a child of god
this is the way, run in it
Seriously, it's not about the money. In Luke, chapter 12, Jesus takes up quite a bit of time teaching His disciples about how and why they should not be worrying about money. He tells them that God their Father knows their needs - what they need to physically live in this world, and the necessity of it. So this isn't an unrealistic portrait of life. But Jesus says that God will not only provide what is needed for the work we do with Him for His kingdom, but He will provide what we need to live on in this life as well (vv. 29-31).
This teaching is kicked off by a man asking him to make his brother divide the family inheritance with him. Ouch! Why do we worry about and argue so much about money? Jesus refuses to be drawn into this particular family problem, saying He isn't the appointed earthly judge for that (v.14), and then He goes on to warn His disciples, "Beware! Watch out! Be careful! and be on your guard against every form of greed" (v.15). So here Jesus is pointing out the heart problems with letting a love of money control one's heart/actions/words. He then says something very interesting. He says, "for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." Even when one has an abundance, Jesus says, even then, that person's life does not consist/is not made up of/is not ranked as important by ... the things he owns. How often do we equate what we have with our own self-worth? I have to have the latest iPhone model, I must have those clothes, that make up, that car, that ... how often do we show off what we have and think that says something about us? It does! Only too loudly. We are not our stuff! We shouldn't want to be valued by our stuff. What does that say? Jesus goes on to tell them a parable, a teaching story, about a rich man who had a lot of stuff. So much stuff he needed to build bigger and better barns to store it all up for himself. All so he could enjoy himself in life, "there I will store all my grain and my goods. And then 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' " (vv. 18-19). God says this is foolishness. In verse 20 God says this man is foolish, for he will die and he can't take it with him. "Who will own what you have prepared?" This reminds me of a saying we have "you can't take it with you." We used to see it as a bumper sticker in America, way back when. The problem with that saying is it is used to imply "so enjoy it now, don't worry about saving and storing it up. Spend it and enjoy it now" as an excuse for buying that sports car, the latest thing. That is not what God says. God says the foolish man is the one "who lays up treasure for himself (on this earth) and is not rich toward God" (v.21). Jesus goes on to say, don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat and what you will wear, "for life is more than food and the body is more than clothing" (v.23). He also says that "all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek" (v.30), so Jesus knows that people are like that. All of us are worried and concerned about living, about how to provide for ourselves and our families. But what he is saying is that we can't do much about it by worrying about it. We should trust God that he will provide, "for your Father knows you need these things" (v.30). "But seek first His kingdom, and all these things shall be added to you" (v.31). I love this verse. Not only does it say that God will provide all we need when it comes to doing kingdom work with Him, but, He will also add to that all we need to live this life in the here and now. God will provide. So what should our response be? To give, and give generously, to others, which is kingdom work with our Father, and that will store up treasure for us in heaven, "where no thief comes nor moth destroys" (v.33). And the most important part of this long passage on money - not that God will provide everything we need although that is very important - but God's concern about our heart attitude and motives - v. 34, "For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also." God Himself is our treasure! Our life with Him, doing life with Him, getting to know and love Him better, and loving others more and more like He does, that is our treasure. So, yes, it's not all about the money, even though that is necessary for the here and now which God knows; it's that we should be very careful to not let concerns about money control our hearts, and instead live the here and now for God and for seeing people enter into and grow in His family, in the kingdom of God, through Jesus, His Son!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Franci Ballwatching and working for the kingdom of God in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham - UK Archives
January 2019
Categories |