13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12: 13-21 ESV
Luke 12: 13-21 Wealthy Man
Someone in the crowd said to Him - Jesus had just left off teaching men to fear the right thing, God, the one Who is eternal and the One by Whom all things exist. He warned them about the leaven of the Pharisees, their hypocrisy, and the coming danger before the Father in not excepting the Son.
8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. Luke 12: 8-9
Teacher - Jesus was a Rabbi, had followers (disciples), who were learning, listening to His teaching. This man cries out of nowhere and a bit out of context, like the woman who complimented Him by way of His mother. Looking into this further, it was not uncommon for those who put themselves forth as experts to be asked to give an opinion on a matter, to judge between relatives or neighbors according to the law. He wanted an expert witness so to speak, someone to help him resolve or influence someone else towards seeing his perceived slight.
Tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me - The man calls Him, teacher, but he now gives Jesus an order. Did the man even hear the things Jesus said prior? It is safe to assume that whatever he heard his mind was so fixed upon his own issue that his true priority came bubbling up. I have heard families dog each other, sue each other over inheritance. The money was not theirs, they didn't earn it, but be sure, if there is some, then everyone feels entitled to what they didn't make. Men quickly become vultures, anxious for the passing of the one whose money and possessions they want. Jesus is not the one to approach about fair and unfair like this, and the things He spoke to the masses about were things that they could carry into eternity. Money, material things, and the love and concerns of this world were nothing in comparison to the riches of what these people could inherit in Christ.
William Hendriksen helps see this "interruption" from the crowd in context - Jesus has been emphasizing the folly of worry. He has been saying, "Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight.... Have no fear; you are of more value than any number of sparrows." One would think that in view of such words of encouragement the reaction of everyone would be, "How rich we are!" Upon one listener, however, the words of Jesus seem to have made no impression whatever. Someone has said, "When there is an inheritance 99 percent of the people become wolves." The person who made this request could think of only one thing: the inheritance! He was convinced that he was being cheated. (Borrow Exposition of the Gospel of Luke)
Spurgeon - Our Lord kept to his proper business, which was the preaching of the gospel and the healing of the sick. We find, in these days, that the minister of the gospel is asked to do almost everything. He must be a politician; he must be a social reformer; he must be I know not what. For my part, I often feel as if I could answer, “Who made me to do anything of the kind? If I can preach the gospel, I shall have done well if I do that to the glory of God, and to the salvation of men. Surely there are enough people to be judges and dividers, there are quite sufficient politicians to attend to politics, and plenty of men who feel themselves qualified to direct social reforms. Some of us may be spared to attend to spiritual affairs.” (Luke 12 - Exposition) - Precept Austin
Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you - Again Jesus deflects any present office, civil or other. He is focused on the office of prophet, proclaiming the gospel of repentance, and then will move to the office of Priest, offering Himself as the Savior, the sacrificial Lamb. He is the King above all kings, and at the end of this age every knee will bow and confess this. As per usual these people want a Messiah that frees them from earthly bondage, enemies, famine, drought, and poverty, but they don't think they need a Savior to rescue them from their sin. Sin is the root they can't see, and it has to be addressed whether we acknowledge it's existence or not, if left untreated it will eventually destroy and continue to throughout eternity.
…35“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?” 36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.” 37“Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”… John 18: 35-37
…14When the people saw the sign that Jesus had performed, they began to say, “Truly this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself. 16When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,… John 6: 14-16
Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness - Now He addresses what He perceives to be the man's actual problem, as only God can do. Many of us would hear the man's story and relate, especially if we were friends with him and not his brother. If we wanted the same thing then we could easily be swayed, justify our position, I mean his position. Note how Jesus says, "all covetousness", for rich and poor alike can be greedy, and many of us are quick to go along with whoever tells the most emotional story. I had a discussion with someone at work a few weeks ago who felt sorry for Prince Harry and Meghan because they would have to live on less than he had grown accustomed to. He was informed by an interview on tv and swept up by the moment. I would love to see what it was like to live off of 5 million dollars much less 50 million, but neither is guaranteed to me nor should be, that's not how nature works at all. I'm sorry, but I don't feel sorry for the prince, nature is caloric, and kingdoms come and go. Everyone has a system that they think will work, communism, because people are greedy so these people "who aren't greedy" are going to collect everything and divide it equally amongst everyone. Socialism (baby communism) because only rich people are greedy and so once again we tax the life out of people and then divide it up amongst those who work, but also those who don't want to work. Democratic socialism because the majority is right, like mobs or tsunamis, might makes right. If we voted for it, decided upon it as a society then it must be the right thing to do because surely this many votes, real or manufactured, must be correct. Capitalism because we know that people are greedy, all people, and that they will work harder for reward or not for less reward. This is actually the most fair if protected from the ruling classes pay to play, but it still doesn't solve the problem of human greed because it still can't fix human depravity. Like Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world." His rule will be actual fairness, care, and a love that does not leave sin, the thing that men confuse for freedom while it puts them and everyone around them in bondage.
…2In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise. 3For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. 4In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.… Psalm 10: 2-4
For one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions - Life comes from God, and talent that may lead a man to great wealth, the times and the places we are born, the families we are born or adopted into, all are not without God. Right now, as you are without God spiritually, you are actually dead in your trespasses and sins, with nothing to buy your way out of this. You won't just die, for there would be nothing to fear in that, but you will die trusting in the delusions of your own mind, against God, and you will pass into the place of the damned. Imagining that this life is all there is, and that winning here is getting all the possessions you want, that nothing else matters, that's a lie.
6Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.… 1 Timothy 6: 6-8
The land of a rich man produced plentifully - He is in the position of having a massive surplus, and he is already wealthy.
I have nowhere to store my crops - He immediately goes to where will I put all of this.
I will tear down my barns and build larger ones - He could sell the excess, but this would turn inflation the other way, bring the market prices down. That would benefit the poor, who he could also go directly to, because there is no way one man has produced all of this on his own, especially with the farming tools they had back then. He must have many hired hands and or indentured slaves, who he could divide this bumper crop with, and they could each sell it themselves as a bonus, transform it into oil or cakes etc.., and improve their lot. Instead, he is going to manipulate the market and keep the prices high. I have never understood why men don't want to do great things for their employees either. A happy, healthy, non anxious employee is the best. If all my bills are paid, my children fed, there's a roof over their heads and clean water, then it is easy to go to work and focus on the issues there. I have been fortunate to be paid decent, but then later find lodging that was more affordable, and the healthcare through my work has been sufficient to the many trials it has had to meet, so I am grateful. Seeing the present spikes in inflation, and human greed that continually says, "we are raising our prices due to the market demand," I worry about my friends and acquaintances that are looking to buy or rent in this ridiculous market. I also worry about my enemies because they are human beings as well, and God has commanded us to love them regardless of our differences.
17Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, “ Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.” 1 Timothy 5: 17-18
Gary Inrig agrees that Jesus portrays an man dominated by "selfishness: “I … I … I”—six times over. He is totally preoccupied with himself. For him, the purpose of having is self-indulgence. “I deserve it; I owe it to myself; I’ll do it my way”—all the anthems and slogans of twentieth-century selfists were known to their first-century cousins. (Borrow The parables : understanding what Jesus meant - see page 93)
People who are satisfied only with the things that money can buy
are in great danger of losing the things that money cannot buy.
-- Warren Wiersbe - Precept Austin
And I will say to my soul, "soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years, relax, eat, drink and be merry" - That is not just the American dream, but the dream of people everywhere. My store houses are full, my life can now be one of leisure. I can toss out a coin here and there and still be considered a philanthropist, yet the envy of everyone who wants what I have. It becomes a form of self worship, and it desires others to recognize, "look what I got, look how many pretty shiny things I have laid about my nest, check out my car, surely this will attract a lot of friends and a desirable mate." People talk about bling and making it rain, how many inches their tv is, but this is worldly wisdom. It attracts the flies as does the dung. We forget that everything we use here was put here by God, and we worship the creation over the Creator, it is upside down, grotesque.
…11with houses full of every good thing with which you did not fill them, with wells that you did not dig, and with vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant—and when you eat and are satisfied, 12be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 13Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.… Deuteronomy 6: 11-13
…15The foe pulls all of them up with a hook; he catches them in his dragnet, and gathers them in his fishing net; so he rejoices gladly. 16Therefore he sacrifices to his dragnet and burns incense to his fishing net, for by these things his portion is sumptuous and his food is rich. 17Will he, therefore, empty his net and continue to slay nations without mercy?… Habakkuk 1: 15-17
16He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. 17Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. 18Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,… 1 Timothy 6: 16-18
Fool, this night your soul is required of you - How many people have made it through their careers, saw what they thought to be the light at the end of the tunnel, their golden years of retirement, traveling, visiting family, fishing all day every day, or the even worse, playing golf? It's here, you don't have to do anything now but serve yourself, and that is the place of this rich man, and what he doesn't realize is that all of this has been God's richness towards him, but his idea of stewardship was to blame himself for every success and keep everything for himself. He lives in an area and time dependent upon the proper amount of rain, and I somehow doubt that he invented rain. It didn't hail that year or frost at an inopportune time, but still he honors himself, and yet that night all his self adoration comes to an end. Many people put off the most important thing in all of this life till tomorrow, and that is to know God, and to know Him in faith is to hear His words, and to believe in Him is to do what He says. Everything this man had turned over to someone else who will get to care for it before God, to Whom all things actually belong, and He is going to return and bring all these to account.
48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24: 48-51
So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God - It was God's grace, His gifts, and all made of the materials He created, and so then we are thieves.
…39When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ 40And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ 41Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.… Matthew 25: 39-41
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.