But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48
“God accepts the risk of appearing to be unjust. God looks unjust, but He is not. He asks more from those to whom He gives more. They are not greater or better, they have greater responsibility. They must give more service. Live to serve.”
Hélder Câmara (1909-1999) in Dom Helder Camara: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters; Maryknoll: Orbis, 2009) 101.
Happy Father’s Day to my dad, Jack Hoag, my brother, David Hoag, and my son, Sammy Hoag. I am thankful for the way they “live to serve” like Jesus.
Today, Brazilian saint, Hélder Câmara, reminds us that though God appears unjust, He is just. God expects more from those to whom he has given more. They have a greater responsibility.
What are you doing with what the blessings you have been given? Are you fulfilling your responsibility to do a lot of good with the blessings you have received?
Fathers, in our households we tend to have the most strength, bandwidth, and capacity. Let’s use that position of blessing not to be served but to give more service. That’s my call to generosity on Father’s Day. Give more service.
And thanks for your prayers as I fly all night from Denver to Houston to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil arriving tomorrow.
On a prior trip to Rio de Janeiro, I shot this header photo from Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain) looking over to Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). Like Christ is lit up on the hillside, I pray my service brings light and life to Brazil.
And I pray for fathers everywhere reading this, that as they give more service, it will bring more light and life where they are.