“Be Ready To Fend For Yourself!”

“Be Ready To Fend For Yourself!”
When Jesus sent out the Twelve, he told them, “Take nothing for the journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic”(Lk.9:3). When he appointed the seventy-two and sent them two by two, he told them, “Do not take a purse or a bag or sandals…”(Lk.10:4).
These went out with nothing, but they lacked nothing because the name of Jesus was like a magic wand that opened the hearts of villagers and caused them to be hospitable to those disciples. In their hearts of hearts Jesus was the liberator who had come to overthrow a foreign oppressor.
But when Jesus’ days were numbered, he asked the disciples, “‘When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?’ ‘Nothing,’ they answered. He said to them, ‘But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is writren: “He was numbered with the trangressors…”
The disciples took Jesus literally, so they said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” Jesus replied, “That’s enough”(Lk.22:35-38).
All scriptures cannot be understood literally. This is more so with Jesus who used a lot of figures of speech in teaching.
When you are at the top and the people are expecting much from you, they treat whoever comes in your name with respect. They lavish such persons with gifts, but when the people know that you are no longer in a pisition to offer them anything, they ignore whoever is close to you.
Knowing that his time of departure was near, Jesus was alerting the disciples so that they should brace themselves against the tough times ahead.
Jesus was warning them of the perilous times about to come. Going by the week’s teaching against slot and encouraging hard work, using proverbs, we realise that Jesus was telling them proverbially: “My friends, from now on know that you have to fend for yourselves and be ready to defend yourselves against the enemy.” If Jesus was to be numbered with the transgressors, it means he will no longer be seen as a liberator, but as an impostor. As such his followers will be considered to be like him.
My friend, it is a false teaching to assume that once in Christ life becomes easy and everything becomes smooth sailing! No! Jesus is asking us to earn a living and not to depend on free bread. We should take care of our material needs while he intercedes with the Father to bless the works of our hands.
Weekend prayer: Lord Jesus Christ bless the works of my hands and let me not depend on free bread. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Babila Fochang.