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Of what does life consist?
We are looking at Christ's teaching in Luke 12 on
possessions and money. In the last post we looked at verses 13-15 of this
chapter. Christ makes a dramatic observation to a man who was quarreling with
his brother about his inheritance. He says that one's life does not consist in
the abundance of possessions. This was a counter cultural proposition then--and
it certainly still is now in the 21st century! But Jesus does not
leave us hanging with that statement. He
tells a parable to go along with his teaching to the man in the crowd. In the
gospels, a parable is a literary device used to underscore a particular truth.
The point of a parable is to make the teaching memorable so that it can be
easily recalled. In the next five
verses, Jesus does exactly that. He gives us a vivid--even shocking--word picture
of a man who did think that life consisted of the abundance of his possessions.
Also, we are shown the alternative--being rich towards God.
Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.
Financial security is one of life's universal concerns. So
it is not surprising that the issue of financial security was raised to Jesus
by a worried Israelite. A man had a dispute with his brother about an
inheritance he thought was due him. He asks Jesus to settle the dispute. But the
response that Jesus gives is not what the man was expecting. Instead of issuing
a ruling or giving a formula by which to settle the dispute, Jesus uses the
opportunity to warn the man and the crowd around them about the dangers of
covetousness. At first glance, Jesus' reply seems to be a strong reaction to
this man's request--he is just concerned about his financial future and well
being. But remember, this is the Lord of heaven and earth speaking. Christ knew
this man's heart. He knew there was a larger issue to be addressed. Here is the
text in Luke 12:13-15 that records this encounter:
Money seems to be on everyone's mind these days. There are fears and concerns about the economy that are constant topics of talk radio and cable news. Your children will undoubtedly hear some of these concerns as they listen to adults who listen to television, radio and the search the internet. In the midst of all the concerns about money and wealth it is a good idea to help your kids develop a biblical worldview about these subjects. One good place to start to do this is Chapter 12 of Luke's gospel. Here is an excerpt:
The 2010 Winter Olympic Games are in their final week. The
performances have once again been tributes to the skill and dedication of those
who participate in the games. The sacrifice has been huge. As the numerous NBC
personal vignettes testify, many of these athletes have given their whole lives
to reach for Olympic glory. It is a heady goal to be acknowledged as the best
in the world--to win the gold medal. For many at the games, it is enough just participate
in the Olympics, to compete with the best, even if they don't win the gold. The
glory of the Olympics compels these athletes as well. But there is a problem
with pursuing Olympic glory. In the pursuit of medals there is the danger of
making this pursuit the most important goal in life. You see, the Living God
has demanded of man that He be most important in our lives. It is the pursuit
of God's glory that is to dominate human life. That is what people were
designed to be: pursuers of the glory of God. Romans 1:21-32 addresses this
very issue.
A second snowstorm within three days has brought the
mid-Atlantic region of the
Following the recent massive earthquake in Haiti, a question
hangs in the air: of all the places in
the world to be struck with total devastation, why Haiti? The death toll seems
likely to reach 200,000 according the Haitian Interior Minister.
Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, has been virtually destroyed by this
earthquake. Chaos, anarchy, and devastation--all these words seem inadequate to
describe the suffering of this Caribbean nation. So, again, why Haiti?
A new decade has arrived. What will the next ten years bring
for your life? These questions are prominent in our thoughts as the new year
begins. If you are a parent, these considerations have, no doubt, crossed your
mind in the last few days. What kind of a parent will you be in this decade?
What are the new issues that your children will face in the next ten years? As
the decade begins, it is not uncommon for your thoughts to vacillate between
hope and worry. There are new opportunities, but also new dangers to face. At
the end of the day, when you are left alone with your thoughts, what do you
think about?
It takes faith to believe
in darkness.
I know these words may seem
foolish. Many would say that the darkness of the world is the one thing that we
don't need faith to believe in. It is all too obvious that we live in a
dark world! True enough--but without biblical faith it is impossible to grasp
just how dark this world is. While many may agree that the world is dominated
by darkness, they also believe that somewhere is a glimmer of light that man
can find by himself. They have an ongoing belief that as our eyes adjust to the
darkness we will be able to see a tiny crack of light spilling out from under a
doorway, and that will lead to a better life. Yes, things are dark, but there
is light and hope, if only we will have faith in the human spirit. Christmas is
one of those times people in the world think they see light spilling out from
hidden doorways. This is evidenced by comments like why can't the Christmas spirit last all year long? It takes faith
to believe that the darkness is total, that there is no hope apart from the
grace of God. Sadly, many come to ultimate despair when their search for light
ends in futility. They give up because they believe they have failed to find
light in darkness--they just didn't look in the right places. The reality is
that there is no light in a world without Christ.
News headlines are the most immediate indicators of cultural
drift. While they are inconclusive in themselves, they provide insight as to
what issues make an impact on people's thinking. Headlines become the topic of
water cooler and even playground discussions. That is why it is important for
Christian parents to pay attention to headlines. Media headlines are written to
attract attention, and they do. Your children will be exposed to headlines and
sound bites because these are what people catch on the run as they rush through
their day. Children will hear people asking what
do you think you think about Tiger? And, of course, they will begin to find
out about what people think from their friends at church, at school, or in the
neighborhood. They will hear offhand comments by parents and other adults.
Based upon these seemingly random series of connections, opinions will be
formed and embraced, often without parents even being aware of the process. That
is why headlines are important for parents.
This Christmas season the truth about God and his Son is
mixed with cultural myth and fantasy. This mixture dilutes the power of the
gospel. This mixing of truth and cultural myth can also help to mislead your
children about the real meaning of the incarnation of Christ. For example, look
at Luke 2:14:
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom
he is pleased!" ESV

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