Which is crazier?

A widow who goes to an unjust judge? Or Christians who have been promised a God who infinitely cares and a God who loves to answer prayers, and they don’t?

One of the oddest parables of Jesus is the Parable of the Persistent Widow found in Luke 18:1-8.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow who kept coming to him with the plea,’Grant me justice against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!'”

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

This is an absurd parable…a widow who goes to someone who doesn’t care, someone who is unjust, someone who doesn’t give a rip to pester him day and night. It makes no sense. It’s crazy. It’s utter nonsense.

So why did Jesus tell his disciples this parable? Great question!

Which is crazier?

A widow who goes to an unjust judge? Or Christians who have been promised a God who infinitely cares and a God who loves to answer prayers, and they don’t?

I hear a lot of people saying people need to speak out about ___________, or against _________.

I get it. There’s a lot that’s messed up about our country at this time. I too find it difficult to hold my tongue.

Where there is injustice, and there is, we must speak against it.

Where fear-mongering, divisive and abusive, we must name and challenge such behavior.

Where there is evil, and there is, we must speak into that situation.

I get it.

There is so much that needs speaking into. But I do not think our culture is messed up because there is not enough speaking. In fact, I would argue that we have too much of it. Too much talking that is divisive and hurtful.

Perhaps, what our culture needs more than speaking, is being…

• being kind
• being respectful
• being decent
• being fair
• being gracious
• being hospitable and welcoming
• being thankful
• being loving

Could you imagine if all the critical and divisive talk came to an end and instead was replaced by being kind, respectful, decent, fair, gracious, loving, etc.?

Could you imagine?

I long for that world. That’s the world I am working toward.

Enough talk. Our world doesn’t need more talk. Let’s work on being…

What matters more to God?

…that we believe he’s a good and awesome God?

…or that we treat people with respect, grace, mercy, honor, love?