Considering Lilies

Luke 12:13-34

Introduction:

Recap of the context: whom to fear vs whom not to fear

The parable we find in this passage is a micro illustration of the larger teaching Jesus has been giving.

We have a lot of ground to cover. We will first look at being on guard against covetousness and why it’s such a dangerous sin, we are going to see the type of anxiety and worry it can cause, and lastly we are going to look at the antidote for coveting.

As we step into this passage, Jesus has been teaching and this random man comes up to Him with a family legal dispute.  To us, this might seem like a strange time and thing to do.  However, culturally it would not have been uncommon for a rabbi to act as a judge in a dispute in a family.  It’s not an unreasonable request to ask this but the timing of when he decides to toss the issue out there is awful.  Obviously he wasn’t sitting and listening to Jesus’ teachings because he was preoccupied with this financial issue going on in the family.  

Instead of straight answering the dilemma, Jesus tells a parable.  The issue in the man’s life is covetousness. Jesus warns those listening.

Luke 12:15 ESV

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

I.  Be on Guard Against All Covetousness. (v. 13-21)

(Take care)

Why warn against covetousness? What is the problem with it?

The man in the parable had a problem.  You may be thinking, wow, yeah, he had all this stuff and nowhere to keep it.  That wasn’t his problem.  His main issue was that he wasn’t worried about the most important thing which is being rich toward God, not in material possessions.  He was materially wealthy but spiritually he was destitute.  

In telling this parable, Jesus is not only pointing out the issue with the man in the story but also pointing to the problem with the heart of the man asking Jesus to settle the dispute.  

Statement connection to what Jesus taught earlier:  Luke 9:25, etc

You’d be a fool to concern yourself with wealth and give no heed to the state of your soul.  

II.  Believe the God who provides.  (v. 22-30)

(Trust)

The first thing I want to point out here is that the man in the parable did not acknowledge where the abundance of the land had come from.  He did not give God the glory for the wealth he was acquiring.  He seems very self focused on what he, himself had done.  He seems very self congratulatory.  As if he thinks he did this all on his own.   He’s very self focused.  

So he decides to tear down his barns and build larger ones instead of selling the produce or helping anyone else.  He’s not interested in helping but only in hoarding.  

And the result of this is that God calls him a fool.  Let that sink in.  God calls the man a fool.  

He thinks he has all the answers to life and can sit back and relax and his ticket gets called in.  His money, his power, all his saved up material didn’t matter because he wasn’t rich in relationship with God.  

THEREFORE

Because of this…

Jesus is teaching a crucial lesson to his disciples.  

Don’t misread this:  Having money is not bad.  Saving for the future and providing for your family is wise.  Biblically we men are to provide for our families.  We shouldn’t be irresponsible in handling finances.  

But if you assign an improper place to food and clothing you miss the kingdom of God.  If you think he point of life is all of that material stuff alone, then you will miss out on God.  

Ravens

lilies 

Jesus connects this to the anxiety one can feel worrying about and chasing after these material things instead of being concerned with the things of God.   Keep that in mind.  The issue is not the trying to earn food or clothing, the real issue is that you give your time, energy, and attention of your heart to those things and disregard the things of God.  

What might this look like in your life?

Luke 12:25 ESV

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

The problem with many of us is that we fear the wrong things. We get all anxious about things that are not eternal instead of concerning ourselves with that which lasts.

No amount of worrying is going to change anything.

Anxiety is an inefficient activity. It doesn’t accomplish anything. Instead we should not fear because God promises to help His people. We should not fear because God loves us. He is committed to His people.

Luke 1–12 for You Why We Needn’t Fear

No economic shift or political change or even our own folly and failure can frustrate God’s purposes.

This does not mean that we will not know troubles and loss. But notice that Jesus does not say, Do not fear, for everything will always go the way you want it to go. He does not even tell us what the future will hold; otherwise we could manage our expectations and figure things out on our own. Instead, what we get is something better: the promise that God knows what we need and loves us. Jesus tenderly urges his “little flock” to “not be afraid” (v 32). God’s loving care is a safe place in which to locate your hope and confidence.

So what is the antidote to this dilemma?  It is to be a treasurer of Christ above all.  Treasure Him above anything and anyone else. 

III.  Be a treasurer of Christ above all. (v. 31-34)

(Treasure)

Luke 12:31–34 ESV

Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 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. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Gospel here - Jesus has set us free so that we can seek the Kingdom with our entire lives.

The world will see in us how good, glorious, and trustworthy God is. They will see His loving kindness in us.

J.C. Ryle said about seeking the kingdom of God,

“When can we be said to seek the kingdom of God? We do so when we make it the chief business of our lives to secure a place among the number of the saved, to have our sins pardoned, our hearts renewed, and ourselves made fit for the inheritance of the saints in light. We do so when we give a primary place in our minds to the interests of God's kingdom, when we labor to increase the number of God's subjects, and when we strive to maintain God's cause and to advance God's glory in this world.” - J.C. Ryle

Part of how we defeat coveting in our lives is to be generous.

It helps us remember two things. It shows us that the things we give away are not supposed to be the seat of our joy. We are to get our joy from Jesus, not things. Secondly it helps us be thankful to the Lord because He has generously provided enough for us to give away. He’s given us enough stuff to give some away and still be well taken care of.

Little flock:

Don’t be afraid for God wants to us his inheritance… He wishes to give us the riches of His kingdom. And that kingdom isn’t simply material wealth. It is a spiritual kingdom.

Luke 1–12 for You Why We Needn’t Fear

In the end, your fear reveals a lot about your theology. When you embrace anxiety and worry, you are embracing a set of beliefs about God, his love for you, and his ability to take care of you. The Bible actually has a category for faithful anxiety (e.g.

Conclusion and call for response:

A. Diagnosing our hearts

Ligon Duncan has suggested some questions to diagnose if covetousness has got ahold of you:

Are you content with your condition?

Do you rejoice in the prosperity of your neighbor or do you resent or envy it?

Are you discontent with what you have?

Do you want what you’ve got or are you discontent with what you have?

Does it play out in your generousity or lack of generosity? Are you generously giving to the kingdom of God and to the community around you? Are you generous with your possessions? Does any possession of yours have a disordered or extraordinary hold on you?

Jesus tells you to be on guard against it. Repent.

B. How do you cultivate the type of contentment that Jesus wants in your life?

Confess your coveting

Preach the gospel to yourself, dwelling on God’s generosity in providing for you.

Be generous

Treasure Christ. Seek His Kingdom first.

(process)

When we set our happiness firmly in the Living Holy God, then nothing can get to it, no matter what happens to us we can be content and happy in the Lord.

Jesus replaces our anxiety with peace. He replaces our fear with joy.

So we can fear God and not fear anything else. We can trust Him in all things and not focus on that which fades.

Song: My Worth Is Not in What I Own

By: Keith and Kristyn Getty and We Are Messengers

[Verse 1: Darren Mulligan]

My worth is not in what I own Not in the strength of flesh and bone But in the costly wounds of love At the cross [Verse 2: Darren Mulligan]

My worth is not in skill or name In win or lose, in pride or shame But in the blood of Christ that flowed At the cross [Chorus: Darren Mulligan and Kristyn Getty, Darren Mulligan]

I rejoice in my Redeemer Greatest Treasure Wellspring of my soul I will trust in Him, no other My soul is satisfied in Him alone [Verse 3: Darren Mulligan and Kristyn Getty]

As summer flowers we fade and die Fame, youth and beauty hurry by But life eternal calls to us At the cross [Verse 4: Darren Mulligan and Kristyn Getty]

I will not boast in wealth or might Or human wisdom's fleeting light But I will boast in knowing Christ At the cross

[Chorus: Darren Mulligan and Kristyn Getty]

I rejoice in my Redeemer Greatest Treasure Wellspring of my soul I will trust in Him, no other My soul is satisfied in Him alone [Verse 5: Kristyn Getty, Kristyn Getty and Darren Mulligan]

Two wonders here that I confess My worth and my unworthiness My value fixed, my ransom paid At the cross [Chorus: Darren Mulligan and Kristyn Getty]

I rejoice in my Redeemer Greatest Treasure Wellspring of my soul I will trust in Him, no other My soul is satisfied in Him alone And I rejoice in my Redeemer Greatest Treasure Wellspring of my soul I will trust in Him, no other My soul is satisfied in Him alone [Outro: Darren Mulligan]

In Him alone