The Sword of Damocles is a Greek allegory that tells the story of a king that was steeped in extravagant wealth. Flattering him, a servant named Damocles noted that the king was very fortunate to wield unequaled power, possess unrivaled authority and be surrounded by unparalleled beauty. The king asked the servant if he would like to trade places for a day and the servant accepted the offer without hesitation. To communicate the peril that constantly looms over being in a position of privilege, the king had a sword suspended over the throne, secured by a single hair of a horse’s tail. By day’s end Damocles begged to return to his previous position.
There are several moral lessons that could be drawn from the legend, but there is a direct application to the Christian. You are the one in a position of privilege. In contrast to the unbelieving world, you have been granted great freedom (from the power of sin) and you possess something of inestimable value (the indwelling of the Holy Spirit).
In light of that, there are two things to consider. First, Jesus told His disciples that with great power comes great responsibility. (No, it was not original to Uncle Ben from Spider-Man.) This was the conclusion of the parable in which Jesus told His disciples to “stay dressed for action” and to “keep your lamps burning” (Lk. 12:35-48). In His interpretation of the parable for His disciples, Jesus said, “And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”
You are the servant that knows the Master’s will, therefore the Christian life must be lived with a sense of urgency. There are many benefits to busyness and routine, but neither should displace a readiness for action. 2 Timothy 4:2 instructs you to be ready “in season and out of season” to preach the word and to “reprove, rebuke and exhort with complete patience and teaching.” If your life is so busy or your routine so rigid that you are incapable (or unwilling) of engaging with others in this way, then you need to reevaluate your priorities.
Second, none of us knows how much time God has granted us in this life. Busyness and routines can make you feel like everything will continue tomorrow just as it is today. After Jesus’ Be Ready parable above, the disciples questioned Jesus about the Tower of Siloam. In an unexpected tragedy in which 18 people were killed by a building that fell, the disciples asked Jesus why it happened. Specifically, they wanted to know whose fault it was. He told them that it was not a matter of “fault.” In God’s providence these things sometimes happen without a direct correlation to blame. Jesus redirected their attention to the more urgent matter of repentance. “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Lk. 13:5). This was a shocking reminder of the uncertainty of life and of what is most important in the time you’re given.
Nearly 2,000 years ago Mount Vesuvius erupted killing over 1,000 people in about 15 minutes. A few weeks ago a family that volunteered at a Christian youth camp in New Mexico were sitting in their house when a flood, racing down the mountain, unexpectedly burst through the walls, killing all three. Next week you would not be surprised to learn of another unanticipated tragedy that took the lives of people whose busyness and routine went undone.
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (Jas. 4:13–14)
You need not live in fear like Damocles under the sword, but you should live with a readiness and a willingness to break into your normal life to do what you know would honor God most. Be ready and willing to act according to his will. And don’t put it off to tomorrow. You do not know what that day will bring. Here is the astonishing promise that Christ made for the one that does:
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! (Lk. 12:37–38).