Kingdom Principles- Part 2

Introduction- Luke 12:22-34

Last week we began a sermon series entitled “Kingdom Principles” which is source from Luke 12 as Jesus instructs His disciples in an effort to bring them to adjust their thinking from that which is aligned with this world to that which is aligned with the Kingdom of God.

Last week we considered a warning from Jesus directed towards His disciples to beware of covetousness—this is simply a desire for more coupled with the belief that having more would make our lives better in some meaningful way.

This warning was the product of an interaction between Jesus and a man who demanded that Jesus would settle a dispute between he and his brother regarding their inheritance.

Jesus makes a profound statement following the warning when He says that “…a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

Jesus was clearly challenging His followers to recognize that the value and meaningfulness of their lives was not determined by what they have.

Then Jesus goes on to give an illustration where a rich man has a bountiful harvest but his life comes to an end before he can actually enjoy the fruits of his labor.

The point of the illustration is to show that it is far more important that a man should be “rich toward God” than that he should hoard up this world’s wealth.

Today we will see Jesus continue to instruct His disciples—now with regard to where their attention should be directed and where their treasure should be.

Take No Thought (Vs. 22-26)

This passage opens with the Lord Jesus addressing His disciples—continuing to instruct them with regard to how they should approach life.

After warning them of the dangers of covetousness, Jesus now instructs them to “take no thought” for their life.

Jesus is here challenging His disciples to avoid anxiety—take no thought involves the idea of not worrying or fretting about something.

Illustration-How many have ever missed a meal or have ever not had clothes to put on? Yet how many of us have worried about finances on a regular basis?

Jesus instructs His disciples not to be anxious about what they would eat or what they would wear.

At this particular time in history it would certainly have been more common for men to lack sufficient food or to lack sufficient clothing.

Many people in this period of time would have been consumed with simply providing for their daily necessities and yet Jesus challenges his disciples to a different way of life.

Just as before Jesus reminds them that their life consists of more than what they eat and what they wear—again pointing out that the value and meaningfulness of life is not determined by what a man eats or what he wears.

It may not be the case in our modern society that we are concerned with providing for our daily necessities and yet there are still so many who are consumed with anxiety surrounding their financial state.

The disciple of Christ is not to be anxious about these things—if the disciple of Christ is consumed with anxiety surrounding these things then he cannot give proper attention to serving and following Jesus Christ.

Jesus then uses a simple illustration to emphasize this point involving ravens.

Jesus challenges his disciples to “consider (think about) the ravens” —a common bird which was considered to be unclean because it was a scavenger feeding on whatever could be found.

Jesus encourages His disciples to consider the fact that these birds do not sow or reap and that they do not have any storehouse or barn where they may store up food for the future.

Yet in spite of these facts not a raven goes hungry but “God feedeth them”—God in His care ensures that they are provided with sustenance.

This Jesus then uses to encourage His disciples by assuring them that they are “better than the fowls”—meaning that if God will ensure that the ravens are fed, he will also ensure that they are fed as well.

Contrary to what many seem to believe in our world today, in the eyes of God, men are of far greater value than birds.

Jesus then asks a simple question of His disciples—which of you by taking thought (worrying/anxiously thinking about) can add to his stature one cubit?

This can be taken in a couple of ways but in either case the meaning is the same—can you add one moment to your life or one cubit to your height.

The answer is obviously that no man can do either by simply taking thought—in fact worry and anxiety can actually have a very negative effect upon our health and may actually shorten our lives.

He then asks a follow up question—if you cannot do this why do you “take thought” (spend your time worrying) about the rest?

The point that Jesus makes here is that anxiety has no positive effect—worrying and being consumed with anxiety about our financial state does not improve it at all.

What we should do instead is trust that God will sustain us just as He does the ravens—He know what we have need of and is more than capable of providing for our needs.

Consider the Lilies (Vs. 27-30)

Jesus then uses another illustration involving lilies.

He challenges His disciples to “consider the lilies”—these would have been common in the region and were a flower known for its beauty when in bloom.

This illustration is meant to convey a slightly different meaning to that of the ravens—the illustration involving ravens is meant to challenge the disciples to trust in God to provide while the illustration involving the lilies is meant to show that toiling and labor are not necessary in order to have what you need.

Jesus speaks of the fact that the lilies do not toil nor spin—a reference to the fact that they do not labor for their beauty.

The lilies grow up out of the ground and produce magnificent blooms with no effort of their own.

Jesus draws the attention of His disciples to the splendor of their beauty such that not even Solomon in all his glory could surpass them.

Then Jesus emphasizes the fact that the lifespan of these beautiful blooms are brief— they are today in the field and then tomorrow they are cut down and cast into the oven to fuel the flames.

Again the point that Jesus is making is that the disciples are of far greater worth to God than these fleeting flowers.

If then God cares enough array them in such splendor—the disciple can be confident that God will clothe him.

Jesus adds a phrase to the end of this illustration which is very telling “O ye of little faith.”

It is obvious that a lack of faith is at the core of what Jesus is addressing—He is encouraging His disciples to have faith in God’s provision and care for them.

Too many would be disciples spend their lives endlessly fretting with anxiety worrying about how they will provide for themselves and their families when what is needed is faith that God will provide for them.

This is not to encourage laziness or a lack of work ethic—the scriptures obviously teach that it is good to work and that it is important to labor to provide—but too often we become consumed with the pursuit of these things to the neglect of serving Christ.

The true disciple of Christ must have faith that God will provide for His needs as he yields to His will and faithfully serves the Lord.

This is precisely where Jesus goes next as He continues to instruct His disciples.

Seek the Kingdom of God (Vs. 31-34)

Now Jesus challenges His disciples to seek not what they should eat or what they should drink and that they should not be of a doubtful mind—basically a challenge to reject the idea of spending their life constantly worrying about providing for themselves.

This is the common attitude of the world—because they deny the spiritual they concentrate all their attention on the attainment of the physical.

Jesus encourages them by assuring them that their heavenly Father knows that they have need of such things.

God knows exactly what we have need of and He is more than able to see to it that all our needs are met.

Jesus then challenges His disciples instead to seek the kingdom of God—this involves concentrating their energy and attention towards doing the will of God and to spend their lives building up His kingdom.

He assures them that if they will seek the Kingdom of God that all these things—the basic necessities they have need of—will then be added to them.

If they will devote themselves to building God’s kingdom then God will see to it that their needs are met.

Jesus encourages them not to fear for it it the Father’s good pleasure to give them the kingdom—this simply serves to remind them that in building up the kingdom of God they are building up a kingdom that they will one day inherit as their own.

Those who have lived for and served God will one day have the joy of ruling and reigning with Him in His eternal kingdom.

Finally Jesus challenges these disciples to sell what they have and give alms in order to provide for themselves treasure that will not fade away.

This is not a command to be taken in the sense that we are to go and immediately sell off all our possessions—instead it is to be considered a principle by which we ought to live.

The idea here is that we should not cling tightly to possessions but should be willing to part with all that we have in order to serve the Lord and to gain eternal rewards.

The final phrase of this passage is one which is worthy of careful attention—where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

This simply means that wherever what you value most is your heart will be there as well.

If you value the possessions that this world has to offer most then your heart will be fixed upon the things of the world but if you value eternal rewards then your heart will naturally be fixed upon that which is eternal instead.

Matthew 19:21-26- Rich young ruler-vividly illustrates this principle.

Conclusion

One of the greatest problems facing those who would be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ is that our thinking must be reshaped.

In our flesh it is perfectly natural that we should be consumed with providing for ourselves and storing up wealth for the future.

Yet as disciples of Jesus Christ we must take a different approach to this life.

We must focus our energy and attention upon that which is eternal—upon the kingdom of God.

Our greatest concern should be laying up treasures in heaven not storing up wealth upon earth.

Our primary ambition should be building up the kingdom of God not attempting to build up our own kingdom upon earth.

This will require faith in God and His ability to provide for our needs as we follow and serve Jesus Christ.

The best life for any believer is one which is dedicated to knowing and doing the will of God and we must be convinced of this reality.