Faith Over Fortune

We are in Luke 12:13-34.

This is in the context of living out your faith faithfully to the end!

As discussed last week, this appears to be a second “sermon on the mount” that shifts focus from welcome to new life to living your new life in light of eternity. Really it’s the same but just seems to have more of an end-times edge to it. It’s more in the category of Jesus final words than first recorded full length sermon. The fact that it’s so similar is a testimony to Jesus consistency in His message, and the fact that they weren’t getting it.

It’s like the new pastor who came and preached and the people loved it.

The second week he preached the same message and the people said they loved it again.

The third week he preached the same message again so the head deacon pulled him aside.

They were getting nervous that this preacher only had one message.

The deacon pulled him aside and said, “Pastor, that was a really good message, but this is the third week in a row you’ve preached it.” The pastor simply looked at him and said, “I know. When you start doing what I preached, I’ll preach another one!”

Jesus was consistent in life and ministry. He was consistent in His message.

He said that He would die for humanity and He did.

What He said would happen happened. What He said He’d do He did.

His life and teaching were a stark contrast to the religious leaders of the day.

He had just warned about outward appearances and the approval of man.

He had just warned about acknowledging Christ before men and keeping an eternal perspective!

When He said,

Luke 12:4–5 ESV

4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!

That should have awakened people to think about the eternal future rather than the temporal present.

We must live in the HERE AND NOW with a focus on the HEREAFTER.

In the midst of this teaching,

Luke 12:13-15

This person in the crowd wasn’t there to hear Jesus but to get Jesus to hear him.

He wanted Jesus to hear his case, to bring him the justice he thought he should have.

Jesus dismisses him and uses it to further his point: We need to be eternally focused!

Being eternally focused will direct your motives concerning the approval of man.

The verses we discussed last week were about not seeking fame.

We talked about faith over fear crushes fear of man and fear of the enemy.

I said that faithfulness crushes fear of judgment.

The converse of that: Focus on fame fabricates fear

A focus on fame is a lack of faith in God as the provider of our identity.

Genesis 1:27 ESV

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

We were created with a hole in our hearts that can only be filled by Him.

Genesis 3:6 (ESV)

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Eve (and Adam) did not believe God’s word - they did not trust Him that they need not and should not eat from the fruit of that tree.

She believed the lie that being God’s wasn’t enough, she must become like Him.

When we seek to become recognized, worshiped, or simply acknowledged and affirmed, somehow meeting the approval of our peers, we can feel fulfilled.

If only our faith were in Christ Jesus and the Approval of Heaven, that

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

A second focus that will fabricate fear is FORTUNE!

Faith crushes the fear of lack of approval.

Faith crushes the fear of lack of provision.

The young man was so focused on getting his inheritance, he was missing out on what Jesus was saying. Lack of belief in Jesus’ words is lack of faith in Him.

Being stewards of what God entrusts us with means seeking what He says we should do with His stuff!

It doesn’t mean we can’t be rich or have stuff when properly balanced with the rest of the teachings in the word of God.

It does mean not being so consumed with our possessions that they possess us, that we lose faith and embrace fear.

Luke 12:15-21.

The rich man wasn’t even concerned about the fame he would gain through his possessions. It was what it provided for him.

His security was found in his prosperity.

When our security is found in our prosperity, it can be quickly lost with it too!

The fear of losing it begins to drive your decisions and your focus is on your fortune.

It was a waste for this man to have so much while others had so little.

He was not blessed to be a blessing! He was blessed and enjoying it.

When we store up treasures for later use, we deny faith in God that He will provide for us. We take the future into our own hands.

I’m not to not have savings.

The Bible also teaches to be good stewards, or managers, of all that God has entrusted in our care.

We should not store up more than we could ever use, or in any way place our trust in these things!

This parable illustrates the truth that

You can’t take it with you when you go, but you can send it on ahead!

Jesus continued on explaining how

If God is your source, your supply will never run dry – in any realm. If He is not, then you already lack your greatest need.

Luke 12:22-34.

Sound familiar?

Matthew 6:33 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Solomon sought wisdom and gained fame and fortune. If his focus was on fame or fortune, he wouldn’t have gotten very far. Instead he became the most famous, richest, wisest king ever.

So here we see, God will take care of you.

Faith crushes fear of lack.

Psalm 23:1 ESV

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

This does not mean we don’t need to practice good stewarship principles and observe the other Biblical principles concerning money. I believe it means that as we place our faith in God, obey Him and follow the scriptural principles concerning money and provision, and listen to and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit, He will provide our every need and provide the needs of others through us!

Faith isn’t telling God what we think we should have and then holding Him to it as if He’d made a promise.

Faith is believing what God said and believing who He is!

Verses 32-34 really put it in the end-time urgency context:

Luke 12:32–34 ESV

32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Do not be possessed by your possessions!

Do not love this world!

1 John 2:15 ESV

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

We are running out of time. Even if Jesus doesn’t come back in your life, your life is but a vapor.

Don’t waste your life chasing after meaningless things.

Chase after God and practice generosity.

Acts 2:44 ESV

44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

The very next verse in Luke says:

Luke 12:35 ESV

35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,

We can’t be ready to go when we’re held down by stuff.

What are we going to do with all this stuff?

When we clean stuff out of our homes and the church, we think, “Is this something I’m using or going to use?” If we can’t use it for a while, if it’s a “someday” thing, we think about “Who can use it now?” Set it free. Set yourself free. Be ready always to set others free!

How can we set others free with the gospel when we are bound by the world and the things of the world?

Respond to the Word today by examining your heart and your home and seeing what youcan set yourself free from and how you can contribute to saving souls or helping others by lightening your load. I promise you won’t be disappointed and you will lack no good thing.

How can I make that promise? It’s what God says in His Word!

Let us determine to BE generous in the ways that God created!