8/3/18 – Deuteronomy 9, Deuteronomy 10 Luke 12:1-34 Psalm 42:7-11

Luke 12:1-3

In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

I think it may be official. This is one of the scariest passages in all of scripture.

But maybe it shouldn’t be. We are called to not be hypocrites. Jesus is calling out the Pharisees who’s public face was very different to their private one.

And that’s a challenge to us. Is ‘church’ you the same as ‘home’ you?

There’s no secrets with God. He knows our hypocrisy. He knows our struggles. He knows our hearts.

What we whisper in private rooms – that should be no less a reflection of us than what we say in the open. Yes, we are entitled to privacy, we will speak differently around different contexts – but through all of that we must be the same, consistent person.

I’m sure the church you looks pretty good. But I think we could all do with some work on our home us.

Luke 12:15-21

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

We can put so much effort into things that do not last. this story Jesus told reminds me of so many, who work hard, get what they can with an eye on the day they retire… only to never enjoy that retirement.

What are we living for? Building up a heap of money we can enjoy before we die? We don’t know how long any of us have… and whatever we make we certainly can’t take it with us.

Jesus is not condemning hard work, but the motivation behind it. This man’s motivation was all about self. Jesus warns us, don’t be so focused on yourself, work hard, but in that – be rich towards God. In other works, be generous and loving with that you have.