But, What about Me?
05/04/09 09:53
While Jesus
was teaching a very large crowd about the kingdom of
God and God’s care for man, there was a man who
spoke up asking the Lord to arbitrate what he assumed
was a simple case.
“Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’” Luke12:13
At first glance is seems like a simple case to me. Two brothers and one inheritance; the law requires certain portions to each. Moses had given these laws to the Israelites because whether we like it or not, some folks are just plain stingy! It’s all about them and their “right” to their fair share in this life. And to make matters worse, usually the one demanding their fair share is looking to actually get a little more. This is how it works: It’s a heart thing and heart things tend to go bad if left to themselves. I have watched people argue and fight over the possessions of their deceased loved ones on the day they buried them! There have been permanent rifts in good families because someone thought they had the right to some “stuff.” Greed works best in disguise. It lives in the shadows of personal rights and should be classified as a communicable disease. People can easily diagnose it in others but rarely see the symptoms in themselves. Why? “Because it’s their right to have…” Have you ever watched a child receiving ice cream along with their playmate? He thanks appropriately yet, he slyly glimpses at his playmate’s portion. These are the first signs of greed. No one had to teach that little fellow how to assure that he received his fair portion. No one instructed him on the finer points of the fairness doctrine. He just knows that it is only right that he receives what is owed to him. Have you ever noticed that nobody really complains that they got more than the other guy?
Now, if you have a problem with injustice, who do you go to, to straighten out the situation? God; Of course! I don’t know anyone better to judge on these matters, do you? And so, this young man who felt slighted by his brother’s stinginess appeals to Jesus for justice. But while he was looking for justice, Jesus was seeing greed. While the man was looking at the outward circumstances, Jesus was looking at the heart. While the man was demanding treasures here on earth, Jesus was instructing that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. If you look for your treasures here on earth, your heart will be susceptible to the greed that will grow like a cancer until it consumes every little bit of happiness that you have. Paul tells us that, “godliness with contentment is great gain.” And again, “The love for money is the root of all evil.” Well, Jesus tells the man in so many words: “Get over it! There is more to life than what you have your eyes on.” When we go through life… No, let me rephrase this. When we stand before God, I guarantee us all, that we will realize that it was not so much what we received in this life that mattered, but what we gave. The words of Jesus sums it all up here; “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” So, what about you and me? The axiom for a blessed life is simply to give your life away for the sake of Christ, and you will have treasure in heaven.
Have a great week! Pastor Jim
“Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’” Luke12:13
At first glance is seems like a simple case to me. Two brothers and one inheritance; the law requires certain portions to each. Moses had given these laws to the Israelites because whether we like it or not, some folks are just plain stingy! It’s all about them and their “right” to their fair share in this life. And to make matters worse, usually the one demanding their fair share is looking to actually get a little more. This is how it works: It’s a heart thing and heart things tend to go bad if left to themselves. I have watched people argue and fight over the possessions of their deceased loved ones on the day they buried them! There have been permanent rifts in good families because someone thought they had the right to some “stuff.” Greed works best in disguise. It lives in the shadows of personal rights and should be classified as a communicable disease. People can easily diagnose it in others but rarely see the symptoms in themselves. Why? “Because it’s their right to have…” Have you ever watched a child receiving ice cream along with their playmate? He thanks appropriately yet, he slyly glimpses at his playmate’s portion. These are the first signs of greed. No one had to teach that little fellow how to assure that he received his fair portion. No one instructed him on the finer points of the fairness doctrine. He just knows that it is only right that he receives what is owed to him. Have you ever noticed that nobody really complains that they got more than the other guy?
Now, if you have a problem with injustice, who do you go to, to straighten out the situation? God; Of course! I don’t know anyone better to judge on these matters, do you? And so, this young man who felt slighted by his brother’s stinginess appeals to Jesus for justice. But while he was looking for justice, Jesus was seeing greed. While the man was looking at the outward circumstances, Jesus was looking at the heart. While the man was demanding treasures here on earth, Jesus was instructing that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. If you look for your treasures here on earth, your heart will be susceptible to the greed that will grow like a cancer until it consumes every little bit of happiness that you have. Paul tells us that, “godliness with contentment is great gain.” And again, “The love for money is the root of all evil.” Well, Jesus tells the man in so many words: “Get over it! There is more to life than what you have your eyes on.” When we go through life… No, let me rephrase this. When we stand before God, I guarantee us all, that we will realize that it was not so much what we received in this life that mattered, but what we gave. The words of Jesus sums it all up here; “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” So, what about you and me? The axiom for a blessed life is simply to give your life away for the sake of Christ, and you will have treasure in heaven.
Have a great week! Pastor Jim
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