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Introduction:
How important
would a question have to be for you to interrupt me while I was
presenting this sermon to ask it? Let me add to that. How
important would a question have to be for you to interrupt Jesus
if He were the one teaching? Let me add to that. How important
would a question have to be for you to interrupt Jesus if He were
teaching on the one difference between folks who go to heaven and
folks who go to hell? I ask this question because that is exactly
what Jesus was teaching about in Luke
12:8-12, when some unnamed man interrupted Jesus to demand
He tell his brother to divide up their inheritance (Luke
12:13). I simply cannot fathom hearing Jesus talk about
the difference between the lost and the saved and thinking my
desire for an inheritance was so great that I should interrupt to
direct Jesus’ attention to this topic instead. However, Jesus
used this interruption to provide profound teaching. He did not
provide a legal ruling for the man or his brother, but He did
provide great teaching that I think is especially appropriate to
us at this time of year when we can so easily get caught up in the
joy of possessions and lose sight of what is really important.
What we want to notice is what Jesus said to the man and his
brother, what Jesus then said to the crowds who were witnessing
this and what He then said to His disciples because of this
discussion. Discussion: I.
What Jesus said to the man and his brother (Luke
12:14). A.
Interestingly, Jesus didn’t say much to the man. He
refused to grant his request. Instead, He asked, “Man, who made
me a judge or arbitrator over you?” (ESV). The “you” is
plural, so Jesus is speaking to both the man and his brother. This
statement is interesting because Jesus is the judge of these two
individuals. However, His judgment is not about petty squabbles.
Jesus had been talking about the dividing line between those going
to heaven and those going to hell in Luke
12:8-12, but this man wanted to turn Jesus’ attention to
some minor issue over property rights. Jesus refused to take this
bait. B.
No doubt, the text doesn’t explain exactly why Jesus took
this approach. However, there are two points I think we can make
with certainty. 1.
Jesus was not interested in making this judgment because it
wouldn’t help with the real issue. Whether He judged in favor of
the man or his brother, He wouldn’t solve the real problem and
probably only exacerbate it. The real problem was not who had the
legal claim on this inheritance. The real problem was
covetousness. If Jesus simply weighed forth on the legal matter,
these brothers would not grow spiritually. Instead, Jesus
addressed the real issue. If the brothers listened, they would be
able to resolve this squabble themselves. 2.
Jesus does not speak to us so we can make someone else do
something. This man was not listening to Jesus to learn how he
should live. He was waiting for Jesus to say something that would
get his brother to do what he wanted. No doubt, we need to teach
others Jesus’ truth. However, we need to listen first for what
Jesus is teaching us. How should we live based on Jesus’ words? II.
What Jesus said to the crowds (Luke
12:15-21). A.
While Jesus essentially ignored this man’s request, He
used it as an opportunity to teach the crowds. He turned to them
and warned them against covetousness and then told a story to
encourage them to wisdom. His overall message was that they
didn’t want to be rich fools. B.
Four lessons we can get from Jesus’ words to the crowds. 1.
Beware
covetousness
(vs.
15): As we said a moment ago, the real problem with these
brothers was not legal claims or inheritance rights. The real
issue was covetousness. Covetousness is the greedy desire to have
more. We need to beware it. In Colossians
3:5, Paul said covetousness is idolatry. Think about it.
This man was so concerned about getting more from his brother, he
interrupted Jesus’ teaching on what would cause him to lose his
soul. He was placing his desire to get more ahead of Jesus, no
wonder it is idolatry. 2.
One’s
life does not consist of possessions
(vs.
15): Sadly, we have a tendency to judge people based on
what they own. Look at the car they drive and the clothes they
wear and we have figured out the person. Jesus says that isn’t
true. Think about it. Jesus was a man who did not even have a
place to lay His head (Luke
9:58), would we judge Him based on His possessions? The
world says our possessions make us. Because of that, we can tend
toward covetousness, making the pursuit of money and material
goods our goal. However, there is no material possession that can
make a life. There is no gift you will receive this week that will
bring you happiness, contentment, serenity or peace. You may
receive your dream gift this Thursday and it may give you some
pleasure for a time. However, in the end, you will find that it is
empty just like every other material possession you have. 3.
Possessions
will not improve or extend your life
(vss.
16-20): Jesus highlighted His point by telling the story
of the rich fool. This fool was so rich he didn’t even know what
to do with all he had. Finally, he made his decision. He would
keep it. It would provide for him for the rest of his life. He
would build bigger barns and live off his own good fortune. But
God let the man know that night how little his wealth would help
him. His bigger barns would not preserve his life. His vast goods
would not extend his days. Sadly, this rich fool was prepared to
live for years to come. He was not, however, prepared to live for
only a few more hours. The money and material goods he trusted to
care for him could not help him. 4.
Be
rich toward God
(vs.
21): Jesus concluded His teaching to the crowd by saying
this is the way they would all be if they laid up treasure for
themselves and were not rich toward God. No doubt, this called to
mind Proverbs
3:9-10 in which the Jews were taught if they were rich
toward God their barns would be full. This rich fool laid up
treasures for himself and God emptied His barns giving the man’s
wealth to another, which in turn calls to mind Ecclesiastes
2:18-19. What vanity it was for this man to work so hard
and produce so much. It would just be left to another and who knew
if that person would be wise or foolish. III.
What Jesus said to His disciples (Luke
12:22-48). A.
Jesus did not stop with His public teaching. He used this
circumstance to also teach His disciples. With the crowds, He
merely warned against covetousness. With the disciples He provided
practical tools to help them avoid covetousness and be rich toward
God. B.
Four lessons we get from Jesus’ words to the disciples. 1.
Don’t
be anxious, trust God
(vss.
22-28): It is one thing to simply say don’t covet. It is
another to get at the heart of what produces coveting. Coveting
stems from thinking we have to have stuff to survive and be happy.
We become anxious and worried if we don’t have enough stuff or
if we don’t have enough stuff to last. Jesus says instead of
being anxious about whether we have enough stuff to last, we need
to trust God. The God who gave us life can provide us food. The
God who created our bodies can provide us clothing. The God who
created the world with plants, animals and their circle of
survival can take care of us. No doubt, He may not provide us with
so much that we need to build bigger barns, but He can provide for
us. The real issue is we need to learn to be content with His
provision. I
Timothy 6:8 says we should be content with food and
clothing. Everything else is gravy. As Proverbs
3:5-6 says, we should trust in Him with all our hearts. We
need to ask ourselves, do we really trust God that He can take
care of us or do we think He needs all our plans and schemes for
making money? 2.
Seek
God’s kingdom
(vss.
29-32): When we trust God to take care of us, we are set
free to seek His kingdom, that is, His rule in our lives. Most
definitely, this will include a work ethic of providing for our
families (cf. I
Timothy 5:8). However, we must not allow a desire for
stuff to exalt our work ethic to be the only part of seeking the
kingdom. If we seek God’s kingdom, He will provide the rest; He
will provide our food and clothing. Sadly, if we seek, as the
Gentiles do, for food and clothing, He will not provide the
kingdom. However, if we seek His kingdom, He wants to give it to
us. We need to ask ourselves why we are doing what we are doing
today. Is it to seek God’s rule in our lives or to provide for
ourselves because we don’t trust God to provide for us? No doubt
this would call Haggai
1:1-11 to the Jewish mind. At that time the Jews were so
intent in seeking their own personal needs and welfare, yet
because they neglected the kingdom of God, God made their efforts
vain. If they had merely set aside the pursuit of their own needs
and instead sought God’s glory, He would have cared for them. 3.
Sell
your possessions and give to the needy
(vss.
33-34): Jesus told the crowds to be rich toward God. He
tells His disciples the practical way to do that. Certainly, as we
said earlier this called to mind Proverbs
3:9-10. No doubt, when there is a need the congregation is
authorized to fill and is filling, this will include giving into
the collection of the congregation (cf. I
Corinthians 16:1-4). However, it also just includes our
own personal generosity. I
Timothy 6:18-19 points out the rich in this world’s
goods should be rich in good deeds, ready to share, generous. Hebrews
13:16 says God is pleased with such sacrifices. Certainly,
Jesus is not declaring that every Christian must sell everything
he owns and give it away. Otherwise we would all become the needy
and we wouldn’t be accepting the blessings God gives us to care
for our needs. Having said that, however, I fear we press that
point so much that we do not fulfill Jesus’ point. I know I
don’t do it well enough. This point is at the heart of II
Corinthians 9:6-11. When we give to those in need, God
will provide for us. God does not provide for us merely to horde
to ourselves. He blesses us to be a blessing to others. When we
merely sock away our retirement fund, we must not expect the real
blessings of God. God helps those who help others. 4.
Stay
alert in the Lord’s work
(vss.
35-48): Finally, in a section that at first glance seems
to be about something new, we find Jesus’ exhortation to not
only seek first the kingdom but to stay alert in that endeavor. It
is not enough to have sought the kingdom at one time. We must stay
awake and alert, awaiting the coming of our Master. As long as it
is called today, we must seek the kingdom of God. In the midst of
Jesus’ parables about staying alert and being ready, notice the
promise Jesus gives. “Who
then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set
over his household, to give them their portion of food at the
proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so
doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over
all his possessions” (Luke
12:42-44, ESV). Jesus has already told us our lives are
not made up of our possessions. He then told us that instead of
hording our possessions we should sell them to help the needy. Now
He tells us when we are vigilant in this, He will give us true
possessions. I don’t fully know what is being promised here.
However, I must admit that our Master’s possessions in heaven
are surely greater than any possession we might discover here on
earth. Let us be alert in God’s service and gain the true,
eternal and great possessions God is offering us instead of
settling for the temporal and decaying possession the world is
offering us (cf. Matthew
6:19-20). Conclusion: It is better to be a wise servant than a rich fool. Granted that doesn’t mean we have to be poverty stricken to be God’s servant. However, we should rather be poor, content with what God provides as we seek His kingdom than be rich, foolish and headed for damnation. I know what concerns me for me. Unlike the great majority of the world, I own multiple sets of clothes, two cars, three computers, a home, cell phones, etc. I have never gone hungry a day in my life. I have never been exposed a day in my life. The truth of the matter is that I can’t help but see that I am rich. The question is am I going to be a fool or am I going to serve God by sharing my blessings with others, trusting Him to care for me? What about you?
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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