Parable of the Lamp

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16. NIV) [See also Mark 4:21-23 and Luke 8:16-18; 11:33-36]

In the parable of the lamp on a stand, Jesus is talking to His disciples and the instruction is for them (and likewise, disciples from then throughout the Christian era, even to us). Jesus is teaching about the influence Christians wield. They are to be like a shining city on a hill or a glowing lamp on a lampstand. We all recall that President Reagan liked to speak of America as “a shining city on a hill.” Were that the influence of America for good could still be as a city alight and glowing from which all receive direction. It does not make sense to light a lamp and then cover it so that its glow will be smothered. A lamp’s mission is to shine and give off light in darkness. Likewise, Christians are to bear light and do good deeds, not for their own adulation but that praise will go to God. We are to let our influence count in such a way in the world that God will get the credit for the good deeds in our lives.

Origen and other Christian writers maintain that the good works of Christians had more influence on converting sinners than miracles and preaching. The old adage holds, “I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day.” Note that Jesus taught: Live “that they may see your good deeds.” Don’t boast about them, just live them. Don’t make lists of them and pass out to persons near you. Let them discover by observing your life what kind of person and Jesus-follower you are. Just as light draws those in darkness to it, so the light of a godly life should draw sinners to seek God’s grace and forgiveness.

As children, we sang the Vacation Bible School chorus: “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine…Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine.” To keep a lamp glowing requires maintenance: regular trimming of the wick; keeping the globe clean; adding oil for fuel. Likewise, to have the light of our life shine abroad in a dark world, we need constant daily maintenance from the Word of God, confession of sin, and to be turned on by the working of the Holy Spirit within our lives. How is you lamp? What is its reflection power to point people to God?

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Monday, August 30, 2010