MPC, 17th December 2000.Luke 12:13-34 - Priority One
Maurie Cropper MPC, 17th December 2000.
A year after his father died, Richard Nelson can finally talk about what he calls "the war of the glockenspiel". Richard and his brother Larry have been fighting for months over the musical instrument their dad played in the town band.
They argued about it every time they saw each other.
Richard said this. He said, "We'd were both so mad that we'd always end up yelling and screaming at each other. Sometimes we even came to blows."
It took their aging mum to broker a deal. Richard got the glockenspiel: Larry got visitation rights, plus his father's record collection.
Fights over inheritances rip plenty of families apart. And the fights that involve high-profile movie stars or business tycoons usually end up as headlines in magazines like the Women's Weekly or New Idea. And there's nothing new about it... as you can see from our passage.
There's a crowd listening to Jesus. And someone in the crowd asks Jesus to arbitrate between he and his brother ...by telling the brother to SHARE THE INHERITANCE that's come their way! Same story.
But Jesus won't have any part of it ... scolds the man who asked him to make a judgement ... and knowing exactly what's behind the man's question ... turns to the crowd and tells them to be aware that GREED comes in many forms ... and that even though it might sound FAIR, that GREED is even behind this request for a share of the inheritance.
Pick it up at v. 13
Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
And this isn't simply about GREED.
What Jesus does, is to use a this man's greed as a window; a window to help us see that there's more to life than the abundance of our possessions. In fact OUR POSSESSIONS CAN GET IN THE ROAD OF US SEEING SOMETHING GREATER THAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR US ... AND THAT IS LIFE ITSELF. A LIFE IN GOD THAT LEADS US TO BE WITH HIM AS OUR KING FOR ETERNITY.
And when you start to see that as the main thing, when that's your focus... Jesus says it brings benefits FAR GREATER than any inheritance. That's here today and gone tomorrow. And we spend so much of our time chasing the stuff that isn't going to last.
Let's have a closer look at what Jesus has got to say, and how he goes about it.
With this window of 'greed' opened to the crowd, Jesus goes on to tell a story; a parable; that highlights what life should consist of. What it is that's worth CHASING.
He starts by telling them about a rich man who produces such a good crop, that he's got nowhere to store it. Out of space. This is the harvest of a lifetime. The sort of year farmers hang out for. And his barn is way too small.
So he decides to tear down the old one, and build bigger and better barns.
This guy is a typical bloke isn't he. Down at the shed, does all the thinking alone, even talks to himself, ...at least he's not going to get into an argument! Look what he says to himself in verse 19 "I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."
Here he is ...all pleased with himself. Focusing on his cleverness to come up with such a great idea, ...focusing on his possessions, ... planning his semi-retirement.
HE MUST HAVE GOT THE SHOCK OF HIS LIFE WHEN THIS VOICE COMES FROM HEAVEN ...with God saying: pick it up at v.20. "You fool!"
...where did that come from?? ...you could imagine him saying.
"You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you! Then WHO WILL GET what you prepared for yourself."
What's the good of it all? The harvest of a lifetime. When that night he's going to be DEAD.
Storing up stuff around you that has no eternal value, that has no consequences for a time beyond when this life is over, ...means in the end you have nothing!! The siren has sounded; the games over; and there's nothing left. Changes all your plans, doesn't it?
This is how it is. And this is what Jesus says. He says, this is how it will be with ANYONE who stores up things for himself BUT IS NOT RICH TOWARD GOD!"
Leave God out of the equation.
Leave God out of your thinking.
Leave God out of your life...
....and you have nothing of eternal significance, and you'll end up with nothing!
You see! Jesus is not so much concerned about inheritances or being clever or even good at what you do in life that results in you be able to accumulate possessions in abundance. Jesus is concerned with what you and I are focusing on. He is concerned with what is driving and motivating us, and that what we're ultimately seeking after ...has eternal rewards.
This is what Jesus is getting at when he directs his conversation towards his disciples. If anyone has got to get it right; if anyone is to take in what Jesus has to say, it ought to be his best mates. Those who are going to be left behind when his earthly ministry is over. Those who will carry it on. And that also means us.
As well as the disciples we ought to be getting it right!
It's not that our skills and abilities are of no interest to God. He is interested in them, in fact they are God given. It's just that we need to be using them to promote the Kingdom of God. We need to be asking ourselves: How do I put what God has given me to further the Kingdom of God? If my primary focus is to GROW AS A FOLLOWER OF JESUS, and see OTHER PEOPLE growing as followers of Jesus... how do I make use of what God has given me to help make that happen??
How does my trade or profession as a ...plumber, electrician, doctor, engineer, bus driver, nurse, check-out operator, salesperson, lawyer, accountant, etc. ...help or hinder me from seeking and growing God's kingdom?
I used to ask the question when I worked as a horticulturalist. How did my GARDENING skills give me the opportunity to expand God's kingdom? There were PLENTY OF WAYS. Although in the end the tax department told me we were broke, because I figured I couldn't charge people for spending more time gossiping the gospel with them than I was doing their garden!
Of course not everyone has the opportunity to be self-employed; you might not be in control of your own time. Even so, do you look for the sort of job that's going to actually provide you with opportunities to interact with people at a gospel needs level?
OR, at the very least, in your employment, do you look for ways to create opportunities to talk about your walk with Jesus, or the other person's need of Jesus? You know, in the lunch-room, or over a cuppa, or by inviting a friend out to lunch, or home to meet your family over a meal, ...or to a picnic, ...or to the beach?
You see, our lives aren't to be driven by worrying about whether we have clothes to wear, or even food to eat.
That's the point Jesus is making to his disciples. If God looks after the birds and the bushes, then he's certainly not going to neglect you and me.
Pick it up at v. 22.
" ...Jesus sad to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes."
.....but before he gets to the point of saying what life is all about, Jesus spends some time reassuring his mates that God will take care of the fundamentals of their needs.
Jesus goes on to say: v.24 "...consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn [like the rich fool] yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!"
...now I reckon his next comment is a wake-up call for us all!
v.25 "WHO OF YOU BY WORRYING can add a single hour to his life?? SINCE you cannot do this VERY LITTLE THING, WHY DO YOU WORRY ABOUT THE REST?
[Because you won't add on any more hours to your life!!!!]
And as usual, to give time for the information to sink in to their worrying heads, Jesus gives another illustration of how God will look after them.
v.27 "Consider how the lillies grow. They don't labor or spin [a reference to making clothes] Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow thrown into the fire how much more will he clothe you, O YOU OF LITTLE FAITH" [a gentle rebuke that we all need to pick up on].
....and continuing on, Jesus says: v.29 "...do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!!
....the pagan world runs after all such things, ...and your Father knows that you need them."
So instead of worrying about what God knows we need, Jesus says to focus on something far more important.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD!!
v. 31 "...seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well."
How much more simply could Jesus put it?
YOU FOCUS ON SEEKING AFTER THE KINGDOM AND THE THINGS THAT BELONG TO IT, ...AND GOD WILL LOOK AFTER YOUR NEEDS.
All these things, possessions, clothing, food, ...that you have always thought needed so much of your attention, will be given to you when you seek after the kingdom.
But you might be sitting here thinking: Hang on, that's a scary thought. I mean, trusting that God will meet my needs as I focus on kingdom building. If that sends shivers up your spine, you're in good compnay.
Just the thought of it seemed to have made the disciples fearful. You can see that from verse 32. Jesus has to say, "DON'T BE AFRAID, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom."
You see, even the kingdom has been provided for us. Our role is to invite others to come and be part of it with us!
Our security should never be in our own abilities to make things happen. Our security needs to be in God's provision of all things. Most importantly, His provision of a secure place, His kingdom. The one thing that will never wear out. A treasure that will have no end. A place that can never be removed. A place that can never be destroyed.
Jesus says that this treasure can be ours to seek after, if our heart is in it.
v.34 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
The reverse is also true. For example, if you treasure material things, that will be where your heart is.
Jesus wanted his disciples, ...he wants us to seek after the treasure that is the kingdom of God.
If that is true for you and me, ...if that is what we are primarily focusing on, ...then handing out invitations to God's kingdom IS sharing in the treasure that only the kingdom can provide.
In the scheme of eternity, are you willing to give up what are actually small ambitions, so that other people can dwell in God's kingdom for ever. Are you willing to change jobs if the company or the boss put demands or expectations on you that require you to give up leading a Growthgroup; or playing an active being part in your church family?
Are you willing to work part-time, maybe you and your spouse if you are married, so as to be about the kingdom business of your Heavenly Father?
Are you willing to consider a change in your lifestyle that allows you more time with family, friends and neighbours, in order to have opportunities for building friendships - in order to be available to give invitations to be part of the kingdom that will never end?
Helen and I have a friend who believed she could best support God's kingdom, in a church-planting work, ...by her ability to generate a very good income. Part of her decision involved living simply, even moving to shared-accommodation, and in doing so was able to contribute approximately 80% of her income for about 4 years. Now that's a challenge!
Or are you willing to make a change of direction, and plan towards full-time ministry of one form or another?
Now I acknowledge ideas like that ARE VERY SCARY.
But I also know from experience, and a confidence in God, that none of them are impossible.
Can I finish by saying, whatever you are presently doing, or wherever your thinking is now focused, if it's not on SEEKING THE TREASURE THAT IS GOD'S KINGDOM, ..WILL YOU HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART?
FOR IT IS THE ONLY INHERITANCE THAT WILL LAST FOR ETERNITY.
AN INHERITANCE THAT WE CAN ALL SHARE ...WITH OTHERS.