Title: Seek First the Kingdom of God (2)
Series: A Pathway to Generosity
Author: Timothy Melton
Text: Luke 12:13-31
There is an English phrase known as the "Haves and the Have Nots." The "Haves" are those who have a lot of money and the "Have Nots" are those who do not have much money.
Would you say you are amongst the "Haves" or the "Have Nots"? Our answer will probably be based on who we are comparing ourselves to.
Are we comparing ourselves to a billionaire, then we are counted amongst the "Have Nots." If we are comparing ourselves to a mother in an impoverished nation digging through the garbage in the street looking for food for her family we might count ourselves as amongst the "Haves."
In Luke 12 Jesus takes time to speak to both groups.
We first begin in verses 13-15 as Jesus is speaking to a crowd,
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14 Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."
Jesus is speaking to a crowd and a man finds it necessary to sort out his grievance with his brother in front of everyone. It was not that uncommon for rabbis or Jewish teachers to be sought out to sort out these type of problems but Jesus refused to be drawn into it. It appeared to be a legal problem but really it was a heart problem. With this in mind, Jesus turned the opportunity into a teachable moment.
How often has God wanted to take our difficulties with life or even with each other and turn them into teachable moments? Imagine how fast God could move us along the path of spiritual maturity if we would let Him use every difficulty in our lives for our good. That is what Jesus desired to do here for everyone in the crowd. So, in response to this man's grievance against his brother, Jesus told them this parable.
...
Series: A Pathway to Generosity
Author: Timothy Melton
Text: Luke 12:13-31
There is an English phrase known as the "Haves and the Have Nots." The "Haves" are those who have a lot of money and the "Have Nots" are those who do not have much money.
Would you say you are amongst the "Haves" or the "Have Nots"? Our answer will probably be based on who we are comparing ourselves to.
Are we comparing ourselves to a billionaire, then we are counted amongst the "Have Nots." If we are comparing ourselves to a mother in an impoverished nation digging through the garbage in the street looking for food for her family we might count ourselves as amongst the "Haves."
In Luke 12 Jesus takes time to speak to both groups.
We first begin in verses 13-15 as Jesus is speaking to a crowd,
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14 Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."
Jesus is speaking to a crowd and a man finds it necessary to sort out his grievance with his brother in front of everyone. It was not that uncommon for rabbis or Jewish teachers to be sought out to sort out these type of problems but Jesus refused to be drawn into it. It appeared to be a legal problem but really it was a heart problem. With this in mind, Jesus turned the opportunity into a teachable moment.
How often has God wanted to take our difficulties with life or even with each other and turn them into teachable moments? Imagine how fast God could move us along the path of spiritual maturity if we would let Him use every difficulty in our lives for our good. That is what Jesus desired to do here for everyone in the crowd. So, in response to this man's grievance against his brother, Jesus told them this parable.
...
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