Be Ready to Act: Living Out the Kingdom of Heaven Right Now
Complacency has always irked the crap out of me—because I’ve never been someone who can just sit with the status quo.
Maybe it’s because my brain is wired for creativity. Or maybe it’s because my dad couldn’t sit still and always had 15 projects going at once. Likely, it’s some strange combination of nature and nurture. Either way, the wheels of my mind never stop turning.
I’m not intimidated by big projects, long hikes, new hobbies, or challenging tasks. While some people live in the “I could never do that” mindset, I’ve always been more of a “why not?” kind of girl.
So, when I see someone stuck in complacency, my natural instinct is to help them move. And now that I’m older, wiser, and officially a therapy graduate (yes, that’s a thing), I’m even less inclined to sit quietly by while someone stays stuck.
That urge to nudge others toward growth? It’s part of how I’m wired—and I think Jesus gets it. In fact, I believe He was speaking directly to people like me (and maybe like you) in Luke 12.
Reading Luke 12 in Context: From Warnings to Action
I grew up in a legalistic, pseudo-fundamental church where we memorized lots of Scripture—often out of context. As a mom of a teenager, I now understand how easily stories or metaphors can be misinterpreted when removed from the conversation they were meant for.
And yet, we often do the same thing to Jesus’ teaching.
You can pull out individual verses and still learn something valuable (because it’s Jesus!), but when you read the whole message in context, the meaning becomes so much richer.
I’ve been sitting with Luke 12 for a few weeks, and here’s the progression I see in Jesus’ teaching:
1. Warning Against Greed (vv. 13–21)
Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool, reminding us how empty it is to store up treasures for ourselves while being poor toward God. He warns us not to trust in possessions—they’re fleeting.
2. Trust Over Worry (vv. 22–31)
Then Jesus shifts the conversation. If we’re not storing up excess, what about our needs? He encourages us not to worry—God sees, God knows, and God provides. The call is to live in radical trust.
Photo by Kid Circus on Unsplash
If you stop there, you'd walk away with a strong message: don’t hoard, don’t worry, and trust God.
But Jesus doesn’t stop there.
The “Now” That Changes Everything (vv. 33–40)
Jesus continues:
“Now, go and sell what you have and give to those in need... Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
He follows this with a vivid call to readiness:
“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning... be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
The word “now” links this section directly to what came before. Jesus has just finished urging His followers to trust God for their needs. And now He tells them to give generously and live alert.
This is the pivot point.
He’s not just saying, “Believe in God.” He’s saying, “Live like you believe.”
This is more than a future promise about Jesus’ return—it’s a present invitation to participate in the kingdom of heaven right now.
A Faith That Moves
The progression Jesus outlines is clear:
Don’t be greedy.
Don’t be anxious.
Trust God completely.
Give freely.
Be ready to act.
I’ve often heard this parable interpreted as a reference to the Second Coming. And yes, there are valid reasons for that reading. But when we read Luke 12 in its full context, it feels just as much about the here and now as it does about the not yet.
Jesus is calling His followers to wake up, pay attention, and respond to the kingdom that’s already breaking in.
Because the kingdom of heaven isn’t only some far-off destination—it’s already here. And it shows up in our everyday moments:
When we choose generosity over self-preservation.
When we respond to need instead of turning away.
When we act in trust instead of fear.
Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash
Don’t Miss the Moment
When we only think of Jesus as coming later, we miss how He’s showing up right now.
We miss His presence in the stranger who needs help, the friend who needs prayer, or the opportunity that needs courage. We miss the action Jesus is calling us to because we’re too busy waiting instead of living.
Jesus invites us to a faith that is not lazy, waiting, or complacent—but one that is awake, ready, and responsive.
This Week’s Invitation
As you reflect on Jesus’ teaching in Luke 12, I pray you’ll see the full picture He’s painting:
A warning against greed.
An invitation to trust.
A reminder to keep your thoughts focused on heaven.
A call to live ready—not later, but now.
The kingdom of heaven is not only coming. It’s already here.
Be ready to act.
Reflect & Respond:
Where am I tempted to cling to earthly security instead of trusting God’s provision?
What does it look like for me to “be ready to act” in my current season of life?
Have I allowed worry or complacency to keep me from stepping into faith-filled action?
How might I be missing the kingdom of heaven at work around me right now?
What is one way I can shift from waiting passively to living expectantly this week?
