There is a saying: Pray as if everything depends on God, but work as if everything depends on you. Our spiritual growth comes from keeping these two—both very necessary—perspectives in balance. When life comes at us as a series of non-stop, high-priority demands, we respond to the stress by shutting down. We start looking out for #1: ourselves! We forget that our success does not just depend on us. On the other hand, even as we ask God to be #1 in our lives, there is an essential chore for us to perform in order to manifest God’s power at work in us ...
Luke 12:22-34
Commentary
This discourse also appears in Matthew 6:19-34 (although the order of verses differs slightly). The contexts of the two accounts also differ; Matthew’s account in the Sermon on the Mount is one of many exhortations there to an ethical lifestyle. In Luke’s account, the discourse is preceded by the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:13-21, i.e. last week's sermon, "Because Enough is Never Enough") and is followed by an warning to be watchful and ready (Luke 12:35-48).
v25 "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" How you interpret this verse will affect your interpretation of the entire discourse. Or does Jesus mean that nothing you do makes any difference? That’s pretty fatalistic: it’s all in God’s hands, and I can do nothing about it. Or does Jesus mean that of all the things that can add to your life—e.g. exercise—worry is not one of them? Think of the Serenity Prayer:
Lord, grant meWhen we worry, are we eschewing serenity, courage, and wisdom in favor of anxiety that accomplishes nothing?
serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can, and
wisdom to know the difference.
v29 Luke says, "Do no set your heart on ..." (or "Do not seek ...") while Matt. 6:31 says, "Do not worry ..."
How do seeking our own solutions vs. worrying about problems differ as human responses to trouble? Which tends to take you further from God?
v31 What is the kingdom of God? What you give as an answer will make a huge difference in how you respond to God in your life. If the kingdom of God is off in the future, then changing your life today will never be a high priority. However, Jesus says that the kingdom of God is at work now wherever the power of God is at work; hence the chance to change your life today is a real, immediate priority!
Matt. 6:33 says, "Seek first his kingdom ..." Although Luke’s account doesn’t include the word "first", what in Luke’s account indicates that seeking God’s kingdom is still supposed to be our first priority?
v32 Only Luke mentions this. The key point is the assurance that God is pleased to make the kingdom a reality for us.
v33-34 Matthew puts these verses at the beginning of his account. By putting them here at the end, Luke is emphasizing the practical outworking of v31 and counseling against passivity. If v22-30 is praying as if everything depends on God, then perhaps v33-34 is working as if everything depends on you.
Application
In the Lord’s Prayer, we plead to God, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
Seeking the kingdom of God (v31) is the pursuit of this reality. However, when you find this reality, you will be there ... and everything in your life must come under the rule of God, or it’s not really the kingdom of God being manifested! [2]Do we really mean what we’re saying?
How would our lives change if God’s rule—the kingdom of God—became a reality today? [1]
I’ve said before I think we’re all closet Pentecostals—we want God to work on us magically & directly without affecting our relationships with others or with the world. If only God worked that way, we think, maybe—maybe!—we could be changed and our worldly lives would remain unaffected. Wrong!
To follow God is to change; to not change is to not follow God.
When we give our worries and cares over to God, we are praying as if everything depends on God. We’re making God #1. That’s a good start! However, the practical outworking of our desire requires real work on our part, letting God’s kingdom—God’s rule—change how we live in the world. Our tendency is to give our cares to God and then try to wrest control back when God moves too slowly. When we try to take control, we’re saying, "My will, not Thy will, be done!" We’ve reverted to making ourselves #1.
More and more, I wonder if some of the verses about selling off possessions [3] are intended to help us remove the temptations to reverting to old behaviors, counting on our ability to provide comfort for ourselves. Burn your bridges behind you, as it were, making sure that you can’t go back to your old life.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1
Points to Ponder
What if you took the material thing that you treasure most in the world and got rid of it? Is that too radical an interpretation of v33? What if you sold your brand new 42" HDTV, your $30,000 truck, your family heirlooms, etc. and gave the money to the poor? Elsewhere Jesus says:
Do you miss God’s full blessing by refusing a radical faith?"If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out," (Mark 9:47), and
"Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me," (Mark 17:21)
If you had less in the way of possessions to distract you, where do you think God’s rule would be more evident in your life?
Nothing will change in our lives as long as we live in fear. v29-30 is a reminder that God knows what we need and is ready & willing to give it to us. Dare we trust him?
Could it be that, once we start giving our possessions away, they lose their power to possess us?
End Notes:
1 - Amos 5:18-27 suggests that those who wish most fervently for God’s coming might be in for a rude shock when God’s rule finally manifests itself! We try to have it both ways, worshipping God with our mouths even as we worship ourselves with our wallets. God knows the score.
2 - In all fairness, this is a lifetime struggle, because we are depraved, selfish critters despite our most sincere intentions. But we can get close (Jesus frequently praises those who are close, e.g. Mark 12:28-34), and we are exhorted to work at making this kingdom a reality. We delude ourselves as to what the kingdom looks like, but Jesus is clear that manifestation of the kingdom of God is a radical change from our present age Luke 11:20.
3 - For example, look at the story of the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-30) or the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl (Matt. 13:44-46). Certainly there are other motivations for giving money away in a radical manner. Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10), Mary anointing Jesus’ feet (John 12:1-8), and the early church (Acts 2:42-47) are examples of where the kingdom of God is truly manifest.
3 comments:
Chip, I really enjoyed your sermon today.
I do understand where you were going today, but I feel you stopped a little short.
I realize the scripture refers to "material" belongings, but there are alot more non-material things that seperate us from God. That prevent us from having a radical relationship with God.
I guess I would encourage everyone to spend a great deal of time in prayer. Asking God to show them what needs to change to open that realationship up. I am fearful of people just acting without "consulting" God first.
Selling your $30,00 pick-up won't amount to a hill of beans if it's not what God is calling you to do. It's trying to "fix" things on your own terms still.
"If I do this them God will be pleased with me." When maybe it how you spend the rest of your time that is really the problem.
Example - My computer is not the problem, Its that I choose to spend too much time using it. You transfer the blame to the machine and not your choices.
Placing our lives under Gods control and under Gods leading is what will please him.
On another note...
I have not been upstairs for a couple weeks so I was really excited that you are talking about Christmas. I have been praying that God would show me a better way, a way that my children will still feel like they had a great Christmas. I am looking for ways to get the kids thinking beyond themselves. "Thinking outside the box (present)" so to speak.
I will continue to pray that we can provide ways, and if God reveals any ideas to me, Ill let you know. :)
- Rachel
Sorry to be so long responding. You're exactly right. What needs to change is the heart attitude. When the rich young ruler talks to Jesus, Jesus doesn't say, "Your problem is your heart attitude." Instead, he says, "Sell everything, and then come follow me." Presumably for those who are paying attention (or "have eyes to see," as Jesus says) when presented with a challenge like this, eventually they'll figure it out ... that it's the heart that's the problem more than the material stuff.
That all being said, so many people in America have issues with amassing stuff that a challenge to divest of any stuff is likely to trigger a reaction.
In the sermon, I tried to suggest, "Look at what's possessing you, and get rid of that." I think it's a safe bet that the things that possess us are things we need to get rid of. I don't know that we need to spend a lot of time praying over that one.
That being said, I, like you, have a problem with time spent on the computer ... in fact, that was the thing I decided that I need to change. However, I can't exactly get rid of a computer that Kathy uses as well. She could easily says, "Hey, guy, wasting time on the PC is your problem--why should I lose my PC because of you?" So here I am trying to moderate my use. (Actually, I've done well this week, keeping off the computer at home ... except I wasn't in the office much today, and when I was, I had to shut down the computer because of the storm ... so here I am late at night, trying to read a day's worth of e-mail, but then I'm getting off ... REALLY!)
PS - As far as the Christmas ideas go, I hope we will continue to talk it over at church--at least until some groups at church (mentoring groups, Bible studies, etc.) take up the challenge and set up some activities to help parents take some concrete steps differently.
I love this blog. It gives us an opportunity to share beyond Sunday !
Like Rachel I too looked beyond giving up stuff.
I was called years ago to give up TV, except for Redsox games of course hahahaha. I also am fortunate I am not into technology so for me stuff isn't what keeps me from God.
It is as we talked about Pastor, my relationships or to use a quote. "The illusion of control" I think I have in my relationships especially with my children.
You are so right Chip I thought I was in control, I worry & fret and plan and try to protect my children and other close relationships.
So I am working on giving up that illusion and trying to Let Go & Let God.
So for me it is control or worry that has me captive, interferring with my relationship with God.
Please pray for me in this. I need all the prayers I can get.
Rachel, I too try to pray for God's will in everything. I think you have a very good point.
God bless, Heather
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