Money Matters - Luke 12:13-48 - January 8, 2006

Sunday School Lesson – Money Matters – January 8, 2005

This is lesson two (2) in our study of “Things That Matter.”

This lesson is a natural follow-up to last week’s lesson “Work Matters.” We work to earn money to get things, provide for ourselves, family, education for our children, recreation, retirement, houses, etc. These are worthy ambitions.

For many of us men and some ladies obtaining is tied to our ego. Our self esteem and sense of worth comes from achieving and gathering money and things. Our study opens with such a person.

Our background scripture: Luke 12: 13-48.

Luke 12:13-21: Material wealth is temporary, only what we do, as GOD leads us, will last.
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Someone from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 “Friend,”[4] Lit Man He said to him, “who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 Then He told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You[5] Lit say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your • life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

JESUS had been teaching to a crowd of people on a variety of subjects such as religious hypocrisy, GOD knows you, even to the number of hairs on you, cares for you and acknowledging CHRIST in one’s life.

Then someone from the crowd asks JESUS a question in an effort to settle a dispute regarding inheritance. JESUS does not answer the question directly because the answer to his question is a matter of the heart of both people, who are brothers. Greed was the basis of the question. Greed can cause problems in families when it comes to money and the distribution of possessions after the death of a loved one.

JESUS uses the question to teach a very important lesson and to give the persons who are the source of the question something to consider, the attitude of their heart. Both need to consider where their heart is.

JESUS gives a parable about a rich farmer. Notice the farmer in the story is already considered rich but he has just reached what he has always dreamed for, a huge windfall.

The farmer has a decision to make regarding his new found wealth. Notice the number of times I, my, himself, he, myself and yourself are used. He never once considered consulting GOD about how he should use the excess. His solution, tear down the existing barns and build larger ones, not so others could share in his prosperity but so he could stop worrying and enjoy it for himself.

GOD has the final word in all things. We think having wealth protects us from tragedy but often it brings heartache. When we have the proper relationship with GOD, we realize all things belong to HIM and HE allows us to be stewards of those things.

This by no means, means we are not to work and prosper. We are to do all things as unto THE LORD. We need to keep what THE LORD has blessed us with in proper perspective. Also, keep in mind that it is not the amount of the wealth we accumulate but allowing GOD to direct us how, when and where it should be used. It is the attitude of the heart.

Remember the widow’s mite. Notice she gave little compared to the wealth others were giving but CHRIST said she had given more than all the others. Mark 12:41-44:
The Widow’s Gift
41 Sitting across from the temple treasury, He watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little.[23] Lit dropped in two lepta, which is a quadrans; the lepton was the smallest and least valuable Gk coin in use. The quadrans, 1/64 of a daily wage, was the smallest Roman coin. 43 Summoning His disciples, He said to them, “• I assure you: This poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury. 44 For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she possessed—all she had to live on.”

The heart of the parable, to me, is verses 20 and 21. Moses had warned the Israelites about leaving GOD out of their business life as expressed in Deut. 8:17-19, “17 You may say to yourself, ‘My power and my own ability have gained this wealth for me,’ 18 but remember that the Lord your God gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant He swore to your fathers, as it is today. 19 If you ever forget the Lord your God and go after other gods to worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will perish.”

JESUS puts it very plain in verses 20 and 21:

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your • life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Let’s read Luke 12:22-28: Trust GOD to meet your needs.
The Cure for Anxiety
22 Then He said to His disciples: “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? 25 Can any of you add a • cubit to his height[6] Or add one moment to his life-span by worrying? 26 If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the wildflowers grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! 28 If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will He do for you—you of little faith?

JESUS is using this opportunity to teach HIS disciples. JESUS is not saying be passive and do nothing, HE is saying do not worry or be anxious. Do what you know you need to do and trust GOD to provide what is needed. The key word is needed, not what is desired or what is excessive.

JESUS uses the animals to illustrate HIS point. I used to tell THE LORD, “I know you are going to feed these animals but why does it have to come from my garden or flower beds?” Of course, this was in jest.

The point seems to be when we allow GOD to guide and develop us as HE desires, we will have a natural beauty to which we cannot attribute to anything we have done. The grass controls erosion and feeds animals. Wildflowers have a beauty of their own and give off a fragrant odor. At the end of their useful life, they even continue with purpose because they provide fuel to cook food to sustain life. Grass and wildflowers seem so insignificant but they have a purpose and we are more important to GOD than grass or wildflowers. GOD produced them and in contrast Solomon had wealth but all of his wealth could not match the beauty of an insignificant wildflower or blade of grass. So do not worry, bloom where you are planted; GOD will take care of you. Again this is not passive but active.

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Let’s read Luke 12: 29-34: Strive for relationship not possessions.

29 Don’t keep striving for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. 30 For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 “But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

JESUS continues to emphasize the need to get your priorities in order, seek GOD. If possessions get in your way, sell them and give them to the poor. Do not let anything keep you from seeking and knowing GOD in a loving intimate way. Do not have the attitude of accumulating but an attitude of giving. You can only keep what you give away.

Your attitude toward possessions gives you a clue where heart is.

Let’s read Luke 12:35-40: Keep alert because THE LORD can come at any moment.
Ready for the Master’s Return
35 “Be ready for service[7] Lit Let your loins be girded; an idiom for tying up loose outer clothing in preparation for action; Ex 12:11 and have your lamps lit. 36 You must be like people waiting for their master to return[8] Lit master, when he should return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open [the door]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. for him at once. 37 Those • slaves the master will find alert when he comes will be blessed. • I assure you: He will get ready,[9] Lit will gird himself have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn,[10] Lit even in the second or third watch and finds them alert, those slaves are blessed. 39 But know this: if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”
Our human nature tells us we have plenty of time so why worry. We need to get what we can while we can. There is some truth to this; however the key is not to leave GOD out. JESUS is telling us to be ready because we do not know the moment we will either meet HIM or HE will come back to earth.
Let’s read Luke 12: 41-48: Be good stewards.
Rewards and Punishment
41 “Lord,” Peter asked, “are You telling this parable to us or to everyone?” 42 The Lord said: “Who then is the faithful and sensible manager his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food at the proper time? 43 That • slave whose master finds him working when he comes will be rewarded. 44 I tell you the truth: he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and starts to beat the male and female slaves, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 that slave’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces[11] Lit him in two and assign him a place with the unbelievers.[12] Or unfaithful, or untrustworthy 47 And that slave who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it[13] Lit or do toward his will will be severely beaten. 48 But the one who did not know and did things deserving of blows will be beaten lightly. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.[14] Or much

JESUS did not answer Peter’s question directly. Did Peter ponder JESUS’ comment about being a faithful steward, managing THE MASTER’S household and feeding fellow slaves after the crucifixion, burial, resurrection and ascension of CHRIST? Peter had denied CHRIST three (3) times. After the resurrection of JESUS, Peter likely felt unworthy to serve CHRIST. After the resurrection and after breakfast, JESUS asked Peter in John 21:15,

15 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John,[11] Other mss read Simon, son of Jonah; Jn 1:42; Mt 16:17 do you love[12] Two synonyms are translated love in this conversation: agapao, the first 2 times by Jesus (vv. 15–16); and phileo, the last time by Jesus (v. 17) and all 3 times by Peter (vv. 15–17). Peter’s threefold confession of love for Jesus corresponds to his earlier threefold denial of Jesus; Jn 18:15–18,25–27. Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.” “Feed My lambs,” He told him.

Peter asked, “Are You telling this parable to us or to everyone?” I think it was for everyone. Many of us have done things we feel unworthy about serving THE LORD and we could decide, “What is the use I am not worthy to serve THE LORD, therefore I will just not even try.” But when we confess our sin, HE forgives us and restores us. HE has invested HIS message in each of us and appointed us to be faithful and continue to serve HIM until HE comes. JESUS forgave and restored Peter, who denied HIM; HE will do the same for us, regardless of what we have done.

The key to me seems the disciples and all of us who are Christians have been entrusted with the spiritual food to feed others. We need to be focused on our calling at all times. Then when either THE LORD comes or we go to meet HIM, HE will find us faithfully working as HE has directed us.

As a teacher of the Bible, this emphasizes my responsibility to our LORD because I cannot plead innocent of not knowing. As I present what HE has revealed, it is with understanding. So keep me in your prayers that I will always remain faithful, rightly divide THE WORD and communicate it with understanding and comprehension.

We, who have been given much, much will be required. This is with all the gifts and message GOD has entrusted to us.

Be good stewards of your time, resources, talents and abilities.