Enough Faith to Be Faithful

      As we read Jesus’ words in Luke 17:1-4, we find him teaching his disciples two very important practices of discipleship. I feel sure these teachings had been discussed before, but Jesus wanted to make sure they were understood. Jesus said, “Do not be the cause of someone sinning. Even if you feel you are entitled to do a certain thing, or have the need to give your opinion, be careful, you may cause someone to become weak. You will be accountable for their compromise.” Then Jesus also said, “You are to be willing to forgive unconditionally and without limit. If you expect God to forgive you, you must forgive each other.” The disciples hear Jesus and immediately connect these two responsibilities of discipleship with the need for faith. They do a quick faith check and make an obvious request to Jesus. “Lord, increase our faith. Faith to understand you.”

      Now we all understand that faith is a deep mystery, a mysterious gift from God. In times of trouble, death, and uncertainties, we find ourselves leaning, not on our own understanding, but on the gift of faith. We lean, even when we do not understand the mysteries of life and life beyond death. The writer of Hebrews in that great faith chapter, 11:1 tells us, “Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we do not see.”  

      The disciples realized very quickly that they did not have enough faith to fulfill these two teachings of Jesus. How in the world can they make sure that what they say and do does not cause someone to sin? Is it possible to be able to forgive even the most personal sin, and to be willing to forgive repeatedly? It is interesting that the disciples did not ask for love, wisdom, or understanding, they asked for faith. They realized that they would need faith in God to help them be sensitive to the needs of others; to lay aside the things they liked to do if it has the potential to harm others. They also realized that they would need much faith in God to forgive, as Jesus wanted them to forgive. They would need faith to make the connection between God’s forgiveness of them and their forgiveness of others. They did not think they had enough faith to do any of this. Therefore, they asked Jesus to give them more.

        While today’s lesson is about being certain that we are not “stumbling blocks” to someone’s spiritual walk, it is also about forgiveness. While it is about unlimited forgiveness, it is also about serving God by giving him all we have because we love him and are grateful. If we are going to be people who are sensitive to the spiritual needs of others, people who practice forgiveness, and people who are true servants of God, then we need to be people of faith. And Jesus says the good news is that we don’t need a huge amount of faith, just faith the size of a mustard seed.

      Maybe we have been as guilty as the disciples by asking for our faith to be increased when we haven’t been using what we have. Maybe we as God’s church have been saying, “Jesus, we need more money, more people, more this or that, “increase us” before we can do something for you. What you are asking us to do and be seems so impossible unless you “increase us!” Jesus answers very quickly, “You have enough already. You have enough faith to be faithful. You need to use what you already have.” This is “Jesus talk.” He looks at us in our weakness, our hesitancy, and fear of the unknown and says simply, “You have all you need. You have enough faith to do what I expect you to do. Put the “mustard seed” gift that I have already given you to work. You have enough faith to be faithful.” Faithful in forgiving, faithful in relationships with others, and faithful in service, and faithful in loving God. As it is used, our faith will increase.

Rev Tim McConnell Long’s Chapel UMC March 3, 2013