{"id":3574,"date":"2016-06-15T10:49:03","date_gmt":"2016-06-15T10:49:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christian-gospel.info\/?p=3574"},"modified":"2016-06-15T10:49:03","modified_gmt":"2016-06-15T10:49:03","slug":"christian-giving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christiangospel.online\/?p=3574","title":{"rendered":"Christian Giving"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Whose shall those things be?\u00a0 Luke 12:20
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Few would deny that we live in the perilous times about which the apostle Paul warned us in 2 Timothy 3:1.\u00a0 He foretold by the Spirit that in the last days men would be lovers of their own selves.\u00a0 Not surprisingly, the next characteristic he mentions is covetousness, for as soon as a man starts to love himself above all others, he will long to have what others have.\u00a0 Rather than be “ready to distribute”, he will be more than ready to accumulate.\u00a0 This the Lord Jesus warns His followers against in Luke 12:16-34, to which we now turn our attention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The second man<\/span><\/strong>
\nThere are really only two men in the Bible; the first man, Adam, and the second man, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the last Adam.\u00a0 The rest of men are either under the headship of the one or the other.\u00a0 Luke’s gospel is the Gospel of the Second Man, and is written so that those who are under the headship of this Second Man may learn to imitate Him.<\/span>
\nBelievers, who in principle have put on the new man at conversion, are expected to display the features that are found to perfection in Christ.\u00a0 Our old man, (our pre-conversion self considered as to its links with Adam), was crucified in company with Christ, Romans 6:6, and, as far as God is concerned, is cancelled.\u00a0 We are reckoned to be a new creation in Christ Jesus, and the old things have passed away, in principle, 2 Corinthians 5:17.\u00a0 In practice, however, we have to face the fact that we are still able to sin, for our bodies, although bought with a price, 1 Corinthians 6:20, are as yet not fully redeemed.\u00a0 That awaits the return of the Lord Jesus, when we shall sing in triumph, “O death where is thy sting?”, for “the sting of death is sin”, and that sin will be forever gone when our bodies are changed, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57.\u00a0 No longer will they be the headquarters of the sin-principle within us.\u00a0 Meanwhile, we need the exhortation of Romans 6:12 to not let sin, (covetousness included), reign in our mortal body.\u00a0 Just as Luke was often the companion of the apostle Paul on his journeys, so the gospel of Luke is the companion of the Pauline epistles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Up to Jerusalem<\/span><\/strong>
\nIn Luke 9:51 the Lord Jesus steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.\u00a0 We must not conclude from this, however, that Luke is about to record a single journey.\u00a0 There were, in fact, three journeys by the Lord Jesus to Jerusalem after this point, and “go to Jerusalem” covers them all.\u00a0 There was the journey mentioned in John 7:2,10, when the Lord attended the Feast of Tabernacles, which took place at the end of September.\u00a0 Then, in December He was in Jerusalem again, this time at the Feast of Dedication, John 10:22.\u00a0 Then, in the Spring, He made His final journey to die at Passover time.\u00a0 Now John records events at Jerusalem connected with these journeys, whereas Luke records other matters, without being very specific as to place and time.\u00a0 Indeed, it is remarkable that Luke, renowned as an accurate and painstaking historian, who is deeply interested in recording detailed facts, only names Jericho as a place visited by the Lord after He had begun to “go to Jerusalem”.\u00a0 Even Bethany is called “A certain village”, Luke 11:38.\u00a0 It is as if, like His Lord, Luke has his eye fixed on Jerusalem, where the Second Man will cancel out the first man.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perean ministry<\/span><\/strong>
\nIt is the ministry and miracles that took place in between and on these journeys that Luke is concerned with – what is called Christ’s Perean Ministry.\u00a0 This is highly significant in connection with the ministry given, for Perea is Old Testament Gilead, the territory half of the tribe of Manasseh preferred instead of fully entering the Land of Promise with all its blessings.\u00a0 The reason they gave was that Gilead was good for their business of cattle raising, Numbers 32:16,39.\u00a0 How significant are Christ’s words during His Perean ministry, therefore, “Beware of covetousness!”\u00a0 How significant, too, that so much is said in His ministry at this time about attitudes to possessions, money, and generosity.\u00a0 See Luke 9:57-62; 10:30-42; 11:41; 12:13-34; 18:18-30; 19:8-10;\u00a0 It is sadly possible for believers to prefer the business opportunities of the world to the enjoyment of spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.\u00a0 Of course, every true believer possesses these blessings, but like the half tribe of Manasseh, they may cross the Jordan with the rest of the people, but then return to the place of compromise.\u00a0 How important it is to set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth, for Christ is in heaven, sitting on the right hand of God as the dispenser, as First-born, of all the blessings His death has won for us.\u00a0 As the Lord Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”, Luke 12:34.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Feast of Ingathering<\/span><\/strong>
\nAnother relevant fact about the Perean ministry is that it is given before and after the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast was a reminder of God’s faithfulness to their forefathers in providing for them whilst they were in desert conditions, travelling on to Canaan.\u00a0 The feast of tabernacles was also called The Feast of Ingathering, for it was a time of celebration for harvests reaped and winepresses overflowing, the land having been reached, Leviticus 23:39.\u00a0 This was the time when they could bring the “Tithes into the storehouse” as Malachi puts it.\u00a0 Or, in other words, bring to God their offerings.\u00a0 So they praised the God who provided for their need, and they offered to Him out of their plenty.\u00a0 <\/span>
\nWe should have a weekly feast of ingathering.\u00a0 Having partaken of the bread and wine, we remember God’s abundant provision for us in our deep need.\u00a0 But then we should transfer from our storehouse to God’s storehouse.\u00a0 The apostle puts it like this, “Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him\u2026” 1 Corinthians 16:2.\u00a0 As it happens, the collection envisaged by the apostle in that place was literally brought to Jerusalem, but not of course to be put into the offering boxes in the Temple courts, but to supply the needs of the poor saints in Judea.\u00a0 But the principle remains the same – a practical and tangible response from the heart in view of great blessings granted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Covetousness condemned<\/span><\/strong>
\nCovetousness is condemned by both law and grace.\u00a0 The last of the ten words of commandment said, “Thou shalt not covet”, Exodus 20:17.\u00a0 This was the command that slew Saul of Tarsus.\u00a0 Whilst his fellow Israelites might sum up his outwardly religious life as being “blameless”, Philippians 3:6, yet the command that exposes heart and motive slew him, Romans 7:7-11. He was as good as dead as far as pleasing God by law-keeping was concerned.\u00a0 Only grace can make a man want to be a generous giver.\u00a0 In that connection, note the repetition of the word “Grace” in 2 Corinthians 8,9, the chapters that have so much to say about giving.<\/span>
\nCovetousness is condemned by grace too, for He who is grace personified, God’s Ideal Man, not only condemned it by His words, but also by His attitudes and actions.\u00a0 The first parable of the Perean ministry is that of the Good Samaritan.\u00a0 He who was vilified by men in the words “Thou art a Samaritan”, John 8:48 is pleased to accept the title to show that He was completely free from racial prejudice.\u00a0 It was others who robbed the traveller of money, clothes, and, very nearly, his life.\u00a0 But it was the Samaritan who gave his time, his energy, his oil and wine, his beast, his two pence, and also whatever other cost was involved during his absence.\u00a0 He became poor that the robbed man might be rich.\u00a0 And then comes the oft-forgotten command- “Go thou, and do likewise”.\u00a0 Apt as the parable is to illustrate the gospel, we should never forget the “Do likewise”.\u00a0 Martha did not forget, for Luke immediately records that she received Him into her house, Luke 10:38, and she took care of Him, as the Samaritan and the inn-keeper had taken care of the traveller.
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\nAn abundance of things possessed<\/span><\/strong>
\nA man of a contrary spirit appealed to the Lord Jesus in Luke 12:13,14, for it seems he was dissatisfied with his share of an inheritance.\u00a0 The Lord utterly refuses to become involved, for there were procedures the man could follow if he had a grievance.\u00a0 But his request does give the Lord the opportunity to assert that “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth”, Luke 12:15.\u00a0 A man’s natural life does revolve around necessities, but luxuries are no part of life, properly understood.\u00a0 These two things, luxuries and necessities, are the basis of Christ’s ministry at this point.\u00a0 Verses 16-21 have to do with luxuries whilst verses 22-34 give teaching about necessities. <\/span>
\nLuxuries are expendable, and it is against the accumulation of the expendable that the Lord now warns in what has become known as “The parable of the Rich Fool”.\u00a0 This parable is often used, and rightly so, to warn the unsaved of the brevity of life and the certainty of death, and other things besides.\u00a0 We should note, however, that the application of this parable is addressed to disciples, verse 22.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Blessedness?<\/span><\/strong>
\nThe ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully, Luke 12:16.\u00a0 If he was a Jew, the man would no doubt have prided himself on his blessedness.\u00a0 Were not his riches a sign of Divine favour?\u00a0 After all, God’s promise to those who obeyed His law was plentiful harvests, Deuteronomy 28:1-14.\u00a0 Only those who disobeyed would know famine.\u00a0 But the response of the man to his plentiful harvests is a certain indicator of the state of his heart.\u00a0 He sees in his plenty an opportunity for ease and enjoyment, all the while ignoring the needs of others.\u00a0 <\/span>
\nWith the coming of Christ a great change came in regard to riches.\u00a0 He came in grace, a higher principle than law.\u00a0 Since He has come, those who say “Gain is godliness”, must be withdrawn from, 1 Timothy 6:5, so contrary is that idea to the spirit of Christianity.\u00a0 Whereas in Old Testament times the spiritual person should have been pleased to associate with one who was blessed materially, for God was with him, now it is different.\u00a0 Too often, it seems as if the Lord’s people are still in Old Testament times in this regard.\u00a0 Those who only have enough, and have none to spare, are sometimes thought of as being inferior- perhaps even work-shy and incompetent.\u00a0 But would we dare to display this attitude to Christ?\u00a0 That most\u00a0 spiritual Man, who magnified the law and made it honourable, (and who therefore merited riches as a mark of Divine favour), became poor for our sakes.\u00a0 Behold His poverty at Calvary!<\/span><\/p>\n

Foolishness<\/span><\/strong>
\nHaving seen the rich man’s sham blessedness, we now are told of his real foolishness.\u00a0 It is no surprise to learn that he is a fool, for he thinks “within himself” :17.\u00a0 He is not prepared to allow the authority of the Word of God a place in his thinking.\u00a0 It is only as we allow the mind of Christ to govern our reasonings that we shall respond in a spiritual way to the temptations that riches represent.\u00a0 It is instructive to notice that when offered choices, Solomon refused riches and chose wisdom.\u00a0 But then because he had chosen wisdom, he was entrusted with riches as well, 1 Kings 3:5-13.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lavishness<\/span><\/strong>
\nWe next learn of the man’s lavishness.\u00a0 Unconcerned by the need all around him, (“For the poor ye have always with you”,) he embarks upon an extravagant building programme.\u00a0 Did he really need to pull down his barns?\u00a0 Could he not have erected an extension to the existing ones, and donated the money saved to a good cause?\u00a0 It was Ambrose who said, “The bosoms of the poor, the houses of widows, the mouths of children, are the barns which last for ever”.\u00a0 Goods bestowed in those barns will reap an eternal reward.
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\nCallousness<\/span><\/strong>
\nBut there is worse yet, for he is determined to eat, drink, and be merry, refusing to consider the plight of others.\u00a0 The words of the apostles are relevant here, “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?\u00a0 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone”, James 2:15-17.\u00a0 “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?\u00a0 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth”, 1 John 3:17,18.\u00a0 These are searching questions posed by the apostles – what doth it profit?\u2026how dwelleth the love of God in him?\u00a0 Can those who profess to have been so remarkably and eternally benefitted by God is His love, shut their eyes to the needs of those around them, whilst all the time indulging their appetites?<\/span><\/p>\n

Shortsightedness<\/span><\/strong>
\nContrary to what he thought, this foolish man did not have “many years”.\u00a0 He was guilty of shortsightedness, as we all can be.\u00a0 It was that night that his soul was required of him, and he was called into eternity, and what he had done and been on earth was assessed.\u00a0 Solemn thought!\u00a0 The deeds believers have done in the body shall yet come under review, whether good or evil, and we shall receive for what we have done, 2 Corinthians 5:10.\u00a0 The good will be rewarded, the evil will be rebuked.\u00a0 <\/span>
\nNow there comes the question, “Whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?”\u00a0 This is a question we could all profitably ask ourselves.\u00a0 The words of Job are plain- “Naked came I out of the womb, and naked shall I return thither”, Job 1:21.\u00a0 Job realised that he would not carry his vast possessions with him into eternity.\u00a0 And the apostle Paul no doubt had this in mind when he wrote, “We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we shall carry nothing out”, 1 Timothy 6:7.\u00a0 We ought to give serious attention to this matter of what will happen to what we possess, (be it much or little), when we leave this scene.\u00a0 Is it not the case that too often there are surpluses which could be invested in the work of God now, rather than waiting for Inheritance Tax to take its sizeable share?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rich toward God<\/span><\/strong>
\nThe summary the Lord gives of the situation is brief.\u00a0 “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God”.\u00a0 These are the alternatives, self or God.\u00a0 It should not be difficult for a believer to choose between the two.\u00a0 As the word is in another place, “Ye cannot serve (as a slave) God and mammon, (riches), Matthew 6:24.\u00a0 It is possible to have two employers at the same time, but it is not possible to be a slave to two masters at once, for slavery involves the total surrender of the will to another.\u00a0 We should ask ourselves the question therefore whether we are slaves to money or to God – there is no middle ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

Necessities<\/span><\/strong>
\nHaving corrected a wrong attitude to luxury, the Lord now turns specifically to His disciples to ensure that they have a right attitude to necessities.\u00a0 Of course it is scriptural for believers to provide for necessities.\u00a0 To not do so is to be “worse than an infidel”, 1 Timothy 5:18.\u00a0 Here, however, the warning is against obsessive, anxious care.\u00a0 Having food and clothing we should therewith be content.\u00a0 Food sustains our life, but what we do with our life is vastly more important than the food which sustains it, for “the life is more than meat”, Luke 12:23.\u00a0 So with the body.\u00a0 How we serve the Lord with our body is much more important than the clothes we put on it.\u00a0 It is sad indeed if believers are more concerned about food and clothing than the work of God.\u00a0 <\/span>
\nWe are given an object lesson in creation to teach us these things.\u00a0 The ravens do not have a care about their food – they do not store it up for the simple reason that they do not fear a shortage.\u00a0 Are not believers better than ravens?\u00a0 Have they not God as their Father, whereas ravens only have Him as their creator and sustainer?\u00a0 Then they should act more intelligently that the birds of the air.\u00a0 If He cares for His creation, will He not care for His children?\u00a0 The lilies of the field are regally clad, being dressed with garments more fine than even Solomon’s.\u00a0 Yet can we imagine casting Solomon’s royal robes on the fire?\u00a0 But this is what happens to the lilies when grass is collected for fuel, for the lilies are collected with it, and both are burned.\u00a0 If God is so rich that He can clothe fire-fuel with splendour, can He not clothe His people whom He has delivered from the everlasting burnings?<\/span>
\nThe unbeliever is marked by a restless search for food and raiment, but the believer should be marked by a search for the kingdom of God, actively seeking ways of promoting God’s interests.\u00a0 Those who do this will be relieved of anxious care, for they will be too busy to be over-occupied with the ordinary and the mundane.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Two kinds of rich men<\/span><\/strong>
\nThe apostle Paul reinforces these lessons as he writes to Timothy.\u00a0 He has in mind two types of person.\u00a0 Those who will be (are determined to be) rich, and those who are rich already, 1 Timothy 6:9,17.\u00a0 The first group will find that their riches will drown them, their zeal for God squeezed out of them by the things they have surrounded themselves with.\u00a0 The second group are warned against high-mindedness, as if their riches have elevated them morally and spiritually.\u00a0 Riches in themselves are no indication of godliness, it is what is done with them that matters before God.\u00a0 Those riches should not be relied on, for there is only one thing certain about riches, and that is that they are uncertain. As the Scripture says “For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven”, Proverbs 23:5.\u00a0 God is the Living God, energetic in His care for His own-feeding the ravens, clothing the lilies, doing the same, and much more besides, for His redeemed people.\u00a0 We should trust Him therefore, and not rely on material things.<\/span><\/p>\n

Zeal for good works<\/strong> <\/span>
\nWe should remember that those who are on an average wage in the Western World, are in the top 10% of the world’s wage earners.\u00a0 Remember, too, that riches are anything in excess of what is required to provide necessities.\u00a0 It is clear then, that there is plenty of scope for the wise distribution of resources.\u00a0 How then shall we do this?\u00a0 The apostle tells us.\u00a0 Relieved from anxious care about necessities, we should actively consider how to put the excess to good use.\u00a0 Use, that is, not for ourselves, but for others.\u00a0 <\/span>
\nWe rightly emphasise to the unsaved that good works will not save them, and it is vital that we do this.\u00a0 Let us not forget, however, that Christ has purified to Himself a people that are to be marked by their zeal for good works, Titus 2:14.\u00a0 These good works are part of God’s eternal purpose for us, Ephesians 2:10, so we should be concerned about performing them to His glory.\u00a0 We profess to follow the steps of the Lord Jesus, but we should remember that He went about doing good.\u00a0 While it is true that we are not able to work miracles today, we do have the opportunity to express the love of God by our good deeds.<\/span>
\nIt is one of the paradoxes of the Christian life that we are only as rich as we have become poor.\u00a0 Only those who are “rich in good works”, 1 Timothy 6:18, concerned about the needs of others, can be described as rich.\u00a0 The reverse is true also.\u00a0 It is said that the First epistle to Timothy was written at Laodicea.\u00a0 Whether this is true or not cannot be determined with certainty, but one thing is certain, that the Laodiceans were rich and increased with goods in a material sense, yet in fact they were poor in God’s sight, Revelation 3:17.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rich in good works<\/span><\/strong>
\nReturning to 1 Timothy 6:18 we learn that we should be ready to distribute, where the word “ready” has the idea of being liberal.\u00a0 A scant and miserly response to God’s rich giving to us is hardly appropriate.\u00a0 We should be like those of Macedonia, who, although poor, gave out of their deep poverty, so that Paul can commend them for the riches of their liberality, 2 Corinthians 8:2.\u00a0 They had clearly appreciated the way in which the Lord Jesus, although rich, had become poor for them.\u00a0 The Corinthians, on the other hand, although full of promises and good intentions, had failed to contribute as they should and could.\u00a0 Would it not be a good exercise to ask ourselves whether we are Macedonian or Corinthian in our giving?\u00a0 There are third-world evangelists in desperate need of bicycles to take them to preach in outlying villages – do we really need such luxurious limousines?\u00a0 Christian parents in Pakistan whose children have to make bricks all day to help the family finances -do we really need that expensive holiday?\u00a0 Destitute children on the streets of many a city who could be enjoying the care of a Christian orphanage -is our extravagant lifestyle justified?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Righteous deeds that remain for ever<\/span><\/strong>
\nNot only should we be ready or liberal in our distribution, but willing also.\u00a0 This involves being alert to the needs of others, and prompt in our response to those needs.\u00a0 Is there anything we meant to support but never did?\u00a0 It is not too late to make amends in some way.\u00a0 <\/span>
\nThe end result of obeying these injunctions is that we shall lay up in store for ourselves.\u00a0 We have already noted this paradox – those who become poor become rich, those who empty their barns fill them.\u00a0 And moreover, the emptying only lasts for time, the filling lasts for eternity.\u00a0 In 2 Corinthians 9:9 the apostle quotes from Psalm 112:9 in connection with the giving of a righteous man.\u00a0 “He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever”.\u00a0 Righteous actions performed now will remain in the memory of God, and be to the praise of God, for all eternity.<\/span>
\nLet us remember the exhortation given to the apostle Paul, “Remember the poor”.\u00a0 Let us remember, and imitate, his response, “The same which I also was forward to do”, Galatians 2:10.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whose shall those things be?\u00a0 Luke 12:20 Few would deny that we live in the perilous times about which the apostle Paul warned us in 2 Timothy 3:1.\u00a0 He foretold by the Spirit that in the last days men would be lovers of their own selves.\u00a0 Not surprisingly, the next characteristic he mentions is covetousness, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":4,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[368,455,464,671],"class_list":["post-3574","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christian-giving","tag-covetousness","tag-giving","tag-good-works","tag-riches"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiangospel.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3574","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiangospel.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiangospel.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiangospel.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiangospel.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3574"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/christiangospel.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3574\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiangospel.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3574"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiangospel.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3574"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiangospel.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3574"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}