Be Prepared

Jesus uses the same words, but he means them in entirely the opposite way that Scar does. The message, however, is the same:  Get ready because something is about to go down and you're going to want to be a part of it.

Ask the Boy Scouts about being prepared.  Nothing beats preparation, and, if you've ever been caught unprepared, there is nothing that can make up for it.  Now the challenging part is what to be prepared for.  Being prepared for one thing is usually simple enough.

A spare tire, jack, and minimal knowledge while driving.

Or a can of this while enjoying the Riverwalk.

What is it Jesus wants us to be prepared for?  Stop.  That's a rhetorical question.  There are a lot of well-meaning, but incorrect answers out there.  Let's take a look at Luke 12:35-40 and see what Jesus actually said rather than what we think he said. 

Be prepared appears in the context of not worrying about our clothes or food.  Indeed, the exhortation in 32-24 is to sell our possessions, give to the poor, and to strive to put both our treasure and our hearts firmly in God's Kingdom.

The most difficult part of this lesson is that the things we are typically consumed with worrying about are, ultimately, not permanent.  The Apostle Paul assures us that love never ends, enduring even after all else has drawn to a close. 

Returning to Jesus' teaching, we discover him saying two things: 
1)  Be concerned about eternal things (like creating more love)

because

2)  How we live today prepares us for the life to come!