Possessions and Necessities
After Jesus gave his disciples some words of instruction, a man in the crowd asked Jesus to speak to his brother, that he would divide the inheritance with him. Jesus used this opportunity to teach his disciples about possessions and necessities.
He taught them to:
Beware of Covetousness Lk 12:13-21
When the man asked Jesus to persuade his brother to divide the inheritance with him, Jesus replied with a question. He asked, “who made me a judge or a divider over you”? Jesus wasn’t just blowing him off. He meant what he said. Jesus didn’t have jurisdiction in this matter.
As Bible believers, we need to have discretion in matters like this. We may think we know the right thing to do in certain instances. But if we don’t have jurisdiction, we have no business getting involved. The division of an inheritance is a legal matter within the jurisdiction of those who uphold the law.
Jesus then commented to those following him, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth”. We should constantly remind ourselves of this truth.
Then Jesus gave a parable to reinforce the truth of the statement he just made. It’s about a farmer who made such a large crop, that he tore down his barns and built bigger ones to store his harvest. His goal was live off this abundant harvest for many years and just take it easy.
Notice the numerous references the man made to himself. In three verse the man said, “I” six times and “my” five times. Never once did he mention God or another person.
What this certain rich man didn’t consider was Prov 27:1, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth”. He hadn’t considered that he might die before he could enjoy the fruit of his labor. God said, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee”.
And God went on to ask, “then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided”? The rich man kept talking about “my” fruits and “my” goods. The day he died, they were no longer his. This is the vanity and evil that Solomon wrote about in Ecc 2:18-21. And this is what the fellow was arguing with his brother about in Lk 12:13.
The application of the parable is this. Just as this rich man lost it all in one night, “so is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God”. The point is to not keep the fruit of your labor all for yourself. The truth is, you can’t. When you die, it becomes someone else’s.
Take No Thought For Your Life Lk 12:22-30
It’s interesting to note how Jesus applied the truth he just taught. He said, “Therefore, I say unto you, Take no thought for YOUR life…”. The idea is that, when God has blessed you, you should be thinking about how you can be a blessing to others.
But, naturally, we think about ourselves, what we’re going to eat, and what we’re going to wear. However, we don’t have to. God feeds the fowls and we are more important than the fowls. God determines our stature and we can’t add to that (though we can add to our waist line). And God arrays the lilies more gloriously than Solomon was arrayed. God will take care of our possessions and necessities.
So, Jesus said, “seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither by ye of doubtful mind”. When you’re working and not lazy, and you’re doing what God made you to do, you’re going to eat, and you’re going to have clothes. And with these we should be content, 1 Tim 6:6-8. Don’t be like the nations of the world. Contentment is the remedy for covetousness.
Seek The Kingdom of God Lk 12:31-34
Instead of seeking these temporal, material and earthly things, Jesus said, “seek ye the kingdom of God”. Seek the eternal, spiritual, and heavenly things. You do that and the Lord will see to it that you have the material things you need.
He said, also, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”. You can tell this comment was aimed directly at his Jewish disciples. He’s exhorting them to realize that they are going to get the kingdom promised to Israel. See Matt 19:27-29, for example. So, no need to worry about trying to accumulate wealth now.
Instead, “Sell that ye have, and give alms”. Alms are something given freely to relieve the poor. Jesus told the rich man to give to the poor, Lk 18:22. They’re the ones who need the help and they can’t reciprocate. Much charitable giving by the rich is given to the rich, Prov 22:16. There’s usually a selfish motive in this kind of giving.
When you give to the poor, you “provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth”. When you help them, you are, in fact, lending unto the Lord, Prov 19:17. And he’ll pay you again.
Jesus concluded this passage of scripture with these words, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”. The rich farmer’s heart was with his possessions and necessities, for the short duration of time that he had them. When your treasure is given to the Lord, your heart will be with the Lord.
To study the previous lesson, click on Words of Instruction. To study the next lesson, click on Be Ye Therefore Ready.