The Rich Toward God (Luke 12)
The Rich Toward God (Luke 12)
32. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is 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.
Every Sunday, I tell my 8-year-old son to give an offering. He doesn't want to because the piggy bank is emptying. Even though I tell him that God will refill it, he still refuses to give. So I've been putting the offering from my own pocket. But this past Sunday, he surprisingly took it out of the piggy bank himself to give. I didn't ask why, but just praised him. I pray that he would become one who gives, trusting that God will provide in the future, rather than worry about the immediate decrease.
Luke 12:1 says that thousands upon thousands gathered, crushing one another. Yet verse 32 calls them a ""little flock."" It offers comfort, encouragement and courage.
The crowds who came to see Jesus' miracles and hear His teachings numbered in the thousands. But those who lived by His teachings were few.
Where did the thousands go? Why did they turn back from Jesus?
It's because Jesus told them to rely on God, like the ravens and the lilies of the field, and not worry about their own lives and bodies. He said not to store up wealth, but to be ""rich toward God.""
The normal human desire is to gather a bountiful harvest, build bigger barns, and say ""Eat, drink and be merry."" But Jesus says that is being ""poor toward God.""
To be rich toward God means to give and share. Believe in the God who feeds the ravens and clothes the lilies, and share accordingly. When you give, that is when you become rich toward God.
This is why the thousands who followed Jesus dwindled down to a ""little flock."" Giving means my pocket empties and my bank account shrinks. But Jesus says, ""Do not be afraid."" God will take care of you.
♧ Faithful God, help us to believe Your promises and boldly move forward. May we become those who are rich toward You, a fragrant church rich in You. Holy Spirit, make us strong and courageous. Amen."