(preached at Brook Hill UMC – Aug. 11, 2013)
Luke 12:29-40 (NIV)
29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do
not worry about it. 30 For
the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you
need them. 31 But
seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has
been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions
and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear
out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near
and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also.
This morning Jesus comes to us in the curious role of an
INVESTMENT ADVISOR. (Warren Buffett, the Motley Fool Investment Group, Jesus of
Nazareth – sometimes Jesus hangs out with unusual people!)
Jesus tells us here that God’s kingdom is both a present and future
reality. He tells us how we can build equity in God’s kingdom. He shows us how
we can multiply our spiritual capital to reap rewards both in this life and in
the coming life beyond the grave.
As Rick Warren tweeted last week: “Not everything in this
life has a happy ending. But this life is not the end of the story.”
First of all,
1. JESUS SAYS THAT OUR FATHER WANTS TO GIVE US HIS KINGDOM.
Hear verse 32 from four different translations:
“Your Father delights in giving you the kingdom.”
(Common English Bible)
“The Father wants
to give you the very kingdom...” (The Message)
“…it is your Father’s good
pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” (21st Century KJV)
“Your Father wants
to share his kingdom with you.” (Easy-to-Read Version)
What is this kingdom God wants to give us? It’s a real
kingdom that is present in the world today.
God is building His kingdom wherever people bow the knee to
Him.
This
is not make-believe. This is a kingdom contrary to every earthly authority. It’s counter-cultural.
It’s a kingdom where the last are first, and the first are
last.
We must become as little children to enter this kingdom.
Jesus said it’s very hard for a rich person to enter this
kingdom.
To be great in this kingdom, I must become the servant of
all.
It’s an Upside Down Kingdom, where forgiveness is
extended seventy times seven.
It’s a kingdom where thieves and prostitutes and murderers
and scoundrels are welcomed in from the streets to sit at the King’s table.
Jesus said this kingdom is like a precious pearl – it’s worth
selling everything to obtain.
It’s like a mustard seed – so small that you ignore it until
it grows to become the biggest plant in the garden.
And our God has given us this kingdom to live in.
It delights Him when we choose to live in this Upside Down
Kingdom.
HOW
MUCH OF YOUR LIFE IS SPENT LIVING IN THIS UPSIDE-DOWN KINGDOM?
We may be Christians (to some extent followers of Jesus), but
still be living only a small part of our lives according to kingdom principles.
What would it look like for you to live in God’s kingdom in
the here-and-now? What would it look like for you personally to seek God’s
kingdom as the first priority in your life?
Then,
2. JESUS SAYS THAT WE SHOULD "LAY UP TREASURE IN
HEAVEN." (v.33)
We should be investing for the future. Just as many of us put
aside money for retirement, we should be thinking long-term, and saving up for
our eternal life in the God’s new heaven and new earth.
Hear verse 33 from four different translations:
“Sell what you have and give to those in
need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven.” (New Living Translation)
“Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that
can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bank robbers, safe from
embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. (The Message)
“Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Make for
yourselves wallets that don’t wear out—a treasure in heaven that never runs
out.” (Common English Bible)
“…you can sell your possessions and give generously to the
poor. You can have a different kind of savings plan: one that never
depreciates, one that never defaults, one that can’t be plundered by crooks or
destroyed by natural calamities. (The Voice)
When we serve the poor, we store up treasure for ourselves in
heaven.
When I mentioned this on Facebook 2 weeks ago, one of my
friends responded:
“I would
love to hear a good sermon on where good charity ends and evil enabling
begins.”
He brings up a very good point. Giving to the poor is
complicated. One recent article in Christianity Today was titled “Solving
Poverty IS Rocket Science.” This world is a broken place.
Poor people are often poor because they are caught in a
culture of enablement. They may have been raised in an environment where it is
difficult to break away from bad habits. They may have developed ways of
thinking that are counter-productive.
Several recent books by Christian authors (When Helping Hurts, Toxic Charity) are
helpful. Here are 6 of their recommendations:
(1) Begin with humility. We are all broken by sin and need a
Savior. God wants to restore us to a right relationship with Himself and with
others.
(2) Poverty goes beyond material
things.
(3) Don’t do for people what they can do for themselves.
(4) Sustainable solutions require
community ownership. (It probably takes a team.)
(5) Needs are best met by persons closest to the situation – family,
church, and community.
(6) Change doesn't happen
overnight. Christian (agape) love means long-term friendships that create
opportunities for change.
Christian love requires more than a
handout. It requires personal investment… personal involvement.
PERSONAL INVESTMENT IN OTHERS is
one of the principles of the Upside-Down Kingdom.
Remember that Jesus said, “If you
want to be great in God’s kingdom, you must become the servant of all.” Translation
– LOVE EQUALS PERSONAL INVESTMENT.
Where are we invested day-to-day in long-term relationships with
people in need?
If we are interested in helping people in Guatemala and
Nicaragua, are we invested in friendship with Hispanic persons in Frederick?
If we care about children in general, are we invested
long-term in the lives of particular disadvantaged children in Frederick?
If we care about the elderly in general, what particular
needy elderly persons are we invested in?
WHERE ARE YOU INVESTED IN OTHERS, beyond your immediate
family?
And finally,
3. JESUS SAYS THAT OUR HEARTS WILL BE WHERE OUR TREASURE
IS. (v.34)
"…The
place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up
being." (The Message)
“...Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and
thoughts will also be.” (New Living Translation)
When we invest in the poor, our hearts and thoughts become
linked to them.
I've now been to Nicaragua four times, and for the last two
years have been sending money to several small churches and feeding programs. Having
gotten to know some of these Nicaraguan Christians, my heart is strongly tied
to them. It's hard for me to imagine ending this connection. My heart has
followed my investment there.
As
my Waterboyz friends say, I HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME.
What
game do you have “skin” in?
What
would it look like for you personally to “seek first the kingdom of God”?
On
a scale from 1 to 10, how generous are you with your money and time?
Perhaps
this afternoon you should take a walk with God, and listen for His voice
regarding generosity. What is God telling you to do?
Where
is your treasure (what are you invested in) at this time? Can you say that with
this investment you are laying up treasure in heaven?
“GOD,
GIVE US EARS TO HEAR YOUR VOICE as we ponder these things! In Jesus’ name,
Amen.”
