May 3 – Luke 12:13-34

Main Focus: Anxiety

“Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” Because of Jesus’ teaching on covetousness, which immediately follows this request, this man is probably speaking from personal greed. Jesus says who made me a judge ? Though Jesus was Lord of the entire universe, he was careful not to become involved in matters that did not directly pertain to his earthly work and ministry, and he expected people to work out such things on their own.

Ironically, the man who took such great care to prepare for his own needs turns out to be a fool. Instead of fulfilling his moral responsibility to care for the needs of others, he is rebuked for laying up treasure for himself and for not being rich toward God. Though this verse does not prohibit wealth, Jesus clearly warns his hearers concerning the dangerous eternal implications of wealth, with its seductive tendency toward complacency, self-sufficiency, and covetousness. Though the rich fool anticipates years of ease—a time to eat, drink, be merry—instead an eternal destiny apart from God awaits him. As Jesus’ condemning words confirm, “This night your soul is required of you.”

Because of the truths Jesus says “do not be anxious.” The first reason why believers should not be anxious is given in v.23 (for life is more than . . .); the second in v.24 (of how much more value are you) and the third in v. 25 (because no one has enough control over his own life even to add a single hour to his span of life). Life and body refer to the whole person.

Jesus employs two “lesser to greater” arguments (vv.25-26) to affirm God’s care for his children. Luke 12:28 says “But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!” O you of little faith implies a deficiency rather than an absence of faith. “Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.” This does not mean that people should neglect to work and support themselves, but is a warning against worrying and continually seeking after what to eat and what to drink.

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy is a strong emphasis in Luke. Moneybags that do not grow old is a metaphor for the place where one stores one’s treasures. Because the believer’s treasures are stored in heaven, the believer’s “moneybag” (the heavenly storehouse of his treasure) will never wear out, will not fail, and is safe from being stolen by thieves and destroyed by moths. In contrast to the world’s preoccupation with possessions, the disciples are to be characterized by exceedingly great generosity, especially in giving to those in need. This even has eternal implications—for, as Jesus solemnly warns, where your treasure is (whether on earth or in heaven,) there will your heart be also. This concluding proverb emphasizes the importance of the disposition of one’s heart, which throughout Scripture represents the center of one’s being and one’s deepest desires, including one’s reason, convictions, emotions, and will. The nature of one’s heart is reflected in the things that one values most.