JUST JESUS: CHAPTER BY CHAPTER THRU LUKE
Rich Towards God
LUKE 12:13-31
#justJesus
INTRODUCTION 1… Urban Legends of Theology (Wittmer) Quote, page 138
Kristian and I get together for lunch each week and we use a book to discuss. The current book we are reading is called “Urban Legends of Theology: 40 Common Misconceptions by Michael Wittmer (2023). In the chapter we read this past week (number 23) he says this:
“Most people seem to manage the stress and demands of life most of the time. They may not enjoy their work, families, or what’s for dinner, but the more or less muddle through. As long as their teams are competitive and win a championship once in their lifetime (I’m looking at you Cleveland), they find enough joy to keep going. Life is not great, but it’s okay. They don’t have time for church. Their weekends are already full of travel, sports, binge watching television, and checking updates on their phone. They are comfortable as they coast into hell.”
That paragraph stuck out to me probably because I was reading over and praying through Luke 12 and in the middle of chapter 12 Jesus says some letters in red that related to what I read in our book earlier in the week. Dr Wittmer says that the stuff of life and the material wealth that we have makes us comfortable and satisfied and sometimes complacent. At least, that is how I read it. The stuff around us at times gets in the way of what really matters. Jesus says that in Luke 12. As we read Luke 12, keep one question in mind:
QUESTION: What do you desire?
READ LUKE 12:13-21 (ESV)
13 Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
22 And He said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
QUESTION: What do you desire?
DESIRE
If you took a child, even a very young child, into the mythical place that used to exist called Toys R Us or even to the toy aisle of a department store, you will not have to teach the child what to do. It is human nature that a child feels there is no higher calling than desire. What does that tell us? It is as if self or greed or the desire for ‘stuff’ comes naturally. The want for more or better or bigger or more sophisticated comes naturally. Our society has become a vast supermarket where we are trained in desire and we can see that in the many commercials and ads we see regularly. We live in a world of manufactured need. Advertising creates, molds, and kindles desire. Not knowing what there is that's worth wanting, we become pliable victims of advertising's training in want of everything or anything that sounds good.
ILLUSTRATION… Woolworth’s Place in Retail
The founders of Woolworth’s Five and Dime had a bright idea to put merchandise out on tables for everyone to see. Before that innovation, people entered a store and told a clerk what they wanted. The clerk would go and obtain for them the merchandise from the storage area. Frank W Woolworth was the first to lay the merchandise out to be seen, and touched, and the rest is history. His invention was perfect for a people who now no longer know how even to name what we want. Show us everything and we shall invent a desire for it all.
Desire seems to be contagious. I want something because someone else wants it. We want what others have in order to have their approval. Yet such desire, rather than linking us to others, puts us in conflict. Whatever our neighbor has that we don't have diminishes us. Needing what our neighbor has in order to be somebody, we feel caught in an endless treadmill of acquisition which can never be satisfied. We must have the "latest new and improved model" but, scarcely before we get it home, "the latest" is already dated and we are diminished.
“Desire” is spoken about over 150x in the Old Testament and New Testament:
READ Psalm 37:4 (ESV)
Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
READ Proverbs 23:4 (ESV)
Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.
READ Mark 4:18-19 (ESV)
And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
READ Galatians 5:17 (ESV)
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
READ 1 Timothy 6:9 (ESV)
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
READ James 1:14 (ESV)
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
TRANSITION
The Bible talks much about desire, proper desire, where our desires lead and much about material wealth and how what we have interacts with God’s desires and will for us. As I began to think and pray about this, I ended up with some objections, which to be honest, I always have when I think and pray about faith and money or faith and material possessions. I need to mention them in case you have the same objections.
THE OBJECTIONS
To voice my objections (and maybe yours), let’s look back over some of the Luke passage:
Jesus first interacts with a man in verse 13 who is arguing over inheritance with his brother. It seems as though his brother is being stingy and unfair with him. The man complains to Jesus and wants Him to make a judgement about the issue. The man is having issues with money, but he just wants what is fair. He is not asking for more than his share, but asking for what he deserves. My objection is… why can’t the man ask for what is fair? Why is that a big deal? When it comes to money and material things, why can’t we want or ask for what is rightfully and should come to us fair and square?
Clearly there is something else going on because Jesus tells a parable and my second objection happens in the parable. Notice the first six words of His parable: “The land of a rich man.” That word in verse 16 translated “rich” is a word that means “abundance of external possessions” and “abundantly supplied.” The word “rich” in the Bible means what you think it means. I guess my objection comes because I do not think I am rich. My idea of rich is a good amount of dollars in the bank that produces interest to freely spend or more vehicles than I need or not needing coupons or not having to have a job. Those are my ideas of rich or wealth. None of that applies to me. None of that applies to most people… some… but not most. So when it comes to passages that mention the word “rich”… I object because I do not think I am rich… so I tune out the Word of God as not applying to me. Why do I need to listen to this if I am not rich? Why do I need to guard myself against wealth when I don’t have it?
Clearly there is something else going on because Jesus does not stop there, but keeps on teaching about money and wealth and introduces the idea of worrying about such things. Do you know who says “money isn’t everything” or “don’t worry about money”? People. Who. Have. Money. And Jesus. I read the verses that Jesus teaches in verses 22-30 and I think about years when I worked two jobs and still couldn’t pay my bills. Not having money produces worry because clothes and food and housing and electricity and health are essentials to live. Not having money produces anxiety because when you don’t have them it produces worry. You know who doesn’t worry about clothes and food and housing and electricity and health and essentials for life? People with money. Why is Jesus telling us not to worry about money when that is one of the basic normal understood expected worries in life?
It could be that I was just having a disagreeable week because even as I read more in verses 22-30 I wondered what ravens or lilies or the richest king in the Old Testament or grass has to do with little ‘ol me?
TRANSITION
One of the basic Truths about the Christian life is that we hold that the Kingdom of God is the #1 priority in our lives. We seek God first. We learn from Jesus first. We listen to the Spirit first. We trust the Bible first. Everything else, including our rational objections sits in the back seat of our lives because God and His Word and His Kingdom comes first. That is how we must approach questions and objections and doubts when it comes to our relationship with God and His way of life. That includes subjects like desire and money. So, what is the truth?
Keep in mind the question:
QUESTION: What do you desire?
THE TRUTH
The point of Jesus’ parable is plain to us because He tells us why He’s sharing the parable in verse 15. The Truth is there. He’s responding to the man embroiled in an argument with his brother right in front of Him. He wants Jesus to solve his problem over the inheritance, but Jesus refuses. He takes the opportunity to teach a parable and then doubles-down and teaches more about money and material possessions. What is the Truth?
RE-READ LUKE 12:15 (ESV)
“And He said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
The parable that Jesus teaches in this passage focuses on a certain farmer. This farmer has done very well for himself. Notice that he's done nothing illegal or wrong. This is no slum lord or drug dealer. He doesn't cheat his farmhands or mistreat them in any way. This is the American Dream (if we know what that is anymore) come true and he's hit the big time. He’s got the house with the white picket fence, 2.4 kids, a dog, and his crops coming in are more than ever before! Wohoo! He’s rich! He's a hard worker and an upstanding citizen. This is lawful profit. He made it fair and square. Through a combination of skill and luck and hard work, his investment and labor have paid off.
What was his conclusion in the matter? He decided that the best course of action was to tear down what he had and build bigger and better barns. He’s licked the storage problem and looks forward to years of enjoying his wealth. It’s the easy life. I do however, see a problem with this fellow. I noticed it as I was reading what he was saying to himself about his wealth and what he would do with it. Let’s re-read a few verses.
RE-READ LUKE 12:17-19 (ESV)
And he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’
What do you notice? He seems awfully self-centered, don’t you think? He’s going to make his life merry and really thinks of no one else. He thinks nothing of God who sent the sun and rain for his crops. He doesn’t think of others who live around him in his community who may need some help. He thinks only of himself. He. Himself. I. My. My. My. I. I. I.
QUESTION: What do you desire?
The truth is that selfish desire comes naturally to us because of our sinful nature. It doesn’t matter how much or how little we have. It doesn’t matter how many cars we have or if we walk everywhere we go. It doesn’t matter if we can pay our bills with extra left over or we skip some bills to pay others. The Truth is sinful desire can come to anyone.
The man standing in front of Jesus allowed his desires to cause a rift between he and his brother. Arguing over money destroys families. Yes, he was getting a raw terrible deal from his brother, but the Truth is the man was also sinning by prioritizing the money and wealth over his family.
The parable focuses on a rich man who allowed his possessions and wealth to cloud over everything of God. That is simply true. Our ideas of rich may be different, but when money or jobs or pursuit of gadgets or time spent earning money covers over anything of God… we have a problem. The Truth is the man let his sinful desires for wealth push God out of his life.
The further teaching of Jesus about wealth and money and clothing and the material things of life is not necessarily focused on wealthy, but those who wonder how they will pay bills or how they will get clothes or food. Not having money creates worry. The truth is no matter how much money we have or how little we have… it is a problem. Not money, mind you, but the desire is the problem. The Truth from Jesus Christ the Son of God is that money and possessions create in us sinful desires that must be checked and re-checked.
What is the Truth from this passage?
* Truth is sinful desire can come to anyone.
* Truth is anyone can prioritize money and wealth over family.
* Truth is anyone can let sinful desires for wealth push God out of our life.
* Truth is our desire for money should be checked and re-checked.
TRANSITION
How do we apply this? How do we apply these truths we see?
THE APPLICATION
We apply these truths by keeping in mind the basic question I have asked over and over this morning: QUESTION: What do you desire? and we add to that the last thing Jesus says in this passage in verse 31.
RE-READ LUKE 12:31 (ESV)
31 Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
The application of this chapter is a heart issue. It is an attitude issue. Our mind and thoughts on money and wealth and investing and saving and material goods can be an issue for us as we pursue God.
* What I don’t want for me or for you is the sentiment that Dr. Michael Wittmer mentioned in his chapter that I shared with you earlier: “They are comfortable as they coast into hell.”
* What I don’t want for me or for you is for us to prioritize money and wealth over family.
* What I don’t want for me or for you is to let sinful desires for wealth push God out of our lives.
* What I want for me and for you is to checked and re-check our attitudes with money.
CONTENT… bible.org/seriespage/lesson-59-how-be-really-rich-luke-1213-21 [adapted]
Here are five questions we can use to check and re-check our attitudes:
#1 Do my thoughts run more after material things or God? If we are often thinking about a new car or a nicer phone or that better gadget and we seldom think about how we can better our relationship with God, we may need to re-prioritize. Shifting God as a secondary priority to money will always bring us issues.
#2 Do I compromise in order to pursue material gain? If we cheat or lie or steal to get ahead financially or break school rules or shred relationships to take advantage of another person for financial gain, then we need to re-prioritize. Compromising morals to gain money or material possessions is sinful.
#3 Do my material possessions bring me too much joy? We live in this world and are allowed to have material possessions, but if we base our happiness or self-worth on what we own, then we need to re-prioritize. We worship what we celebrate and what we celebrate makes us happy. What makes you happy?
#4 How do we respond when we lose money or a possession? If we are devastated when our phone breaks or we are legitimately angry that can’t have all the streaming apps for entertainment or we are overly sad when clothing gets ruined in the wash, we may need to re-prioritize. Accidents and damages happen and if it wrecks our life then perhaps we are holding our stuff too high.
These four small attitudes will do as we begin to think about how to apply the Truth of what Jesus shares with us in Luke 12 and as we apply verse 31. Seeking His Kingdom should be first for us. Jesus should be our focus. Our relationship with God should be our focus.
Life in Christ is not only about forgiveness of sins, but also pursuing God in the power of the Holy Spirit. We should seek to be clothed with Christ. We should want to be identified with the very nature and mind of the Lord Jesus Himself.
Jesus lived a human life that included problems and issues and joy and sadness and disappointments, rejection, hatred, and contempt, friendships and family… but He lived taking every thought captive to His Father. He let every motive be God’s. Every difficulty he faced was immediately given to His Father in prayer through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
I happen to think sometimes having Jesus as our standard sets us up for automatic failure because He was perfect, nevertheless, He is still the standard.
How about we shoot for depending on God most of the time?
How about we pursue Jesus most days?
How about we seek first His Kingdom as often as we can?
I am not trying to back off of the standard for us and give us wiggle room to sin, but I also want to acknowledge that desire and the sinful nature is powerful in us. We won’t be perfect even as Jesus was perfect. Let that still be our goal and our standard. May Jesus still be our goal and our standard. Let us commit ourselves to Christ, ask forgiveness when we fail, and keep on persevering in the faith we claim to have.
May we look to Jesus and seek our Savior with all of our heart and soul and mind and strength and seek His Kingdom first. Then we can let God let the pieces fall where He wills them.
What is the application from this passage?
* Truth is sinful desire can come to anyone. Let us prioritize our relationship with God.
* Truth is anyone can prioritize money and wealth over family. Let us diligently pray on that.
* Truth is anyone can let sinful desires for wealth push God out of our life. Let us refuse.
* Truth is our desire for money should be checked and re-checked. Let us examine often.
PRAYER
INVITATION
