Union Church of Christ

Luke 12:13-34

Introduction

1. Luke 12:15.
2. Context:
   1. Person seeking a better deal with the inheritance.
   2. Parable of a foolish farmer.
   3. Principles concerning anxiety.
3. Jesus' teaching deals with our topic.

Discussion

1. Problem
   1. Symptom.
      1. The inheritance is not the problem, but a symptom of a deeper problem.
      2. Often we deal with symptoms - ex. attendance.
      3. Jesus did not deal with the symptom, but went to the heart of the matter.
   2. Selfishness.
      1. Verse 15.
         1. Covetousness - greed, thirst for more and more and more.
         2. Take heed and beware - watch and guard yourself.
      2. 1 Timothy 6:10.
         1. First sin mentioned in the church - Acts 5:1-11.
         2. First sin mentioned in Canaan - Joshua 7.
      3. Matthew 16:24.
         1. Acts 2:45
         2. Acts 4:32
2. Parable: Here is a parable that warns of covetousness and warns of its results.
   1. He Forgot Certain things.
      1. The Source of his blessings.
         1. Verse 16 - where did ground, sunshine, rain, seed, etc. come from?
         2. "Where does milk come from?" little girl said, "the store."
         3. James 1:17.
         4. On payday, realize that this is a manifestation of God's goodness.
         5. Psalm 103:1, 2
         6. Psalm 68:19 19
      2. Those who are in need.
         1. Verse 18, 19 - everything is to fulfill his own selfish wants.
         2. Gr. - "I" and "my" are used 12x.
         3. Does my life, contribution, etc. manifest selfishness or sacrifice?
      3. The Source of Ease.
         1. Verse 19 - he thought that material things brought peace of mind.
         2. A barn may hold corn, but it cannot hold contentment.
         3. Philippians 4:11-13.
      4. The Uncertainty of the future.
         1. Verse 18, 19 - note the future plans.
         2. James 4:14.
   2. The farmer made some Foolish Choices.
      1. He chose to Horde rather than to Help.
         1. Verse 18.
         2. His sin was not in obtaining, but in what he did afterward.
      2. He chose the Earthly rather than the Eternal - v. 19.
      3. Not only was his death with God a tragedy, but his whole life had been a tragedy.
         1. He could cultivate the soil, but not the soul.
         2. He could build barns and houses, but not a life.
         3. Verse 21.
3. Principles
   1. The Ineffectiveness of Anxiety - v. 22-28
      1. Anxiety follows covetousness like night follows day.
      2. Greed always wants more - anxiety always needs more.
      3. Anxiety cannot feed or clothe or increase one's life span.
      4. A man may worry himself to death, but he cannot worry himself into a longer life.
      5. Not only is anxiety unprofitable, it is unnecessary.
         1. Verse 22, 23 - surely God who gave life/body will supply food/clothing.
         2. He cares for fowls (v. 24) flowers (v. 27) - surely he will care for the faithful.
      6. Anxiety stems from a lack of faith.
   2. The Importance of Faith - v. 28-30
      1. Anxiety and faith are diametrically opposed.
         1. Why are we anxious for food, clothing, etc? we have put our trust in unprofitable mammon and not in God.
         2. The key to life is trust in God.
      2. When we get wrapped up in the things of this earth that we forget what life's all about.
         1. Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14.
         2. At our very core, Christians must be different from the world.
         3. Different in our inner yearnings, our heart is set on different things, we are controlled by different ideals, we are motivated by a different love.
         4. It is due to a lack of faith when we hardly differ from the world in the ambitions/ cherish, goals/achieve, conduct/social lives, literature/ songs/friends, etc.
      3. Verse 29 - "doubtful mind" - tossed to and fro; a ship without an anchor.
      4. Anxiety that wrecks our lives or an Anchor that stabilizes our lives.
   3. The Investment in the Kingdom - v. 31-34
      1. This is the natural result of faith.
         1. Proverbs 19:17
         2. Think of the number of people who have invested in a cemetery plot for their bodies, but have done nothing for the soul.
         3. Psalm 49:6-15.
      2. Verse 33 - contrast this benevolent spirit with the rich farmer.
         1. Yet, how many lives revolve around things?
         2. How many things could we eliminate and still live a comfortable life?
         3. How many things would we have to eliminate to live a sacrificial life?
         4. If we sold our luxuries, how many missionaries could we send out?
      3. "A treasure that faileth not."
         1. Psalm 89:33
         2. Psalm 100:5
         3. Psalm 106:1
         4. John 3:16.
         5. John 4:14
         6. John 6:35
         7. 1 Peter 1:4, 5

Conclusion

1. What is YOUR life all about? What has first place in your life?
2. Have you made investments in the kingdom - investment that will never fail?