Sunday, March 9, 2025 Recap

Our scripture last week was Chapter 12 of Luke.  When you look at these pages, you quickly notice it's in RED.  Jesus is speaking throughout the majority of the text.   Reading a chapter like this, we need to sit up straighter, quiet the noise around us, and listen as The Master delivers a  message that is as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago.  

An innumerable multitude has gathered around Jesus and He instructs them to "beware of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees."  He then teaches the disciples, He speaks a parable, and He gives us a prophectic word. But, if we narrow down this Chapter, there is a common thread, Trust in God's Provision!

In verse 13, someone in the crowd addresses Jesus and says, "Tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."  (Remember I said it has as much relevance today as it did then.)  And in RED letters we get the response in a parable.  A rich man had so much wealth he built bigger barns in order to store it.  The man then proceeded to eat, drink, and be merry.  Jesus says, "But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Having wealth is not a sin. Eating and drinking and being merry is not a sin.  However, when I store up riches and do not consider WHO has given the wealth and withhold it from HIM, that is a sin.  Jesus later says to His disciples, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Jesus follows it up with another parable of the Watchful Servants.  The Master has gone away, and when He returns to find two kinds of servants:

• Faithful Servant - Ready and listening for the Lord's return.  He is a wise steward.  

• Unfaithful Servant - Doubts the Lord's return.  He is unconcerned with the Kingdom.

There is a response that the LORD has prepared for each of these stewards, wheather faithful or unfaithful.  The LORD's justice is perfect.  And "to whom much is given, much is required."

We are His servants and we are waiting on His return.  We all are given a measure of provision that we can return back to Him.  We can trust Him to meet our needs.  We do not want to be a "rich fool" that trusts in our own wealth.  The LORD knows our needs and He sees our circumstances.  As slaves to the King, we should be about the business of the Kingdom.

Lastly, Jesus makes a very difficult statement, “Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division." Division??? What??? Yes, because many will not be able to follow the hard truths of Jesus.  Sometimes it easier to carry on and go my own way than to accept His teachings.  We are reminded serveral times in scripture of those that were presented with the Gospel and could not follow it.  None more well known than the rich man in Mark 10.  Who after being given the plan of eternal life, "went away grieved: for he had great possessions."

Trust in the LORD's provision not in what you are able to store up for yourself!