There are passages of the Scriptures that bring me comfort and hope. They encourage me each time I read them. They lift my spirits and make me feel better. Also there are passages that are enigmatic. They raise questions and I do not understand them fully or some of them much at all. These passages make me wonder. Then there is a third class of passage, those passages that bother me. They scare me; they cause me apprehension. I do not feel very good after I have read them.
It is one of these passages, the last kind, which I would like us to consider in this message. I will warn you now at the start it deals with money, personal wealth, and possessions. Before you begin to think to yourself, "Oh no, the author is going to ask us to donate more," let me tell you I am not going to instruct you to give a thing, that is not my place. However God might ask you to give everything! Then He may not. I do not know. I am only asking each of us to listen to the Word of God, and be sensitive to His Spirit as He applies it in our individual lives.
The passage is found in Luke 12:13-56:
| 13. | Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” |
| 14. | But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” |
| 15. | Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” |
| 16. | And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. |
| 17. | “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ |
| 18. | “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: 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 many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ |
| 20. | “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ |
| 21. | “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” |
| 22. | And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. |
| 23. | “For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. |
| 24. | “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! |
| 25. | “And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? |
| 26. | “If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? |
| 27. | “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. |
| 28. | “But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! |
| 29. | “And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. |
| 30. | “For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. |
| 31. | “But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. |
| 32. | “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. |
| 33. | “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. |
| 34. | “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. |
| 35. | “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. |
| 36. | “Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. |
| 37. | “Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. |
| 38. | “Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. |
| 39. | “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. |
| 40. | “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” |
| 41. | Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?” |
| 42. | And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? |
| 43. | “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. |
| 44. | “Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. |
| 45. | “But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; |
| 46. | the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. |
| 47. | “And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, |
| 48. | but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. |
| 49. | “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! |
| 50. | “But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! |
| 51. | “Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; |
| 52. | for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. |
| 53. | “They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” |
| 54. | And He was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. |
| 55. | “And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. |
| 56. | “You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time? |
We live today in the latter days of the age of the church. For us, here in our country, it is a comfortable time, relatively speaking. We are not persecuted for our faith. Contrary wise it is even fashionable to attend church for it raises ones status to some degree in many circles. In our comfort and amid the plethora of our possessions we have forgotten about the King, that He will return! Instead our thinking is this.
“Who can know when this will be? It hasn’t happened in 2000 years! Maybe our theology was wrong. Maybe there is no second coming. In any case, why think about this today? Live for the moment! Get all you can out of life now! God has given me many material blessings; why not enjoy them, for it would be wrong to deny what God has given me?”
We in the church in the west live for the most part in luxury compared to the rest of the world. We may not be farmers trying to build bigger barns to store our produce, but we try to build a bigger IRA and a 401-K. We do this so in our later years after we retire we may say, “I have a good retirement laid up for many years to come; relax now, eat, drink and enjoy the rest of your life.” Yet how different is that from the rich man who says, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry?”
This passage is one that is very uncomfortable to most of us. It raises questions that we would not rather ask or discuss. It touches us where we are the most sensitive, in our wealth and possessions, in our comfort and ease. Our Lord says, “And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.”
1. How much time an effort should we devote (seek after) to providing for our families?
2. At what point does this transform into providing for ourselves?
Our Lord says, “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
1. How many of our possessions should we sell, everything?
2. How much are we to keep?
3. At what level of wealth are we to stop?
4. Are we supposed to live on just a subsistence level?
5. What is our Lord telling us to do?
Some have pointed out that the Lord was addressing His followers without the church in view, with the mystery of the church still hidden. Those He addresses would then be those living in that period right before His return to set up the Kingdom, that is the Tribulation Period. Note the following verses:
“Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”
Then He goes on to tell them of the terrible persecution they will endure. These are believers living in the Tribulation period not us today living in the church age. Therefore, there are some teachers who teach, this does not really apply to us.
But think about this. While it is indeed true that our Lord’s exhortations to His followers in Luke 12:13 to 48 are addressed to believers who will be living in the times of the Tribulation period rather than to us living in the age of the church, we must clearly remember the principles found here apply to us today just as surely as they did to the Twelve Disciples living immediately following our Lord’s ascension to His Father. They were there when He spoke these words; He did address it to them! We would not deny what our Lord said to them applied to them; and if it applied to them it applies to us as well. Is it wrong then, if we do not sell all and give to charity?
A couple of principles found in the New Testament should be noted at this point. First Ananias and Sapphira were not judged because they did not give all, but because they lied about what they gave. Acts 5: 3-4 states
“But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
.” It would not have been wrong or a sin for this couple to keep the land or the proceeds from its sale; it was wrong and a sin to lie about it. Therefore what God has given to a believer belongs to that believer to do with as they choose.
Next, we are not under any law or requirement to give a certain amount. Tithing, giving 10 percent, was a requirement for Israel under the law. It was to provide for the priesthood and the upkeep and functioning of the temple. It was not commanded or extended to the church. The principles for giving in the church age, the age in which we live, are found in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”Giving then is to be an individual thing. What I give is not the pattern for you; what you give is not how I should give. It is not compulsory. It is not to be done grudgingly. If you feel begrudged to give, don’t give! It is a private thing between you and your Lord. It is to be done freely, willingly and cheerfully.
How then do we mesh these New Testament principles with the instructions of our Lord in Luke 12? I believe the answers relate to our attitudes toward wealth. If we view our wealth as the primary means of provision for ourselves now and in our later years then we are failing to trust our Lord to provide as He has promised. If that is our attitude, if that is how we view our possessions or wealth, then we will begrudge giving it up for it will affect our comfort and ease and living conditions. If, on the other hand, we view our wealth as a gift from our Lord over which we are stewards to administer it as best we are able, then we are freer to give cheerfully.
These then are some of the New Testament principles regarding wealth:
I. While wealth can be a blessing from God, for most it is a weight that drags them down and holds them back in their walk with the Lord.
A. Those who have material wealth tend to trust it rather than the Lord to provide for them.
James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
Matthew 19:23-24 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
1 Timothy 6:9 “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.”
B. The accumulation of wealth fuels the desire to have even more.
Luke 12:34 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
C. If your wealth is weighing you down and hindering your relationship with God, get rid of it; for you will either serve it or God, but not both!
Luke 12:33-34 33 “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Luke 16:13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”
II. Giving is an individual activity between a believer and His Lord.
A. It is to be done willingly not grudgingly. It is not a compulsory thing; no one is required to give anything.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
B. It is to be a private thing, not a public display.
Matthew 6:1-4 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
Many of us at this point are tempted to think, well it’s a good thing I am not one of the wealthy or rich. I do not have to worry about trusting my riches rather than God. It is rather humorous at times to see who considers themselves to be rich. Very few people do. They always look at the next tier above them and say, “They are rich, not me!” If we consider most people living today, who are the rich? Whether we admit it or not, we are. We are indeed rich and wealthy compared to the average person in the world.
The question is then what is our attitude toward our wealth? Is it a weight which drags us down or a resource to be employed in the service of your Lord? Is our major concern in life trying to increase it or maintain it, or are we more concerned with our stewardship of it and using it for His kingdom.
Paul, writing to Timothy, tells him this in regard to those of us who are rich inI Timothy 6, verse 9 and 17-18:
“But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 17. Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,”
What then should we do? First each of us must carefully evaluate how we view our possessions, our wealth? What is it for us? Is it a hedge against uncertain times? Is it our financial security? Is it then means by which we may later enjoy our future life? If this is how we see our wealth, then it is a weight that will only hinder our relationship with our Lord. We will place our trust in it rather than in our Lord to provide. We must come to the realization that our wealth can evaporate over night. The market may crash! The unthinkable may occur; social security may run out or be drastically cut! Any number of scenarios may take place.
We must come to see that all we have has been given to us as a trust by our heavenly Father. We are only stewards of His wealth. Our responsibility is only to manage His possessions for His glory and for the furtherance of His kingdom. His responsibility is to care and provide for us. He is a resource that will never fail or be cut.
But how do we determine exactly what our attitude toward our wealth and possessions is? It is indeed very hard to understand even our own motives at times. There is, however, a simple litmus test that we may use. Read Luke 12:33. Can we cheerfully follow this command? If not our wealth is a weight which is dragging us down, a weight which is difficult indeed to shed!