Read Luke 12

Highlights:

Warnings against hypocrisy and covetousness; more parables and healing.

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry (Luke 12:19).

The Lord illustrated the dangers of trusting in possessions by saying: The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully (12:16). By hard work and good management in the highly respected occupation of farming, he had become wealthy. There is no indication he gained his wealth by dishonest methods. His sin was that he spent his lifetime accumulating for himself. God called him a fool and then added: So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God (12:21).

Jesus pointed out that a person's true worth is not determined by his possessions. The world measures success by one's wealth, popularity, influence, personal pleasure, etc. God looks to the spiritual availability of man rather than the worldly. People are truly rich when the fruits of the Spirit are active in their lives (Gal. 5:22-23). It is these things that truly bring value to life.

Jesus acknowledged that our Heavenly Father knows we need food, clothing, and shelter and explained how He will provide these things when we seek . . . the Kingdom of God (12:31).

This means we are to put the Kingdom of God first in our hearts. Just as an award-winning athlete has one supreme desire and will endure whatever it costs to win. We, too, must prepare ourselves to be the person God wants us to be and to accomplish the purposes for which He created us. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Tim. 6:9-10).

However, God is not against wealth. He gladly provides it for the furtherance of His Kingdom to those whom He knows He can entrust with it. Paul even commended those who had little but who gave an offering for those in Jerusalem who were worse off themselves. He reminded them that God promised He would provide not only for their own needs but more “seed” so they could continue to be a blessing to others (Rom.15:26-29). And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work (2 Cor. 9:8).

Thought for Today:

Worry exposes a lack of faith in our loving heavenly Father.

Cross References:

For Luke 13:27: See Ps. 6:8. Luke 13:35: See Ps. 118:26.

Word Studies:

12:50 straitened, pressed with intense sorrow; 12:58 hale, take by force; 12:59 mite, fraction of a cent; 13:8 dung it, fertilize it; 13:24 strait, narrow, strict, illustrating no deviation from what God has said in His Word.

Prayer Suggestion: Wait upon the Lord and He will renew your strength (Is. 40:31).

Memory Verse for the Week: Psalms 139:16