whom much is given, from him much 57 “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you
will be required; and to whom much has been not judge what is right? When you go with
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committed, of him they will ask the more. your adversary to the magistrate, make every
49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how effort along the way to settle with him, lest he
I wish it were already kindled! But I have a drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to
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baptism to be baptized with, and how dis- the officer, and the officer throw you into
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tressed I am till it is accomplished! Do you prison. I tell you, you shall not depart from
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suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I there till you have paid the very last mite.”
DAY 15:Where can we find stability in troubled times?
Psalm 46 was the scriptural catalyst for Martin Luther’s great hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”
This psalm extols the adequacy of God in facing threats from nature and the nations.God indeed pro-
tects (see vv.1,7,11) His people upon the earth (see vv.2,6,8,9,10).The major burden of Psalm 46 is that
God provides stability for His people who live in two exceedingly unstable environments.
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