Kronos Over Kairos: A Taxing Time For Innkeepers

The innkeeper does not even get a direct mention in Scripture. We just have a few short words at the end of Luke 2:7 to make us aware of his or her presence: "because there was no room for them in the inn."

At the end of the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), we read that the Samaritan paid the innkeeper and promised to return with more money for expenses incurred during his absence (v. 35). So, although the Luke 2 passage does not tell us specifically about the innkeeper who turned away Mary and Joseph, we can guess that the innkeeper was charging his or her guests for the privilege of staying in the inn.

What the Luke 2 passage does tell us is that there was "no room": in today's society, there would have been a sign posted. When we see that sign, we don't even bother going in to the hotel; "No Vacancy" means "there are no rooms available at all. We are booked solid." What a shame for the innkeeper, who perhaps would have found an available room if it was known that the promised Messiah was in the neighborhood. Or, as was said in the sermon, maybe the innkeeper would have even given up his or her own room. But no, to the innkeeper it was just another ordinary Jewish couple looking for a place to stay...

But, lest we get too upset at the innkeeper, let's look at ourselves. Sometimes we have time for people who look like kings, but not so much time for people who look like paupers. Sometimes God wants to send us a message through a toddler, but we can't stoop down to listen because we're too wrapped up in trying to schmooze with the senior pastor, or we're too busy combing through the congregation for new clients to support our small business. And in the midst of feeding our personal agendas, we miss the kairos moment of God.

Chronological time is nothing in the face of our eternal God. When He opens the opportune time, will you be looking full into His face? Or will you be scribbling notes about how contemporary worship ran for seventeen minutes instead of fifteen? Or will you be out in the foyer talking with your friends? When you come to church, are you really looking to encounter God, or is it just another club?

What time is it, Bronx Bethany? It's time to stop looking at your watch. Kairos time is here.