Wednesday
Evening Bible Study
June 20, 2001
Introduction
Jesus has been addressing the issue of greed. It all started back in Luke
12:13 –
(Luke 12:13-21 KJV)
And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he
divide the inheritance with me. {14} And he said unto him, Man, who made me a
judge or a divider over you? {15} And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware
of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things
which he possesseth. {16} And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground
of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: {17} And he thought within
himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my
fruits? {18} And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build
greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. {19} And I will
say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine
ease, eat, drink, and be merry. {20} But God said unto him, Thou fool, this
night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be,
which thou hast provided? {21} So is he that layeth up treasure for himself,
and is not rich toward God.
It’s not that Jesus was unwilling or unable to be a proper judge between
this man and his brother. The problem wasn’t that they needed a judge, the
problem was that these two men were greedy, living their lives by living for
money.
:22 And he said unto his disciples,
Up to this point, Jesus has addressed His remarks to the crowd in general
after the man asked Jesus to be His “judge”.
But at this point, Jesus turns and addresses His disciples. He is talking
to the smaller group around Him, the group that has made a commitment to follow
Him.
The “crowd” contains people that are skeptical and people that are simply
curious.
The group of disciples” contains the folks that are committed.
:22 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall
eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
Keep in mind, Jesus is talking to people living in a society where they get
their life from farming. Most people spent most of their life in the pursuit of
getting enough food to eat. When it came to clothing, they had to shear the
sheep, spin the wool into thread, weave the thread into cloth, and then sew the
cloth into clothes. Having clothes to wear wasn’t as simple as going to
Mervyn’s and worrying about which outfit to buy.
life – psuche – breath;
life; the soul
put on – enduo – to sink
into (clothing), put on, clothe one’s self
take … thought – merimnao –
to be anxious; to be troubled with cares; to care for, look out for (a thing);
to seek to promote one’s interests; caring or providing for
It comes from the word merizo, meaning “to divide”, “to divide into
factions”, and the idea is that your mind is “split” into “yes” or “no” when
you are anxious and worrying. Our English word worry comes from an old
Anglo-Saxon word that means “to strangle.”
Lesson
Worrying is dangerous
Illustration
According to John MacArthur, some years ago, the Mayo Clinic stated that
statistically 80 percent to 85 percent of their total case load were ill either
in reality or artificially due directly to mental stress. Also according to MacArthur, not too long
ago, there appeared an article in a leading medical journal entitled, "Is
Stress the Cause of All Disease?"
The author of the article says that at the beginning of the century,
bacteria were considered to be the center of attention. Today, mental stress has replaced bacteria.
Illustration
Beethoven's grave
That’s what “worrying” can do to us, it
causes us to “decompose”.
Illustration
Many folks worry about things that never
happen. It is like the patient in the
mental hospital, holding his ear close to the wall, listening intently. The attendant finally approached. “Sh!” whispered the patient, beckoning him
over. The attendant pressed his ear to the
wall for a long time. “I can’t hear a
thing,” he finally said. “No,” replied
the patient, “it’s been like that all day!”
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of
its sorrow,” said Corrie Ten Boom; “it empties today of its strength.”
:23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
life – psuche – breath;
life; the soul
meat – trophe – food,
nourishment
raiment – enduma –
garment, raiment, cloak, an outer garment
Lesson
God wants more for you.
God wants us to learn to enjoy much more than just food and clothing.
(Luke 10:38-42 KJV) Now it
came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a
certain woman named Martha received him into her house. {39} And she had a
sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. {40} But
Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost
thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore
that she help me. {41} And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou
art careful (same word as used in Luke 12:22, “take no thought”) and troubled about many things: {42} But one thing
is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away
from her.
What was the more important thing that Martha was missing
out on? She was missing out on JESUS!!!
:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have
storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the
fowls?
consider – katanoeo –
to perceive, remark, observe, understand; to consider attentively, fix one’s
eyes or mind upon
ravens – korax – a
raven; includes the whole family of crows.
sow – speiro – to sow,
scatter, seed
reap – therizo – to reap,
harvest
storehouse – tameion – a
storage chamber, storeroom
barn – apotheke – a
place in which anything is laid by or up; a storehouse, granary
Keep in mind that Jesus has just told the story about the man who had a
great harvest and decided to build bigger barns (Luke 12:18).
feedeth – trepho – to
nourish, support; feed
ye better than – diaphero –
to bear or carry through any place; to carry different ways; to differ, to
test, prove, the good things that differ,; to distinguish between good and
evil, lawful and unlawful, to approve of things that excel, to differ from one;
to excel, surpass one
fowls – peteinon – flying,
winged; flying or winged animals, birds; the birds of the heaven, i.e. flying
in the heaven (air)
You are more important than a crow to God. If God feeds the crows, He’ll
take care of you.
:25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
taking thought – merimna
– care, anxiety
can – dunamai – to be
able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a
state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or
custom; to be able to do something; to be capable, strong and powerful
add – prostithemi – to put
to; to add
stature – helikia – age,
time of life; stature, i.e in height and comeliness of stature; this could
either refer to the length of a person’s life, or their height.
cubit – pechus – a cubit;
a measure of length equal to distance from the joint of the elbow to the tip of
the middle finger (i.e. about 18 inches, (.5 m) but its precise length varied
and is disputed)
If you are a little shorter than you’d like to be, can you sit and worry
about it and cause yourself to start growing? Not a chance.
:26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye
thought for the rest?
that thing which is least – elachistos
– smallest least; in size; in amount: of management of affairs; in
importance: what is the least moment
able to do – dunamai – to
be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of
a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law
or custom; to be able to do something; to be capable, strong and powerful
the rest – loipos –
remaining, the rest
take ye thought – merimnao
– to be anxious; to be troubled with cares; to care for, look out for (a
thing); to seek to promote one’s interests; caring or providing for
If you are unable to cause yourself to grow any taller, how do you think
you can control the rest of your life?
In reality, though there are things we can do to work and bring in income,
there are things in our lives that are way beyond our control. Even the person
with a secure job can find themselves on unemployment with the snap of a
finger. All kinds of things can come along and wipe out your savings account.
:27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and
yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of
these.
consider – katanoeo – to
perceive, remark, observe, understand; to consider attentively, fix one’s eyes
or mind upon
lilies – krinon – a
flower, the lily
they grow – auxano – to
cause to grow, augment; to increase, become greater; to grow, increase
toil – kopiao – to
grow weary, tired, exhausted (with toil or burdens or grief); to labour with
wearisome effort, to toil; of bodily labour
spin – netho – to
spin
Jesus is talking about taking wool and spinning it into thread, which would
be used for clothing.
arrayed – periballo – to
throw around, to put around; of garments, to clothe one
You can’t beat the beauty of a flower. God did a great job with flowers!
:28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to
morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little
faith?
oven – klibanos – a
clibanus, a earthen vessel for baking bread; a furnace, oven
will he clothe – amphiennumi –
to put on, to clothe
of little faith – oligopistos –
of little faith, trusting too little
You are more valuable than grass, even when you have “little faith”.
:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be
ye of doubtful mind.
seek – zeteo – to
seek in order to find; to seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after; to crave,
demand something from someone
This is a pretty strong word. What are you “seeking” after in your life?
What are your life’s ambitions?
be ye of doubtful mind – meteorizo
– to rise up on high; to put a ship [out to sea] up upon the deep; by a
metaphor taken from ships that are tossed about on the deep by winds and waves;
to cause one to waver or fluctuate in the mind; to agitate or harass with
cares; to make anxious
:30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your
Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
world – kosmos – an apt
and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government; the world, the
universe; the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and
therefore hostile to the cause of Christ; world affairs, the aggregate of
things earthly; the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches,
advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir
desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ
seek – epizeteo – to
enquire for, seek for, search for, seek diligently; to wish for, crave; to
demand, clamour for
knoweth – eido – to see;
to perceive with the eyes; to know; to know, i.e. get knowledge of, understand,
perceive
ye have need – chrezo – to
have need of, to be in want of
Lesson
Don’t seek for “stuff”
1.
The world is
doing it.
Jesus has been addressing His disciples because He doesn’t want them to be
like the world.
Be careful about letting the “world” become your model for how you do your
business or how you provide for your family.
In the world, people do anything to get ahead. In the world, people don’t
hesitate to cheat or steal from others.
Jesus doesn’t want you to do things like the world does.
2. God knows what you need.
I don’t have to seek for “stuff”, I seek for God. He knows what I need.
It this is so, why do I go through hard times, why do I sometimes feel like
I have such a great need?
It’s not because God somehow forgot about you or lost your address.
a. Sometimes God simply wants you to learn to ask Him for your needs.
(Mat
7:7-11 KJV) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock,
and it shall be opened unto you: {8} For every one that asketh receiveth; and
he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. {9} Or
what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
{10} Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? {11} If ye then, being
evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your
Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Sometimes God is wanting you to learn to trust Him more by
learning to ask from Him.
James says that we “have not” because we “ask not” (James
4:2).
b. Sometimes God is going to test
you and refine you through your trials.
(James
1:2-4 NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it
be an opportunity for joy. {3} For when your faith is tested, your endurance
has a chance to grow. {4} So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully
developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.
I may be asking, but if God isn’t supplying then perhaps
He is trying to stretch me.
:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be
added unto you.
seek – zeteo – to
seek in order to find; to seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after; to crave,
demand something from someone
shall be added – prostithemi –
to put to; to add. Same word that was used in verse 25, to “add to his stature
…”
Lesson
We still work
Illustration
GOD WILL PROVIDE
A young man gets engaged to a young woman and goes to meet her parents over
dinner. After dinner the father takes the young man into the drawing room to
find out his plans for life with his daughter. “So, what are your plans?” The
father asks the fiancée. “I am a Biblical Scholar” he replies “A Biblical
Scholar. Admirable, but what will you do to provide a nice home for my daughter
to live in, as she deserves?” The father asks. “I will study” the young man
replies “...God will provide for us.” “And how will you buy her a beautiful
engagement ring, such as she deserves?” The father asks. “I will concentrate on
my studies, God will provide for us.” the young man replies. “And children” the
father asks “how will you support your children?” “Don’t worry sir” the young
man replies “God will provide.” The conversation proceeds like this, and each
time the father asks a question the young man insists that God will provide.
Later, the mother asks about the discussion, “So, how did it go?” The father
replies “He has no job and no plans, but the good news is he thinks I’m God.”
This doesn’t mean that persons don’t need to work to support themselves.
I’ve had people quote this to me, telling me that they aren’t working because
they are expecting God to take care of their needs.
(2 Th 3:6-10 KJV) Now
we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye
withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after
the tradition which he received of us. {7} For yourselves know how ye ought to
follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; {8} Neither did
we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night
and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: {9} Not because we have
not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. {10} For
even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work,
neither should he eat.
Paul had set the example to the Thessalonians that he never took food from
them for nothing, but instead he always paid his own way. He set an example of
working hard. He told them that if people wanted to freeload from the church
without working, they simply should learn to go a little hungry.
Paul also wrote to the Ephesians:
(Eph 4:28 KJV) Let him that
stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the
thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
In other words, we all ought to be in a place where we are
not looking for others to always carry us, but we become the ones who carry
others. We’re all going to go through times of need, and it’s okay to receive
help when you need it. But the general pattern of our lives ought to be to be
helping others.
Lesson
Take care of God’s things, and He
will take care of you.
Instead of having “make money” at the top of your “to do” list, have your
list topped with “seek the things of God”.
Is God the one you are “seeking”?
Is He your highest priority?
Think of Mary and Martha. Are you
looking for the “best” thing, spending time with Jesus? Do you give Jesus quality time, reading His
Word and praying, or do you give Him just the “leftovers”, if you have time
left at the end of the day?
Are you concerned about the same things that God is concerned about?
God is concerned about the lost.
God is concerned about where people will spend eternity. Do these things concern you?
As we are seeking God’s things, we will still have times when our needs and
“worries” creep into our lives. What do we do then?
(Phil 4:6-7 KJV) Be careful (“anxious”)
for nothing; but in every
thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made
known unto God. {7} And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.