November 17, 2013
Morning Service

In this portion of Luke, latter chapter of 11, and the beginning of chapter 12, Jesus uses some of His harshest rebukes to the lawyers, and religious leaders.  Woe unto you.

He told His disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which was what they taught from adding to the law of Moses.

Paul said in his writings “that the law was holy, just, and good.  He also said 2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:   All Scripture means the Old, and New testaments.   Rightly divided.

 

This morning we will look at a parable Jesus taught concerning a rich man.

 

Luk 12:13-34  And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.  (14)  And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 

·         One day He will judge, but not now.

(15)  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 

·         Of the things, and that’s what they are, things. 

(16)  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  (17)  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?  (18)  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  (19)  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  (20)  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  (21)  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. 

·         The lesson here is not being rich, nor planning for more wealth, but not being rich toward God.

·         In Jesus day they were under the Mosaic Law, and it required giving a tenth of your earnings to the tribe of Levi, because they took care of, or ministered to the things of the tabernacle.  By the time they gave, all their other offerings, they were giving a good 30 to 40 percent of their earnings to the work of God. 

·         Now wait a minute.  What this rich man is doing just makes good sense.  God is blessing him, and God has blessed him with the ability to reason, and to gain wealth.  Praise God for this.

·         His hard work, and good planning has given him a good retirement.  Much goods laid up for many years.  That’s great.

·         And for him to take it easy, eat, drink, and be merry, according to Solomon this is what he should do.  He earned it.

·         But just as we all know, we are not promised tomorrow, but to make the best of the day we are in.  So as the old saying goes “you can’t take it with you”, he’s getting ready to find that out.

·         Now, just a little reasonable speculation.  Had he put God first in his life, and was rich toward God, no doubt God would have allowed him a good full retirement.

 

But that is the lesson in this portion of Scripture, don’t leave God out of your plans, and that means He has control of your pocket book.  Oh my, preacher you just quit preaching, and gone to meddling.

 

In chapter 16 of Luke we see the parable of an unfaithful steward.  This is a person who is over another’s wealth, to distribute it faithfully.  In chapter 4 of I Cor. Paul considers himself a steward of the mysteries of God.

 

So for us today it is very important  for us to be the best stewards of the gifts of God that we can be.

 

 

Then notice His words of encouragement:

(22)  And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.  (23)  The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.  (24)  Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?  (25)  And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?  (26)  If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?  (27)  Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 

(28)  If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?  (29)  And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.  (30)  For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 

·         Let me assure you that Jesus is not teaching that we shouldn’t work, or plan ahead.  It may sound like it, but notice.

(31)  But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

·         Do you know what you are doing when you SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

1.       First of all you are seeking to do God’s will.  To be obedient to His laws. 

2.      His laws teach us not to be slothful, nor lazy, but to be good workers, having good work ethics. 

3.      God gave His people the Sabbath to rest on, but expected them to work the other six days.  So who isn’t going to prosper if you are working six days a week, and are not blowing your money on things, riotous living, and are being rich toward God?

(32)  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 

·         All God’s laws are for our well being.  He has not instructed us in anything that will bring us harm, only good.

 

Now, Jesus shows how to be rich toward God:

(33)  Sell that ye have, and give alms;

·         This Scripture has been taken literally by some.  St. Francis of Assi is one who did it.

·         However, many of us will never do it, and God knows this.  Does this mean I can’t be pleasing to God?  Of course not.  But I certainly can be working at being rich toward God.  I can give as I’ve been prospered, to the Lord’s work.  And when an opportunity arises to help someone in need, I will make every effort to do it.

Provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.  (34)  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

·         And when you are rich towards God, and help those in need, this is what you are doing, providing treasures in heaven, where no one is able to take them away.

·         And then you will understand why Jesus says “for where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.”

 

A Scripture worth remembering:

2Ti 3:1-4  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

 

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, help us to examine our own lives, and make sure we are striving to be rich towards You.