JOY
INSTEAD OF JUNK
LUKE
12:13-21
Luke
12:13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that
he divide the inheritance with me.
Susie: Jesus
had been talking about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and before that about God’s
provision for His children. This man interrupted this important message to ask
Jesus to intervene between him and his brother. He seemed less interested in
what was right and fair and more interested in getting the best share for
himself.
Susan: Jesus
had been teaching on deep spiritual truths that apply to all people, and this
man wants to involve Him in a mundane issue involving one family.
Luke
12:14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
Susie: Jesus
refused to arbitrate between this man and his brother. Even though Jesus has
been made the ultimate judge by the Father, it is not for the purpose of
settling petty disputes. Jesus’s position as judge is to judge between those
who will inherit eternal life and those who will suffer eternal damnation.
John
5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but
hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
Luke
12:15 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.
Susan: Jesus
utilizes the mundane interruption to transition into a divine discourse on
greed.
Susie: Jesus
warns His listeners to be careful not to be greedy. The world says, “The man
with the most toys wins,” but Jesus tells us that our life, who we are, is more
than just what we own.
Ecclesiastes
6:2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth
nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to
eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil
disease.
Susan: Things
are always subject to change. God, in His sovereignty, has the power both to
give and to take away. God has divine discretion over all we claim to own.
Susie: Job
affirmed this truth after God had allowed Satan to destroy all of Job’s cattle,
camels, and even his children:
Job
1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return
thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of
the Lord.
Luke
12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich
man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What
shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Susan: This
man who was rich and already had more than enough had a bumper crop.
Susie: He
pondered what to do with all the extra wheat and other crops his servants were
harvesting.
Luke
12:18 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.
Susan: Never
once did the man consider sharing with his less fortunate neighbors or the
truly poor. Instead, he increased his storage space. He had his laborers tear
down the old barns, build bigger ones, and fill them up.
Luke
12:19 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.
Susie: Then
the man thinks he will take an early retirement or an extended vacation since
he has several years’ worth of goods stored up. He decides to take it easy,
wine and dine, and enjoy himself. He was still taking no thought for others.
Susan: But
the Lord had another plan for this man who was focused only on “me, me, me!” He
was living only for himself rather than for the Lord and others.
Luke
12:20 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?
Susan: God
tells the selfish, self-absorbed wealthy landowner that life will drain out of
him that very night. He thought only of himself, and now others will enjoy
everything that he spent his life working for, the benefit of his thriving
business. Because of his selfishness, he did not get to enjoy the fruit. Had he
been selfless, he could have had the joy of sharing the bounty with others.
Luke
12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Susan: Treasures
in Heaven are the souls saved through our faithful testimony, the brothers and
sisters we will meet again. There are benefits we cannot even imagine awaiting
those who are of the household of faith, who trust in Jesus.
Susie: Wealth
is not the problem in itself. However, valuing our earthly treasures above our
relationship with the Lord and others is what gets us into trouble. We lay up
treasure in Heaven by serving the Lord wholeheartedly, loving Him first and
others second.
1
Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some
coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through
with many sorrows.
Matthew
6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust
doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Ponder
this and Apply it: Remember to put God before yourself and God
before your wealth. Place your income at God’s disposal first and your
interests will be taken care of since you will have things in the proper order
(Matthew 6:33). Remember the definition of Joy whether it be finances,
possessions, or time:
Jesus
first
Others
second
Yourself
last
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