We Have Been Given Much....Now What?

As Christians we have been blessed beyond measure. We have much to be thankful for. Christ has spilled His atoning blood for us even when we did not deserve it. No longer are we seperated from God, but instead our sins have been forgiven and we are called children of God. God not only supplies our spiritual needs, but our physical needs as well. He sustains us with food, clothing, and health. After being offered so much when we are so unworthy we should be overflowing with thankfulness. Not many Christians would disagree with this. Most, if not all, would agree that God has given us more than we could ever hope to ask for--forgiveness, acceptance, and eternal life.
In Luke 12 Christ tells the parable of the watching servants.
"Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household , to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, my lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the men servants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not ware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with unbelievers. And that servant which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomever much is given, of him shall be much required. "
Look again at that last verse. "For unto whomever much is given, of him shall be much required." The servant who had the most responsibility was punished greater when he failed his lord. The other servants may have done wrong as well. But if they did not know better, their punishment was less severe. As children of God, called to be His servants and stewards on earth, we have a choice. We can either be faithful servants who obey or unfaithful servants who choose to forget God and his warnings. We have already concluded that as Christians we have been given much. people like that part of the verse. "For unto whomever much is given." They relish the fact that God has been generous to us. But too often we want the verse to end there. We would rather the verse say, "You have been given much, so sit back and enjoy your blessings." But how does the verse really end? It says...."much is required." Because we have been given much, much is expected from us. When we become Christians, we enjoy the good things of God--forgiveness, acceptance, and eternal life. But when we become Christians we are also given great responsibility. We are no longer living for ourselves. We have a cross to take up. The children of God are required to live as Christ did, share the Gospel, stay strong in the faith, and keep watch for Christ's coming. These are not suggestions for the believer. They are responsibilities and requirements for each and every one of us.
The Christian is called to live as Christ did. Too many people are brought to the faith thinking that all they need to do is say a prayer and they are on their way to heaven. Over and over in the Bible Christ preached repentance. He never told hi disciples to say a prayer and sit back and enjoy God's gifts. instead He called them to leave behind their old life, take up their cross, and follow after Him. This is not a suggestion, but a requirement. Luke 14:27 says," And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." We cannot claim to follow Christ and yet continue to live as we did before we were saved. When Christ dwells in us He transforms us. Some Christians today see no need to be seperated from the world. Therefore it is oftentimes hard to tell the difference between those who claim the salvation of God and those who have rejected it. The call to seperation is no longer heeded by Christians today. Oftentimes the way we act, speak, dress, think, and entertain ourselves is exactly the same as the world. How can we show the world that we are being changed into the image of Christ if it is almost impossible to tell through our lives? The world would laugh at our claims. Not to say that as Christians we are holy. We are not. But we do have the responsibility to turn from our old ways and follow God's ways. When we slip up we have an advocate in Jesus. Our overall lifestyle should not mirror that of the world. Romans 6:6 " Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."
Another obligation of the Christian is to share the good news of Christ. the Gospel was entrusted to us. Christ gave the Great Commission to His disciples-those who followed after Him. If we claim to be followers of Christ, this commission becomes our commission as well. We were given much when we were taught about Christ. When much is given to us-much will be required from us. Like someone taught us the Gospel, we are in return to teach others.
Luke 11:33 " No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, taht they which come in may see the light." A more sobering reminder of our obligation to warn the world comes in Ezekial 3:17-18. "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel.: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life;the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand."
The Christian is also urged to stand strong in his faith. Countless times in the New Testament the believer is urged to hold fast to the faith he has accepted. The Bible warns of former believers falling away from their faith. Hebrews 10:38 says " Now the just shall live by faith,; but if any man draw back , my soul shall have no pleasure in him." Instead we are encouraged to press on. "Let us hold fast the profession of our hope without wavering;(for He is faithful that promised.) " The Lord is returning to gather His children. It is important that we do not lose heart and doubt His return. If we do this we will begin to compromise our standards. We have to stay prepared and focused like the prepared virgins waiting for the bridegroom.
The Christian life is not about how many good things we can get from God. True, we do receive countless good things from God. But it is not our part to soak it in and live for ourselves. Instead, we are to soak in God's goodness while realizing that since we have been given much, much is required from us. Not that what we do will make us any better before God. It will not. It is only Christ's blood that makes us acceptable to God. But because we are accepted, we are required to follow in God's ways. We have a big responsibility as Christians. Christ admonished his followers to count the cost before they started their journey of discipleship. We must also count the cost. Much is required of us... are we willing to give it? Peter said, "Lord, to whom can we go? You alone have the words of eternal life." God offers us abundant life. we sould not be scared to accept it. Yes, there is much required of a Christian, but because of all we have been given...it is worth it.