The Great(s) Things He Forgot

Cliff Clark

Cliffclark7@yahoo.com

 

We are looking today at a passage in the book of Luke chapter 12 verses 13-23.

 

This message is titled, "The Great Things(s) He Forgot".  I'll be using the acronym today "greats".

 

Jesus was preaching.  He was in the middle of telling people how much God cared for them.  Seemingly right in the middle of the sermon, a young man interrupts.  The young man seemed troubled with family problems.  He was having so much family trouble in fact that he couldn't listen to the sermon.  He totally overlooked the fact that God cared for him and would supply his need. Sometimes people are so troubled they can't hear the very message that God is trying to get across.

 

The young man has a brother. It seems as though the young man had also recently lost his father.  In Bible days whenever a father died the responsibility fell to the oldest son to divide up the inheritance of the father among the male children of the family.  The inheritance was divided by the number of males plus one.  If the young man in our story today has only had one brother then the inheritance would have been divided by three.  The older brother would always get two shares as it was commonly called "double portion".

 

It sounds as though the two brothers knew a lot about money but very little about relationships.

 

Jesus only had a limited time in Ministry.  It would have been easy for him to have gotten sidetracked with this issue of seeing that the brother was treated correctly.  But Jesus uses wisdom.  Jesus refuses to get involved.  He uses the wisdom of saying no.  There is great strength in knowing not only what you are supposed to do for God; but also in knowing what you are not supposed to do and having the courage to say no, no matter how desperate the plea.

 

Jesus in his characteristic style uses the opportunity to tell a parable. The characters in the parable sound exactly like the situation of the young man.

 

Jesus describes a man who had been a great financial success.  He had prospered greatly.  I have heard it taught for years that Jesus was condemning the man' s riches. He was not.  He was condemning the fact that the man was already rich and thought that he needed much more.  He was calling him foolish for not using or appreciating what he had.  He was foolish for not using his wealth for the kingdom of God.

 

Let's look at the great things he forgot.  G.R.E.A.T.S.

 

God.

 

The first thing I think he forgot was God.  The Bible says that it is God that gives a person the power to get wealth.  We in turn should glorify God through the things we are given.

 

(Deu 8:18)  But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

 

(Deu 8:19)  And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.

 

Relationships.

 

I think that Jesus was speaking this parable in regards to the young man's situation through.  It seems as though the man and his brother both knew a lot about the value of money but not about the value of each other.  There is no mention in the parable that the man thought of anything else but himself.  It is truly foolish to always think of no one but yourself.

 

(1Ti 6:17) As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be proud and arrogant and contemptuous of others, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God, Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for [our] enjoyment.

 

(1Ti 6:18)  [Charge them] to do good, to be rich in good works, to be liberal and generous of heart, ready to share [with others],

 

(1Ti 6:19)  In this way laying up for themselves [the riches that endure forever as] a good foundation for the future, so that they may grasp that which is life indeed.

 

Enjoyment.

 

There comes a time in a person's life whenever they should enjoy the things that God has given them.  We are so programmed to keep gathering and gathering that we forget to enjoy the things we have.  The man already had "barns" full of stuff.  He was going to postpone his enjoyment until he had earned more.  So many of us are always thinking we are going to enjoy ourselves "one of these days".  When I grow up.  When I get older.  When I graduate.  When I get through college.  When I get married.  When the kids come along.  When the kids leave.  Continually postponing whatever stage of life you are in and not enjoying it, is foolish.  Make the choice to enjoy this time of life.

 

(Ecc 3:12) I know that there is nothing better for them than to be glad and to get and do good as long as they live;

 

(Ecc 3:13)  And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor--it is the gift of God.

 

Appreciation.

 

This guy already had "barns".  He decided, mistakenly, that the barns that had served him so well needed to be torn down.  They weren't good enough.  Instead of keeping what he had and adding to it he decided to destroy the barns that had worked for him so well.  Many people fail to appreciate what they have.  They get it in their head that the present situation, vehicle, spouse, job, children, is not any good.  It is foolish not to appreciate what you've been given.

 

(1Ti 6:6)  A godly life brings huge profits to people who are content with what they have.

 

Time.

 

There's going to come a day for every person whenever they will stand in front of God and give an account of what they have done in this life.  Every man's time is limited. Choose to enjoy your life.  Use it for the good of others and the kingdom of God.  What we do here affects what happens in eternity.  Your soul is the eternal part of you.  It's foolish not to make preparation for eternity by accepting the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for you.  He also rose again and he is in heaven making intercession for each of us.

 

There's another way to look at this also.  Both ways are valid.  Your soul is your mind, your will, and your emotions.  Sometimes our decisions take all of our mind, our will, and our emotions.  Some decisions rob us of our souls.  For example, the bigger house is not worth it if you are never home to enjoy it.  It's okay to have possessions; just don't let possessions have you.

 

Now understand dear reader, I'm not condemning hard work.  I don't think Jesus was either.  This guy had already worked hard. He was already rich.  I am condemning workaholism.  I think Jesus was too.  God gives us the things of this life to enjoy, to help others, and to promote his kingdom.

 

(Ecc 3:1)  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 

(Ecc 3:2)  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

 

Stewardship.

 

This is the letter (S) that I attached to the word "great".  One of the last things that this parable teaches is stewardship. Stewardship is being responsible for something that belongs to someone else.  We should be good caretakers of all the things and people that God has placed within our hands.

 

(1Co 4:2)  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

 

In Closing

 

Don't forget God.  Don't forget your relationships (they are important).  Don't forget to enjoy what you have. Use the good silver, God will give you more.  Don't forget to appreciate those around you, your stages in life, etc..  Teenagers can't wait to get older.  Old folks wish they were young again.  Make the most of where you are.  There are others that would really like the car you have.  Remember time is short.  It's okay to have things; don't let things have you. Be a good steward.