The Parable of Modern Man Luke 12:13-34
Biblical Outline A Worldly Perspective (12:13-20) A Transitional Statement & Principle (12:21-28) A Heavenly Perspective (12:29-34)
The Setting Luke 12:13
Luke 12:13 Someone in the crowd said to him, Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. (ESV)
Jesus Reply Someone in the crowd said to him, Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. But he said to him, Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you? (Lk 12:13-14, ESV)
Big Idea Life consists of more than earthly abundance.
A Warning to Be Heeded Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness (15 a )
Covetousness (pleonexia) Insatiableness, avarice. At its root is the lust for more than one s fair share.
Exodus 20:17 You shall not covet your neighbor s house; you shall not covet your neighbor s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor s. (ESV)
Proverbs 21:26 All day long he (the unrighteous) craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. (ESV)
Ecclesiastes 5:10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income. (ESV)
A Principle to Be Applied For one s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. (15 b )
Fiddler on the Roof If money is the world s curse, may the Lord smite me with it. And may I never recover. Tevye
Mark Twain Defined civilization as, the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities.
The Story of a Rich Fool Luke 12:16-20
Luke 12:16-20 And he told them a parable, saying, The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops? And he said, I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry. But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be? (ESV)
What the Problem Was Not The problem was not his wealth.
What the Problem Was Not The problem was not his wealth. The problem was not his planning.
What the Problem Was Not The problem was not his wealth. The problem was not his planning. The problem was not his success.
The Source of the Problem He failed to consult others. He thought to himself (17) And he said [to himself] (18) And I will say to my soul (19)
The Source of the Problem He failed to consult others. He failed to consider others.
The Problem He failed to consult others. He failed to consider others. He failed to consider God.
Self-absorption What shall I do. I have no place to store my crops This is what I ll do, I will tear down my barns I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul eat, drink, be merry.
A Transitional Summary Statement Luke 12:21-28
Luke 12:21-26 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. And he said to his disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And
Luke 12:26-28 which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! (ESV)
Illustrations God is in charge of The ravens (24) Time (25) The lilies (27) The grass of the field (28) Certainly God is concerned with you.
The Resource Test The best test of resources: Are my resources tools of service that I am using for God s Glory? Do my resources benefit others? Do my resources enable me to be in a position to serve God better? Have I shown proper gratitude for what God has given me?
The Mark of Discipleship Luke 12:29-34
Luke 12:29-34 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (ESV)
Beware of Worrying Worry is destructive Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength Corrie Ten Boom
Beware of Worrying Worry is destructive Worry is deceptive It gives a false view of life, of itself, and of God.
Beware of Worrying Worry is destructive Worry is deceptive Worry is deformative How can we be a witness to a lost world and be an encouragement to them to put their faith in Christ, if we are doubting God and worrying?
Winning Over Worry Realize that God knows our needs. Try to look at things from heaven s point of view. Put God s kingdom first in everything. Ask, Where is your heart?
The Parable of Modern Man Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be? So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God (20-21)