#80 Luke 12:13-21 In What Does Life Consist?
On July 16, 2022 by Amy BurginJoy:
Episode #80 Luke 12:13-21
Welcome
Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you’re here. I’m Amy Burgin.
Joy:
I’m Joy Burgin.
Amy:
Amid a world of many words, this podcast makes room for the God-breathed Words, the best words, the ones that rightly convict, correct, teach, and lead us. Each week we read one passage from the Bible several times and create stillness after each reading so we might also be still, listen, and know God more for ourselves.
We are in a very long series that takes us through the book of Luke.
Pour Out Your Heart to God
Amy:
Before I read today’s passage, take a minute to pour out your heart to God. Maybe you have a list of questions for which you need answers or a heart filled with hope, grief, gratitude, bitterness, joy, worry, or a mix of all these things and more. Whatever is on your mind, name it and bring it to God in the next minute.
What Does This Passage Say About God?
Joy:
I’m going to read today’s passage two times. As I read, consider the question, what does this tell us about God?
Luke 12:13-21 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Again?
Luke 12:13-21 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Take a minute to be still and know what this says about God.
[Pause and know]What Does This Passage Say About People?
Joy:
As I reread the passage, consider a different question. What does this tell us about people?
Luke 12:13-21 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Take the next few moments to answer the question, what does this passage tell you about people?
[Pause and know]Lord, What Would You Have Me Know Or Do Today?
Joy:
As I read for the last time, ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?
Luke 12:13-21 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Take the next minute to ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?”
[Pause and listen]Blessing
Joy:
Christgazer, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. And may you turn your face toward Jesus today and know his love.
One Response
Amy:
This week, several photos came my way. First, I saw photos from the James Webb Telescope, my favorite of these and perhaps the most famous is the photo of the Carina Nebula, a star-forming region in our very own Milky Way Galaxy showing an ethereal landscape of what looks like a massive dust storm in the sky with twinkling stars galore pouring forth some speech of good news, joy, and cheer all backdropped by my favorite color, midnight blue.
But then, I saw a second photo, from a baby announcement via email at work. A brand new baby, so new little bits of birthing custard could be seen on his cheeks. With a perfect little face and eyes open, peering directly at the camera, I found myself in total awe. As I studied his picture, I saw eternity bundled in flesh and a tiny hospital blanket, white with blue and red stripes. I saw a bit of stardust, bearing the very image of God, alive with little seeing eyes that seem to tell me, “I am meant to grow into wisdom, humor, purpose, and love.” The gorgeous Carina Nebula couldn’t compare with stardust freshly bearing the image of God.
Jesus said, “Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Life consists in God, God in you, and God in me.
Closing
Amy:
Joy and I will be back again next week to go Christgazing together. Until then, don’t forget, when you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails, and so do you.
It blesses me to hear from you! Please leave a reply here.