| Consequences of Sin And Forgiveness: Lesson 21: The Journey Of Faith 01/19/2014 by turtle Luke 12:13-33 KJV (13) And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. (14) And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? (15) And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (16) And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: (17) And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? (18) And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. (19) 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. (20) But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (21) So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (22) And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. (23) The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. (24) Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? (25) And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? (26) If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? (27) Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (28) If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? (29) And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. (30) For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. (31) But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. (32) Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (33) Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. The journey of life toward the great inheritance in the sky. Is not in material possession but in spiritual truth of love. This passage starts out with two brothers trying to figure out how to divide the inheritance. I happen to think are the Protestants, Catholics and Charismatic/Pentecostal groups going to argue over heaven? I often like to think heaven big enough for all of us even those not in these groups. If there room for all that receive Christ then there plenty of room at the cross for you. There plenty of room in the world for the poor, middle class and the wealthy. Yet our nations around the globe fear over population of society to where there no room causing plagues and other health issues. We all want a small corner of the world to ourselves. Now if people been being saved since the beginning of time how big is heaven. If heaven is that big then how little our world really is. Yet not all will be heaven, but all will see those pearly gates. Yet the journey to those pearly gates is not in material possession. Christ taught to sell all you have and give to the poor and to follow Him. Paul was a priest and a tent maker by trade. He walked from town to town after getting saved and preached the gospel. His role in society might not of changed that much. Disciples were fishermen by trade and follow Jesus at His call, but even they continued to fish to make a living to care for their families. Did God tell you to give up your livelihood to follow Him. No God did not tell you to give up working, but to sell all you had. Yet the disciples nets when empty and needing to catch fish Jesus supplied. God can take your talents but the thing is not to lay up treasurers on earth, that have no value. After all to stow the fruit of your labor, your wealth you need a bigger house. Most people as they grow older try to downsize so those things that have become dear are now sold to enable them to live through those golden years. Christ said not to store up, because God can take you. What value is your wealth to your offspring, it might be survival for them. It is your possessions your children will be fighting over. Sound greedy, no. It is life. The inheritance of heaven is not a place to fight over and your material possessions have no value there. You can not take it with you when you die. However the beggar needing bread and you are eating like kings, consider those in need. If you give all you have to help the poor, will you be taken care when your old, no guarantees. Why worry about tomorrow, the fowl of the air are taken care of. If Christ says follow be like Moses, Abraham, disciples, Paul, Mary mother of Jesus, Joseph, Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany, Martha, Lydia and Dorcas. All living to follow after Christ, onward to heaven bound, but not for gain of material wealth. In hopes to make fruit for the Master use. Serving God and living to share the good news, is not about wealth of this world, but it about following instruction God gives. Abraham did not stop being shepherd, Moses trade leading sheep for people, David gave up fighting bears and lions to fight the war to protect Israel. Mary mother of Jesus would give up her home to move to Egypt and then return to Nazareth. If God requires you to give up it all, will you do it for the kingdom sake. If God calls you into a mission field will you give up your security to follow Him. Many ministers have had to make that choice over the years and some going back to their chosen field, or another place of work to help with their golden years. Or did they return to work because that direction God took them in so they could use what they had for God’s glory. No matter where life journey takes you, you will probably still land up working. Still land up needing a pay check. What that means is God given you talents to use for that purpose and He expects you to use your talents. Sometimes you have to work other jobs to share your faith and other times you walk an open road of trust that God will feed you at least the manna from heaven, yet there is a promise of provision in the physical sense. Jeremiah found himself in a sewer and also living kings palace. So if you find that not every place you go is not the palace do not be surprised, but God is still providing. Sometimes we have to experience being in the sewer to know what the palace is. And sometimes we have to return to know what we had. To follow God is not to worry about the wealth, but to know God’s provision will be there. Dear Heavenly Father whatever state I am in, let me serve you with a whole heart. In Jesus precious name, Amen. http://www.turtle30cshell.com _ |
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