Luke #53 Where is Your Heart

INTRODUCTION Luke 12:22-34.

This lesson is going to be very similar to the previous one.

I make no apology, I am simply stating a fact.

The reason this lesson is so similar is because Jesus beat this same drum for 20 plus verses.

It required one session to get through the first half, and now we come to the second half.

I know this bothers some people.

We live in such a fast paced world today that we want to get in, get out, and get on to the next event.

I get that, but apparently Jesus didn’t get the memo.

As we have examined the life of Jesus, and I have been heavily involved in that endeavor for two years now, both in John’s gospel on Wednesday night, and Lukes here on Sunday morning, Jesus repeats himself often.

Jesus is very repetitive in His teaching.

And so, as we follow His life in the gospels, the lessons will have some repetitive aspects to them.

And that is really good.

Because honestly, that is how we learn.

THE LESSON CONTINUES

The translators put a break in the narrative here between verses 21 and 22.

But in the original language, there are no breaks, no punctuation, no paragraphs, not chapter breaks, not sub titles, or headings.

In this case that break and that heading are actually problematic.

Problematic because it gives us the idea that there has been a break or a change in the narrative.

The truth is, it has not changed.

Luke actually communicates this with that little word “and”.

And communicates that Jesus is still on topic.

We might say it this way, and to make my point.

Where as Jesus says, and, for this reason I say to you.

For what reason?

For what He just said.

He just taught a parable.

Remember, parables were not intended to make the lesson clearer, but obscure and foggy.

Then, Jesus would explain the parable to those He desired to understand.

Also, when there is a break and a change, the gospelwriters say things like “after these things” or “at this time” or “in a certain place”.

Those kind of phrases indicate a change has taken place.

That little word “and” indicates a continuation.

So again, notice, Jesus told a parable in the previous verses, then in verse 22 the scripture say, and He said to His disciples.

Folks, last week you got my commentary on the parable.

This week you get Jesus’.

You can be the judge if I got it right.

DON’T WORRY OVER THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE

Last time the focus was on our priorities.

Mainly, that materialistic things not interfere with our kingdom work.

As Jesus begins to expound upon the parable, He ups the ante.

It is not just material possessions, but also necessities that can interfere.

That sounds counterintuitive.

I mean, we have to eat.

And you don’t want me coming to church naked, or visa versa.

So to be clear, Jesus is not saying ignore these things, or eliminate these things.

For example we know that work is important so that we can provide food, clothing, and shelter for our families.

1 Timothy 5:8 LSB

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 LSB

For even when we were with you, we used to command this to you: if anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat.

So we know we are not to ignore these things.

But neither are we to be all consumed with these things.

That is seen in this word worry.

One Greek Lexicon, or dictionary defined the Greek word this way, worry is to be anxious about something to the point of distraction.

Ahhh, now that makes sense.

But distracted from what?

Distracted from Kingdom work.

Don’t let our need for food and clothing so consume us that we are distracted from serving Christ.

Then in verse 23, Jesus reiterates something He said above, life is more that food, and the body more than clothing.

Last week it was your life is more than stuff.

Are you starting to see a common thought here.

Jesus is identifying the pitfalls of life that can distract us if we let them from serving Him to the fullest.

There is a bit of a jab in this.

Jesus is really criticizing the culture of the religious elite.

The Saducees were a small group of men.

Basically these were the families that were related to the High Priest or in line for the High Priestly office.

So it was an elite and small club.

Annas was a former high priest, but he was the Senior member of the high priestly family.

Rome had a concern that one high priest in office for too long could lead to rebellion, so every so often they replace the High Priest.

Annas was replaced in succession by 4 sons.

And at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, Caiaphas, a son in law of Annas was now the high priest.

But in truth, Annas was still in charge.

What was He in charge of?

Everything that happened in the temple, including the lucrative trade that was so corrupt.

The money changers worked for Annas.

The lambs that were sold for 3 and 4 times market value, belonged to Annas.

He was a mobster, and this was racketeering.

This is why Jesus cleared out the Temple twice, and also why Annas had such a hatred for Jesus.

Annas was filthy stinking rich off of corrupt religious practices

Then there are the Pharisees.

They too were rich and very focused on wealth.

You know part of being one of God’s shepherds, both in the New and Old Testaments is taking care of the vulnerable people of God.

But rather than take care of widows, they abused them by stealing what ever resources they had.

Jesus accused them of devouring widows homes.

And they did so for their own gain.

This was the very same condemnation the Lord leveled against the OT leaders and priests.

They took care of their needs and took advantage of everybody else.

So in a very real way, as Jesus teaches these men, and us, He is preparing us for ministry.

Kingdom work, that is to be our primary focus.

Everything else should take a backseat to that.

So rather than being distracted by the necessities of life, we are challenged to be ….

TRUSTING YHWH FOR THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE

Jesus begins to talk to us about a life of trust by use of some illustrations.

God feeds the ravens.

They don’t work.

They don’t sow.

They don’t reap, and they have no barns.

They are the exact opposite of the man in the parable.

Yet the Father feeds them, and cares for them.

In Matthew, Jesus talks about how God watches after even the sparrows.

The phrase Jesus used, basically means a sparrow can’t hop that the Father doesn’t see it.

Jesus could use any number of creatures to make the point.

The Father cares for all of His creation, especially the human kind, and even more especially, those who belong to Jesus.

We can trust the Father to provide for us.

At this point, some question the goodness of God.

Because there are Christians in the world who have great physical needs.

Those of us who have been to India have seen it up close and personal.

And we think, but God isn’t meeting their need.

But the truth is, He does.

You see we have made it so much about the pleasure of this life, it is hard for us to conceive the hand of God in poverty.

I have watched as rice and beans are shared with widows, and if you have ever given to the mission budget, you are a part of that.

But even if a Christ followers perishes for lack of food in this life, it is gain.

We focus on the tragic end, when we need to remember the glorious beginning.

God always provides, and His provision is good.

Have you ever asked yourself, why does YHWH bless me with so much?

I can tell you it is not for your selfish desires to be fulfilled.

It is so you can be a blessing to others.

Sometimes, this is how YHWH cares for the poor, through those who He has blessed with much.

Make the trip to India with me sometime, I promise you, it will change your heart.

But the main thrust here is that people are more important to YHWH than other creatures.

So we can trust Him to provide for us.

Another major concern for us is the length of our life.

Some people worry about life’s end.

Some people are so worried about the length of life that they get into all of these habits that are to promote a longer life.

Some have been so focused on this in the past, that they searched for the fountain of youth, immortality.

Again, notice the truth, nothing you can do, all the worrisome distractions, cannot add one hour to your life.

Now before I go on, don’t misunderstand me.

I believe we should take good care of our bodies, just not for the purpose of extending life, because you can’t extend your life.

We should take good care of our bodies so we can work and provide for our families.

We should take good care of our bodies so we can serve the Lord with strength and vigor.

But never to try and add time to our life.

This became something I really shared a lot during Covid.

Everybody, and I mean almost everybody, had some level of fear.

Some more that others.

But I kept telling people, quit worrying about dying, you will not leave this planet one minute early, nor will you be one minute late.

Because the day of your departure was decided by God, before you were ever born.

Sometimes people looked at me as if I was crazy.

But friends, you know, when I am dogmatic, I have scripture to back it up.

Job 14:1–5 LSB

“Man, who is born of woman, Is short-lived and full of turmoil. “Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not stand. “You also open Your eyes on him And bring me into judgment with Yourself. “Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one! “Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass.

What do those last few lines say, verse 5?

First, God determined your days.

Second, the number of months of life rests with God.

Third, your life is limited by God, and you shall not pass.

Turn to Psalm 139:13-16

Psalm 139:13–16 LSB

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And intricately woven in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unshaped substance; And in Your book all of them were written The days that were formed for me, When as yet there was not one of them.

Here David describes how YHWH created Him in his mother’s womb.

But notice that last half of verse 16.

The days of my life are written down.

All the days, that were decided for me, were written down.

When?

Before a single day had come.

Before David was born, YHWH had determined the length of His life.

These are what prompts Jesus to say, all the worry in the world cannot add one hour to your life.

Remember, worry is something that you are so anxious about that it distracts you.

In other words, quit worrying about whether you will live or die, just serve Me.

Jesus adds another illustration, that of lilies.

But the outcome is the same.

But we must consider verse 30.

FOLLOWING THE WORLDLY AFTER NECESSITIES

Don’t do it.

What Jesus just described is worldly living.

That is the way those who do not know God live and worry.

You know, I can understand the lost worrying about these things, they have no hope, because they have not the Savior.

But you and I, to live as they live is sin.

God has a better way.

Colossians 3:2 LSB

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

1 John 2:15–17 LSB

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts, but the one who does the will of God abides forever.

CONCLUSION

The Apostle John got the memo, he wrote that last verse, he gets it.

Notice that last line in the passage.

But the one who does the will of God abides forever.

The one who does the will of God has eternal life.

Some might be inclined to think this teaches works, serve God and you will have eternal life, but that is not it.

What John says here is that you can know them by their life style.

Those who look like the world, love the world, and pursue worldly things, well they are of the world and not of the Father.

But those who serve God, prove that they are indeed born again, a new creation, and have a loving relationship with Him, so much so that they want to honor Him with their service.

Moral of the last two lessons, get rid of the distractions, and serve the Lord to the fullest.

And I would add, as our pastor has said on more than one occasion, the happiest people in church, are those who serve the most.

They don’t serve themselves, or others really, they serve Christ.

We were saved to serve.

In His closing remarks, Jesus makes one final push, Seek the Kingdom.

That does not mean to seek salvation.

It means to seek the good of the Kingdom, to promote the Kingdom.

The Father is well pleased to give the Kingdom.

So devote yourselves, whatever it takes, to kingdom work.

For where you treasure is, there will your heart be also.