Luke 12
COMMENTARY:
: 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows. (1308 “more value” [diaphero] means be better, to have worth, be superior to, what is best, right, to be or become of greater quality, or to be of considerable value, or superior.)
DEVOTION: This is one of my wife’s favorite verses in the Bible when we are going through a difficult time. These times happen to every Christian that is trying to live the Christian life from day to day.
She likes the fact that we are “more valuable” than the birds that feed at our birdfeeder each day. They like the provision that we make for them when the weather is bad. They can get all the food they want when the weather is good. In fact, they seem to like worms better than bird feed.
God provides all the food they need even when humans have taken over their territory. HE knew what was necessary to care for all of creation when HE created the world. HE is a God who provides especially for HIS children. HE doesn’t want any of them to not come to HIM in prayer for their daily bread.
CHALLENGE: How often do you think about the fact that you are more valuable than all of the rest of creation in the eyes of the LORD!!!
: 8-9 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall he Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. (3670 “confess” [homologeo] means profess, admit, declare, say plainly, acknowledge, speak out freely, or give thanks to.)
DEVOTION: Identification is important in our world. We have to carry some form of identification on our person at all times. Most of the time here in America it is a driver’s license. Those that don’t have a driver’s license can go to the local authority and have their photo taken and be given a I.D. card for purposes of purchasing things or going places.
Jesus wants those who are followers of HIM to tell others that they are followers of HIM. HE wants them to profess belief in HIM and what HE has done on the cross. Each time someone comes into our life we have to find a way to graciously tell them that we are a follower of Jesus Christ.
Recently, I had visited an aunt who was dying for the first time in many years. She was sick with cancer. At the end of the visit I asked her if I could pray. She agreed. After the prayer she thought that the prayer was too long. When she continued to decline in health I asked if I could visit again but she didn’t want me to come. She didn’t want a minister hanging around. I told her that I would just come as a nephew but was told that “You are what you are.” It saddened my heart but I realized that I am what I am to those who know me and sometimes they just don’t want me around. It hurts.
Jesus said that if we don’t identify with HIM, HE won’t identify with us. That would be even more tragic. I want to identify with HIM and sometimes that means others will not want to be with me. The choice has to be in my life and your life who we want to identify with. That choice has eternal consequences.
CHALLENGE: Realize that you and I are sinners and will always be sinners. However, Jesus washed our sins away and we need to thank HIM for what HE has done by identifying with HIM.
: 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry. (5590 “soul” [psuche] means inner self, mind, thoughts, feelings, conscious self, the principle of life, the immaterial part of a person which is the actuating cause of an individual life, or person.)
DEVOTION: Here we have a man who thinks that he is self-sufficient. He didn’t need anyone or anything. He was rich. He had all the food he could ever want. He was ready to party. He wanted to eat, drink and be merry.
He had the life of Riley. He could just relax and not do any work for the rest of his life. He was living on easy street.
There are many in our world who wants to be a millionaire. They go to college to get a good job. Then they save every penny toward their goal to retire early with a lot of money in the bank. They don’t need anyone or anything getting in their way. They have a goal. Some of them try to honor the LORD with their money on their way to being a millionaire but others don’t. Once they think they have arrived at their appointed goal – something happens. It isn’t all they thought it would be. They are not satisfied.
This man seemed satisfied but the LORD spoke to him regarding his plan. The LORD was the one who gave him his every breath. The LORD is the one who could withhold his next breath. The LORD told him that that is just what HE was going to do.
Then HE challenged him regarding who was going to spend all his money. HE wanted him to realize that being rich toward HIM was more important than being rich in this world’s goods. We need to learn this lesson too.
Many had worked toward this goal and retirement and found that the company they worked for was going to not pay their retirement. Some had put their money in the stock market to have it crash. Our treasure is to be in heaven. Invest in people.
CHALLENGE : We have to watch our thinking in regards to the future. Our actions today affect our future.
: 21 So is he that lays up treasures for himself, and is not rich toward God. (4147 “rich” [plouteo] means to have abundance, prosper, to acquire wealth, be generous, or have a great deal of.)
DEVOTION: Jesus is telling someone who has come to him to settle an estate. HE didn’t want anyone to think that he was there to help them get rich in worldly goods. He warned the people to watch out for covetousness. HE told HIS disciples that there are two kinds of riches. There is being rich in worldly goods. There is being rich in heavenly riches.
While instructing HIS disciples, HE told them that God would supply their every need. HE gave examples in a parable regarding God supplying every need. The birds are taken care of by the LORD. The grass is taken care of by the LORD. The LORD wants us to realize that HE can take care of our every need.
Our worrying about our needs will not help. Can we add inches to our height? Can we number the hairs on our head? God can. Our relation to money has to be one of distance. If we are more concerned about gaining money than we are about getting close to the LORD, we are in trouble.
Are we gathering money into our accounts for ourselves? Is this a main concern every day? Do we try to figure out ways to get more money for ourselves? Do we know the difference between needs and wants? Our needs will be met.
Jesus is teaching that we are to seek the kingdom of God FIRST and all these things will be added to us. If we only want them while we are seeking the kingdom of God, then we have a wrong desire. Our first and foremost desire needs to be the LORD and HIS kingdom. Our concern needs to be closeness to HIM.
Money should be the last thing we are worried about. It is the first thing that the Gentiles or unbelievers think about every day. What should our first thought be each morning? Should they be to see how we can serve the LORD better? We make a choice each morning.
CHALLENGE: Stop worrying and start working for the LORD more. HE will provide what we need.
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