Bird Brains & Flower Power

A hallmark of many people of faith is this thought that we can make God do something.

Some are very honest and just outright ask God to change a person, or make them do something.

Often, it is for personal gain of some form.

Sometimes, it is for their own safety, as in, they are trying to change someone who is hurting them.

But, for the most part, we tend to argue and fight with each other over money.

When detectives try to solve crimes, money or greed is one of the top motives.

A truth emerges....

Money makes people do funny (not ha ha) things

Can also be possessions, food, property, family, whatever it is that motivates you.

As we go through the section today, we are going to cover several topics.

Greed - Judgement - How to Measure your Life

WARNING:

We are going to drink from a fire hose today.

I will read the rest of the chapter, please follow along, and we will pick a few places to concentrate.

REMINDER:

We closed with Jesus promising the Holy Spirit would help you find words in your trial.

So don’t worry...

What follows picks up the theme a bit.

Luke 12:13-59

Luke 12:13–59 NLT

Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!” ’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready. “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful. “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against. ‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’” Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right. When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times. “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny.”

How did this whole section open?

With a Brother who wanted Jesus to make his other brother split the inheritance with him.

Make him do it.

And you see how it ends, with Jesus giving a warning not to do that.

Keep that in mind as we go through this and look at a few sections. Like Mary and Martha (Make her help me!), this brother wants Jesus to step into this matter.

Luke 12:13-21

Luke 12:13–21 (NLT)

Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”...“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

This should be a bit striking for you to hear.

A matter like this is the exact kind of thing that we would want God to decide. We might even pray for someone who is unfairly treated by another family member.

That is what is going on here, correct?

What we don’t know is who the greedy brother is.

We are never told that. This brother believes it is unfair and the other brother should share.

MISSING CHARACTER: The FATHER!

Why should I take the position of your FATHER.

He gives this parable about a wealthy farmer who makes a bunch of money, has no worries, and dies the next day.

It would be like having a goal to save $1 Million dollars, and the day you have that million in the bank you are like, YES, I am good to go!

And you die the next day.

Luke 12:22-23

Luke 12:22–23 NLT

Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.

I am not going to get into this whole section about worrying and not worrying.

The text is pretty self explanatory, so you read it for yourself, meditate on it and pray on it.

Jesus takes this moment to have a private lesson with his disciples.

Their life is going to be hard, and a hard life should not dissuade you from following Jesus

Life is more than these things, yes, you need them to survive, but what kind you eat is of no concern.

So...

Luke 12:29-31

Luke 12:29–31 NLT

“And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

Here Jesus begins to talk about the Father, the character missing from the brothers request.

People here will argue and go to court to “get what is theirs,” but the Father we serve is not like that.

Seek the Kingdom of God ABOVE ALL ELSE.

You will find all you need there.

How do you seek the kingdom?

Luke 12:32-34

Luke 12:32–34 (NLT)

“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

You give to those in need, and you give until it hurts.

And by the way…those in need are not the so called pastors and leaders that fly around in private jets.

Those are ministers and teachers of Hell’s doctrines.

Stay away from them.

The contrast here is the rich farmer who stored enough to eat, drink, and be merry and then died.

If he had given his food to the poor and those in need, he would have stored that entire treasure in heaven.

Take your treasure when you die by giving to those in need.

This is the upside down business model of the Kingdom of God.

And don’t stop!

Luke 12:37

Luke 12:37 NLT

The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!

Get this image…The master of the house will honor the servants who do their service well.

Peter…God love him…is wondering who Jesus is talking about?

Luke 12:41

Luke 12:41 NLT

Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”

This whole thing has been a parable...

All started by a brother demanding that Jesus MAKE IT FAIR, MAKE THEM DO IT.

Luke 12:42-44

Luke 12:42–44 NLT

And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.

You see, that is what the father of the brothers should have done, but here Jesus is going to put his attention on the two brothers, what they should have done...

But people are not like this…they look out only for themselves, what about them?

They will experience God’s justice, and it is severe.

Luke 12:45—47

Luke 12:45–48 NLT

But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful. “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

There are three servants here...

The wicked servant, who abuses the other servants in the Master’s house. How are they dealt with?

The disobedient servant, who knows better, but for some reason won’t carry out the instructions.

The unknowing servant, like a newbie.

GIVEN VERSUS ENTRUSTED...

I HAVE SPENT THIS TIME TO ARRIVE AT THIS MOMENT, SO WE READ THIS IN CONTEXT OF THE REQUEST TO JESUS FROM THE BROTHER.

Luke 12:49-52

Luke 12:49–52 NLT

“I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.

How can this be? Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Yes, He is.

But not everyone wants PEACE.

Many want THEIR FAIR SHARE

Many want THEIR BANK ACCOUNT FULL

Many WORRY so much they will INJURE OTHERS

He goes on...

Luke 12:53

Luke 12:53 NLT

‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’”

What is the ONE THINK you know will DIVIDE a FAMILY?

You were given the answer at the start of this whole teaching?

Money, the inheritance.

The lack of a father in the story tells the story.

But more than that…if someone in the family has money, everything can go sideways.

Brittany Spears...

Paris Hilton...

But in this context, here is a scenario...

The son is successful, but does not share it with the father or mother. What happens?

The Father and Mother are successful, but they do not share it, what happens?

You know what is worse…if you are successful, and you give it to the poor, and you don’t enrich your family, can you imagine what would happen?

Here is the point…when you follow the instruction of Jesus, the poor will love you, but those you ARE SUPPOSED TO LOVE (i.e. family, brother) will HATE YOU.

Jesus believes this should be obvious...

Luke 12:57-59

Luke 12:57–59 NLT

“Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny.”

This is the Jesus you won’t hear about from

Joel Olsteen or Oprah.

He uses the weather as an example of what should be obvious.

Although in today’s age, I am not sure someone could tell the weather without an APP!

There are some things we are to decide for ourselves.

We should know what is right.

And where there is an issue, try to work it out with others.

When you bring God to the matter, you may not like how it goes.

Remember, he can UNCOVER and REVEAL ALL SECRETS.

In the matter of the brothers, Jesus may declare the money goes to the poor and neither of them gets anything. Then who is happy?

You think they are going to follow Jesus after that?

The wisdom of birds and

the work of flowers

are better than a human’s.

God commands the birds to be birds

God commands the flowers to be flowers

And they are.

He instructs the humans to be imagers,

and they refuse.

What is required?

The brain of a bird

The power of a flower

But, you already know why we don’t sell all we have and give it to the poor.

We don’t believe…Well, we believe, but only to a certain degree.