Living a day at a time

Citation: Mark Galli, Francis of Assisi and His World (Lion, 2002)

Assisi, Italy, like much of Europe in the 1200s, was covered with chapels and churches, each dedicated to one saint or another. Some were wealthy, but many were neglected, and most had a priest who depended on the generosity of local people to sustain him and the church.

In a small town, a little less than 2 kilometers from Assisi, was such a church. It was surrrounded by olive trees. The church was falling apart; the walls crumbled all about it, and the priest barely made it. He didn't even have enough money to buy oil, let alone a lamp, to burn continually in the church.

On one of his walks, Francis of Assisi stepped into the chapel. In little light, he made his way to the front to pray. Sometime in the middle of his prayer, Francis heard Christ speak to him: "Francis, go and repair my house, which, you can see, all is being destroyed." Francis, up to this point in his life, had never heard a direct spiritual communication. He was "shocked. He pulled got up from prayer and then pulled himself together.

He vowed to carry out the command as quickly and as literally as he knew how: he found masonry, tools, and other supplies, and began repairing the church he had been praying in.

Francis later became the key figure in the 13th-century revival of the church, a church that was racked with moral corruption from the pope to the local priest. Francis, at least for a time, was able to stem the tide of immorality. But it is interesting to note how he began repairing the medieval church as a whole: he started with the little chapel in front of him.

A lot of times we wish we could change the world, and who knows, maybe we are called to that eventually. But we are wiser to follow the example of Francis of Assisi: to do the little thing, the simple thing right in front of us, and let God take care of the world.

As Jesus put it, those faithful in small things will be faithful in large things.

Matt 25:14 "Again, it (the Kingdom of Heaven) will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 22 "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' 23 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 24 "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26 "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

entrusted his property to them

We have all been given a life, responsibilities, and gifts, something that we will all have to give God an account for.

each according to his ability

We are only given what we can handle, not more.

No more “I can’t” only “I won’t”
Exodus 4:2 Moses “What is that in your hand?
2 Cor.8:12-13 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

Also we should never compare ourselves with someone else that has more; he has only been given by God what he can handle.

settled accounts with them

There is a day when the Lord will come and ask us what we did with these things.

You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.

The first blessings were given according to their abilities.
The second according to their faithfulness to use what as given them.

What Can I do Today? Where do I start? Right where you are now. A new beginning.

James 4:13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.

Find out from God what he wants you to do with your life.

Luke 19:9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, …The will of God for all, is that all will be saved.
Matt 6:9-13 The Lord’s prayer for a daily seeking God for all he has and his will.
Lk 9:23 take up cross and follow daily. Determine not to live for yourself, but for others.