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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke
PART 4 - JESUS' MINISTRY DURING HIS JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM (Luke 9:51 - 19:27)
12. Our Attitude Toward Earthly Cares (Luke 12:13-34)
LUKE 12:13-21
13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for ones life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” 16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Christ did not love money and property, for no one can serve two masters. The Lord saw by divine insight how money rules the world, and how most people are servants of their money, trusting currency rather than the eternal God. Men and women’s eyes blink, and their hands tremble when they receive large amounts of money. The love of money makes many sinful. They sell themselves for hush money, and deny their faith for the sake of office.
The fruit that is poisoned by love of money is covetousness, when man desires to gain more than he needs. He does not become satisfied, for a miser always considers himself poor, needy, and afraid of want. However Christ teaches us to give generously, spend freely, sacrifice, love the poor, and not to take, gain illicitly, or become mean. The Lord became angry when one of his hearers desired him to arbitrate between him and his brother in a matter that concerned the estate of the family, for he had already taught: “If someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt as well. And if someone robs you, give him more.” Thus Christ teaches against taking money by force. He also refuses the selfish desire to take money from others.
God is love, and he does not live for himself. If he were mean, we would not live in freedom, but would be his slaves. The Creator gives to both good and evil his sun, air, water, and earth elements that men may enjoy his blessings, and learn to give to others richly out of his grace. Did you realize the principle in God’s will? He wants to offer, bless, give generously, and fill his creatures with his blessings that we may also learn to give generously, offer, and bless men out of his fullness.
There was an experienced and skillful hardworking man whose covetousness made him worldly-minded, selfish and rough. In the end he thought only of his fruits, barns and riches, and forgot about God and other people. Thus he became enslaved to his schemes and possessions. Read in Christ’s parable how many times this foolish rich man spoke the first person “I”.
Is this a sin? Did the Lord not bless him? The Lord did. Yet he did not thank his Lord, but made plans apart from him. He pulled down his old barns and built greater. He was an able, economical manager. Is this a sin? He enjoyed the blessings given to him, and wanted to relax after his long toil. Is this unfair? No, for God gave man dominion over the earth and its creatures.
But the diligent manager and rich owner forgot God, and his poor neighbor. He did not train himself to share, but multiplied everything for himself. This is why God called him a fool, though he was gifted and diligent. Beware! The Highest personally calls the rich man a fool, for he lacks divine life and love. All diplomas, cars, bank accounts, and funds will be useless to you at the hour of death, but your love and prayer remain forever. So turn to God that Christ may wash you from your sins and give you everlasting riches. Where the Savior of the world saves you from the demon of money, he fills you with the Spirit of his love. Otherwise, you will remain enslaved, poor, disturbed, and set toward destruction.
PRAYER: O Lord, please forgive my lack of love toward you and others. Free me from my financial worries, and deliver me from meanness, covetousness, and the love of money, that I may give as you give without taking. Thank you for Christ is the riches of our life, and you have granted us in him all the blessings of heaven freely.
QUESTION 86: Why did God call the diligent rich man poor and foolish?