A family dispute brought before Jesus.
In Luke 12:13 (NIV) Jesus is teaching when someone in the crowd yells out, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." Talk about putting Jesus in a difficult position! The Old Testament law stated that the firstborn was entitled to a double portion of the inheritance. This is found in Deuteronomy 21:17. For whatever reason, this brother felt cheated out of his father’s inheritance. He wanted his share of the estate! He wanted justice! He wanted Jesus to be Judge Judy. "Tell my brother to give me my portion!"
I have done a lot of funerals through the years. It is customary for a minister to arrive at the funeral home before the visitation in order to pray with the whole family. But unfortunately, a common scenario is arriving at a funeral home, only to find families completely torn apart. They are not torn apart withgrief over the loss of their loved one, but with greed over how the deceased's estate will be divided.
Just imagine. Family members bickering with one another during the visitation as guests pass through. Family members walking out before funeral services or visitations, angry because they didn’t get this dresser, that rocker, or a certain sum of money. Sometimes I provide counseling and encouragement to funeral directors who after several days, get fed up with all the family antics and quarrelling and in-fighting. Isn’t it amazing how warped our perspective can become?
This brother was bringing a family dispute before Jesus. Who knows how long this man and his brother had been at odds? Days, weeks, or decades? Have you ever noticed how such disputes can consume a person’s energy and come to definehis entire existence?
But Jesus wants no part in their dispute. In Luke 12:14 (NIV) Jesus says, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" If only we could be as wise as Jesus and not meddle in people’s affairs! But right when it seems Jesus is about to pass off the hot potato, he strikes right at the heart of the real issue. Luke 12:15 (NIV) says, "Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
The heart of the matter is greed.
This conflict had defined these brothers' lives and their relationship with one another. They were defining their lives in terms of what they didn’t have, or in terms of what they might lose. But the real issue was not whowas to get what or how much. The real issue was that both of them were missing out on the life that is truly life. They were being consumed by greed. They were not seeing the abundant life they could gain in Jesus Christ.
Far be it for any of us to judge these brothers. Too often, we define our lives by what we lack. We think aboutour scarcity or need or what we might lose. But on this occasion Jesus is inviting these brothers, and us, to live out of the abundance of his kingdom and our relationship with him. Jesus invites us to change our perspective. Jesus’ main point is that life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions. There is incomparably great treasure in heaven, beyond this life, that cannot be exhausted. And do we believe that? Do we believe that life is greater than our possessions? Do we believe that the treasures in this world are nothing compared to treasure in heaven?
Do we believe that this world's treasures are nothing compared to treasure in heaven?
In Luke 12:16-21 (NIV) Jesus tells a story about a wildly successful businessman."And he told them this parable: 'The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'Then he said, 'This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.' And I’ll say to myself, 'You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drinkand be merry.' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.'"
The rich man wasn’t criticized for having a good year, or for storing up grain for future needs. We would all do well to save for the future, lest we become a burden to others ornot have anything to offer those in need. What’s wrong is the rich man’s perspective. The barns he tore down were sufficient to meet his needs. That is why he built them in the first place. But what about the new barns? The new barns were a spectacle; a symbol showcasing his greed. They marked the height of his pride and selfishness and eventual downfall.
Instead of continuing to work and serve, his goal was to retire, to take life easy, to kick back by eating, drinking, and being merry. He was rich! But not rich toward the needs of his fellow man and certainly not rich toward God. He refused to let go of his wealth and possessions. He refused to offer them in service to God or man. He refused to see his own abundance. Because of his selfishness and greed, he could only see scarcity. He could only see what he lacked.
When God announces the end of his life, all is lost. Ironically, his grain and possessions are divided up and distributed to those who have needs. But even worse, he is poor toward God. What a tragedy to be rich in this life but destitute for eternity.
In Luke 16:9 (NIV) Jesus describes the proper use for wealth. "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings."
The purpose of God's blessing on us.
We are blessed to be a blessing to others. We are blessed to be a conduit through which God pours out his love and compassion for others. God doesn’t bless us so that we will go build bigger barns and get all puffed full of pride.
I have been thinking of all the ways I am like the rich man, hoarding wealth. Like the rich man, I catch myself living out of my scarcity instead of my abundance. I think I need that better car, that bigger television set, a more powerful computer, a larger house, a greener lawn, newer clothes, the latest power tool, and finer food. At what point should we come before God and repent of our greed and selfishness? Do we acknowledge the countless ways that, like the rich man, we make ourselves poor toward God?
When God announces the end of your life and my life, what will he say toward us? Do we even want to think about that day? Life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions. It does not consist in the size of our barns. Life consists of serving God.
Okay, here I am halfway through this message and in your outline I’m on point one. We have seventeen more points to go. What are you doing for the rest of the day? If you look at our outline, I hope you consider the pain that we cause ourselves, our fellow man, and God, when we define our lives by our scarcity. When we think about what we lack.
We need to trust God's abundance.
For example, instead of trusting God, we get all worried and anxious. We bite our nails. In Luke 12:22-34 (NIV), Jesus says 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. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 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?"
"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well."
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Do you really trust God with your money and possessions?
Do you trust God enough to liquidate your possessions and give to the poor? Every single one of us wants to shout "Yes, of course!" A few years ago I had three lawnmowers. I gave one away and now I just have two lawnmowers. But I need them both in case one breaks down. I have a big yard and mowers wear out fast. What if one breaks down? Besides, one mows grass well, but one mulches leaves better. One cuts really fast, which is nice when I am in a hurry. But one cuts slower, which is nice on those blistering hot summer days. I’m not giving up that lawnmower. I can blame Lara. She won’t let me. We just paid it off.
How manytelevision sets does a household need? Bathrooms? Towels? Washcloths? Plates? Cups? Couches? Pairs of jeans? Pairs of shoes? Purses? T-shirts? Vehicles? Tools? Knick knacks? Radios? Computers? Cans of food? Boxes of cereal? Bags of frozen vegetables? Packages of meat? How much food do you throw out?
Isn’t it hard to liquidate valued possessions and give to the poor? "Here God, take my junk. Give me a tax write-off. Isn’t that enough, God?" Jesus says, "Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." God have mercy on me, a sinner. God have mercy on all of us. Purses that will not wear out. Treasure in heaven. A heart set on the abundance that God gives.God's abundance transcends the riches that we desperately cling to in this life.
Are you finding life in God or in things?
Are you rich toward God? Are you living out of the abundance of God’s kingdom and your relationship with Jesus Christ? Are you finding life in God or in things?
I’m not trying to give you a guilt complex. I am not trying to shame you out of making that next purchase or moving into that new home. That’s foolishness. God wants us to find life in him. Every good and perfect gift comes from above. God wants to bless us so that we can be a blessing to others. Blessed to be a blessing.
The problem is that our excess stuff causes us to forget about God. Our excess stuff causes us to forget about the needs of our fellow man. Our excess stuff causes us to develop a sense of entitlement. We think thatwe deserve what we have. Our excess causes us to develop a sense of pride. We think that we don’t need God and we don’t need anyone. Our excess causes us to turn inward. Life becomes about eating, drinking, and pursuing happiness.
The list of items in your outline all illustrate the same basic point. The point is that when we define life in terms of what we lack, our scarcity, we miss the blessings of God’s kingdom. We build barns instead of becoming rich toward God. We worry and fret, instead of trusting in God’s love and provision for our needs. We procrastinate in our service to God, instead of rolling up our sleeves and working. We start competing with others, quarreling over material things.
We grasp after those things we think we're entitled to. We manipulate relationships toward our selfish ends. We stop being fruitful for God’s kingdom. We stop believing in God’s promises. We begin promoting and exalting ourselves by putting ourselves first before others.
The abundance of God.
In Luke 14:16-24 (NIV) Jesus illustrates how a heart set on worldly things causes us to miss out on God’s eternal banquet."A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'Still another said,'I just got married, so I can’t come.'The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.''Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'"
Father, forgive us for not being content being invited toand sitting at your banquet table! "Those five yoke of oxen are more important. They are the key to finding true life! I just bought a field, gotta go check it out. I'm gonna live there for eternity! Excuse me. I just got married. Pleasing my wife is more urgent than pleasing God. I can’t come!"
What is lacking in the abundance of God’s banquet table that keeps you from God?
Poor judgement. Judgmental attitudes. Poverty. Unforgiveness. Ingratitude. Self-indulgence. Prayerlessness. Pride and arrogance. Sadness. Look through that list and check the two or three items that impact you. Take some time this week to read the passages associated with those things. Let God’s Holy Spirit convict you of this scarcity mindset. Let God's Holy Spirit cause you to rejoice in your abundance before God. Lord willing, we may come back to these passages and consider them in greater detail.
In Luke 19:1-10 (NIV) we discover the abundance mindset at work in Zacchaeus. "Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.' So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.All the people saw this and began to mutter, 'He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.' Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.'"
When the wealthy Zacchaeus laid eyes on Jesus, he gladly welcomed Jesus into his life. He gladly gave over half his possessions to the poor. He gladly repaid those he cheated, four times over. His possessions and wealth were as nothing. He wanted salvation. He wanted the life that is truly life. He wanted to become rich toward God. Salvation came to Zacchaeus' household because instead of seeing what he lacked, he saw God’s abundance.
On the bottom of your outline, there are eight blanks. Write in the word B L E S S I N G. When we are rich toward God, we receive God’s blessing and we become a blessing.