Prayer
Briefly prepare your heart in silence, and ask the Holy Spirit to awaken your sense of anticipation that God is about to speak to you through His Word. Then, before you read, I invite you to pray this prayer based on Psalm 143:8
LORD, remind me of Your unfailing love towards all Your people,
and show me the way I should live today. Amen.
Reading
It may be helpful to notice that Jesus has just been talking about a life of discipleship (in Luke 12:1-12). He has emphasized the importance of living in the fear of the Lord (v.4-5), the comfort of knowing God’s care (v.6-7), the danger of denying Christ and blaspheming the Holy Spirit (v.8-10), and the wonderful promise that the Holy Spirit will teach us what to say when we are hauled before authorities to be put on trial (v.11-12). These are weighty matters that leave one in no doubt that discipleship is a serious matter of wholehearted commitment and obedience to Christ.
In that context, and out of the blue, a member of the crowd decides that this is a good time to make a highly selfish demand of Jesus. Has he even been listening?
He says: ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’
At what point did Jesus go from being a Lord and Teacher, who is to be followed and obeyed, to being a dispenser of legal rulings in favour of those who follow Him? Notice that he did not ask Jesus to listen to both sides and then make a righteous judgment. He bluntly expected Jesus to take sides with him against his brother.
Jesus response includes the parable … but the heart of His response is actually our command for today:
‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’ (v.15)
This man demanded that Jesus pass a judgment in his favour, but he was blind to the greed that dominated his life. For the sake of more material wealth, he was willing to sacrifice those far more valuable commodities of his family’s honour, his own good name, and his relationship with his brother.
That was his problem; but what about ours. What might we find ourselves (intentionally or inadvertently) sacrificing on the altar an extra income or a. material boost? Our health? Our marriages? Our relationships with our children or siblings? Our community? Our ministry in the Kingdom?
Today Jesus calls us to “Watch out and be on your guard against all kinds of greed, and remember that life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
Contemplation
Please take time to ponder what Jesus has commanded us. Turn this declaration over and over in your mind. Keep it in mind throughout the day and live in step with Your King, Jesus.
As a disciple of Jesus Christ:
- I will remember that life consists of a lot more than financial and material wealth.
- I will guard my heart against greed of any kind.
- I will invest my life in what really counts.
Holy Spirit, please purify my heart of all greed and lust for material wealth. Empower me to make wise choices about how I spend my life today. Amen.
Dave's Diary 