October 23, 2011 Luke XVI: Greed
10.23.11
Luke 12:15
covetousness or greed
What does it mean?
“wanting what you do not have”
where in your life are you unhappy?
there you will find a want for something you do not have
the man Jesus speaks to is unhappy
and Jesus says to him “it is not my job to give you what you want that you do not have… that is not the business I am in”
think about what you want
Want a different house, car, phone, computer, but not just physical stuff…
job, wife, husband, family, body, face, situation then the one you are in
want something new: new clothes, tools, furniture, technology, but also new relationships, new success, new situation
want something you have lost
want something you never had
want what others who seem more fortunate have
“be on your guard” stand on guard like a soldier against yourself and never allow yourself to want what you do not have
*if you pursue your own interests and desires, if you follow what your heart wants, you will be miserable.
Because that is not where life is found.
life is not found in the enjoyment of things you don’t have now
happiness is not found in the enjoyment of things you don’t have now
God wants us to be happy
not happy in what we have (give me!)
but happy in loving God
(Happiness and sadness can be in one person.)
do you want Jesus AND ________
Jesus AND will make you miserable
and take away all happiness
“are you in love with God or his stuff?”
“do you want God to do things for you or do you want to find life in loving God?”
Jesus calls us to choose between them. Choose one or the other.
Jesus OR ___________
Choose one to go after and the other to let go.
Luke 12:22-23
You don’t need food and clothes.
What you need is something else.
Do not make having all that you need
the goal of your life
this will result in worry/anxiety/fear
life is not about staying alive
life is about something else
the body was not made to eat and stay warm, the body was made for something else
why be so concerned about staying alive one more day? what are you going to do with that day? that is what matters–
not making life longer, but making it real life
there are things that are more important than eating, shelter, clothes, medicine
life is about loving God and living to love him in all we do
the body was made to love God
The priorities of life are not health and safety and comfort and security.
These are not what you need. Let them go.
Do you spend your days doing things you are willing to die for?
What you are doing today is what you live for and what you will die for.
12:(29-)31
“seek his kingdom” what does this mean?
kingdom means rule, authority of God
so this means obeying God’s rule should be your priority and your happiness
*this does not mean that God always gives what we think we need, always protects life and preserves life, or that he blesses with good stuff those who obey him
(yachts with this verse on the side)
Apostles suffered and were killed
he will provide what he knows is needed
even if he does not give you what you think you need,
believe you are loved and cared for and that he will give you what you need
trust in what he gives (may be death)
12:33
difficult to apply to modern situation
What would this look like in our context?
Do Spring Cleaning on your stuffed house.
selling a second car or selling larger house and moving into smaller house
or selling jewelry, antiques, stocks, etc.
having a yard sale and emptying out
or choosing a cheap phone, clothes, furniture, vacations, cars
to save more so you can give more
not just stuff…
Do Spring cleaning on your whole life.
give up/ take out/ cut out
(things/activities that give you pleasure, comfort, security, safety, peace)
clean it out in order to love other people
losing things/activities in our lives
in order that others may gain our love
stop doing something you enjoy or even think necessary because it takes up too much time and distracts you from loving people: working long hours, housework,
computer time, watching tv, hobby, sports, video games, music, your “me” time, vacations, etc.
*this is investing yourself in what is eternal: God and loving God
rather than doing enjoyable things that are not what life is all about
What is more crazy?
buy something that will last forever and give you real life?
or buy something that is enjoyable but will not give you life and will only last a few years?
*
if you are a believer
repent of wanting what you do not have
and seek life and happiness in loving God
in loving other people out of love for God
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