Beware!

Beware!

by David Brenneman 

"Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: 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 many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:15-34.

Are you rich towards yourself or towards God?

Are you concerned about relationships or everything else?

Heavy questions. Having it all can still mean having an emptiness that you cannot fill nor possibly describe. 

Right now, in this very hour, many popular people have lost and are losing all that they possessed in their homes in California. Late last year Hurricane Helene ripped through with such devastation that years will be spent rebuilding. 

These things we treasure on Earth are destined for destruction. Should the Rapture of the Church happen today, 1007 years later...it's guaranteed to be destroyed. 

Many many people try to cheat the aging process and spend thousands daily to achieve some grasp on their youth. 

Vanity of vanities all is vanity says the Preacher in Ecclesiates. 

Many people strive for wealth and possessions...teaching others to do the same...and for what?  

Truthfully...I do not want the burden of excessive wealth. My prayers include getting out of debt...which is right according to the Scriptures. 

Worry chases and worry troubles many a soul.

Worry translates to stressful times. Some of the most expensive trips to the doctor are about treatment of the effects of stress in the lives of people. 

What are we uselessly spending on that isn't Kingdom oriented? 

A man once said that time is money. In circuit board inspection, even a label is considered a part of the board. The time to place it is money spent.  

Your time you have given to you only has so many times around the sun attributed to it.

What are you doing, saying, contributing to, that's considered value-added to the Kingdom of God?

Have you really put your all on the altar or only what you're comfortable with parting with?

Does Jesus deserve your leftovers or your everything?

All the words you read at the beginning of this post were the direct words of Jesus...to you...to me...to everyone. These are among the words that Jesus commanded His Disciples "teaching them all that I commanded you...and lo I am with you always even to the end of the age.".

What's your worry?

More importantly why are you keeping it rather than trusting Jesus with it?

You don't think that He knows what it is? You don't think He already knows why you haven't given it to Him? Isn't it He who searches the hearts?  

The Amish people get mocked a lot. 

However elements of their way of life are extremely beneficial to our everyday life. 

We find a need to fill out time with someone or something. Why is it Jesus isn't the first person that we think of? Why isn't time with Jesus the first thing we want to do?

I have hobbies. But I wonder about keeping them in light of the gospel. Let me explain...did the Disciples have any? From their own mouth it's written that they gave up everything to follow Jesus. Part of the answer Jesus gave is that there's nobody who's given up things in this world who won't receive much more in the Kingdom to come. 

We spend great amounts of time and money honestly trying to avoid time with Jesus. Call it like it is. Say it for what it is. We say we have to do this or that...but in many cases...it's a cover-up. We love to tell ourselves what we deserve. We deserve this time spent on ourselves. We get angry when we do and someone needs something right in the middle of it.

It's food for thought. 

Think about these hours, minutes and seconds that are ticking away in your day today. Am not thinking about tomorrow. Just think about today. How much did Jesus dying for you, and you living for Jesus, is going to cross your mind today when you're planning out your day?

Do you set aside anything for Jesus? If it meant everything to you to get saved...why doesn't it now?

Why are possessions on the top of your list? Why is your hobby more important than the work of God in Christ in your life? Why do you spend your money and time on you rather than taking some of your wealth to bring freedom to others less fortunate than yourself?  

What would a Disciple of Jesus Christ be doing...and teaching others to be doing?

Beware that you're not wrapped up in the priorities of the world. For everyone...health, wealth and prosperity have failed everyone. Drive by a cemetery.

Lives are cut short for obviously seen reasons. Many are because of things unseen by the world at large. They are because in His Sovereignty and His knowledge of all things past present and future Jesus knows when someone isn't going to come to Him for salvation and they're not going to contribute to anything in His plan and purpose for others to come to Christ for salvation. Their rejection of Jesus is so firm that nothing will get through to them. Many people die because their death will be what causes someone to come to Christ for salvation.  

You see your personal relationship with Jesus is everything that's important to Jesus. Those who adamantly reject the free gift of salvation are on borrowed time.  

Everyone in Hell knows exactly why they are there. They are there only because they rejected God's plan for a real relationship with Jesus for them. 

A real relationship with Jesus is more important than everything else in your life. You cannot have real relationships with people if you don't start with a real relationship with Jesus.  

Satan knows all this which is why so many temptations are about distractions to keep the minds of people off of anything to do with a right relationship with Jesus.

A Church that isn't focused on their relationship with Jesus is weak and ineffective to the work of God in the world.

Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world wasn't merely a suggestion or just a good idea. 

Beware of the soft traps. 

Beware of made up priorities that sound important but really aren't. 

Beware of taking what belongs to God and giving it to things that are not going to be God honoring. 

Beware of being busy bodies. Running around doing things that have no eternal value. 

Think before you step. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.