Scripture Reading:
Luke 12:32-40
Key Verse:
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Luke 12:29-31)
What does this passage teach us?
Let us mark, firstly—what a gracious word of consolation this passage contains for all true believers. The Lord Jesus well knew the hearts of His disciples. He knew how ready they were to be filled with fears of every description: fears because of the fewness of their number, fears because of the multitude of their enemies, fears because of the many difficulties in their way, fears because of their sense of weakness and unworthiness.
He answers these many fears with a single golden sentence—“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32)!
Believers are a “little flock.” They always have been, ever since the world began. Professing Christians have sometimes been very many. Baptized people at the present day are a great company. But true Christians are very few. It is foolish to be surprised at this. It is vain to expect it will be otherwise until the Lord comes again. “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14).
All true believers have a glorious “kingdom” awaiting them! Here upon earth—they are often mocked and ridiculed, and persecuted—and, like their Master, despised and rejected by men. But “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us!” “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (Romans 8:18, Colossians 3:4)
Believers are tenderly loved by God the Father. It is “the Father’s good pleasure” to give them the kingdom. He does not receive them grudgingly, unwillingly and coldly. He rejoices over them as members of His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. He regards them as His dear children in Christ. He sees no spot in them. Even now, when He looks down on them from Heaven, in the midst of their infirmities—He is well pleased. And hereafter, when presented before His glory—He will welcome them with exceeding joy (Jude 24).
Are we members of Christ’s little flock? Then surely, we ought not to be afraid. Exceeding great and precious promises are given to us (2 Peter 1:4). God is ours, and Christ is ours. Greater are those that are for us—than all that are against us. The world, the flesh, and the devil, are mighty enemies. But with Christ on our side—we have no cause to fear.
Let us mark, secondly—what a striking exhortation these verses contain to seek treasure in Heaven. “Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.” But this is not all. A mighty, heart-searching principle is laid down to enforce the exhortation. “Where your treasure is—there will your heart be also!”
The language of this charge is doubtless somewhat figurative. Yet the meaning of it is clear and unmistakable. We are to sell—to give up anything, and deny ourselves anything—which stands in the way of our soul’s salvation. We are to give—to show charity and kindness to everyone—and to be more ready to spend our money in relieving others, than to hoard it for our own selfish purposes. We are to provide ourselves treasures in Heaven—to make sure that our names are in the book of life—to lay hold of eternal life—to lay up for ourselves evidences which will bear the inspection of the day of judgment.
This is true wisdom. This is real prudence. The man who does well for himself—is the man who gives up everything for Christ’s sake. He makes the best of bargains. He carries the cross for a few years in this world—and in the world to come, has everlasting life. He obtains the best of possessions. He carries his riches with him beyond the grave. He is rich in grace here—and he is rich in glory hereafter. And, best of all, what he obtains by faith in Christ—he never loses. It is “that good part which can never be taken away.”
Would we know what we are ourselves? Let us see whether we have treasure in Heaven—or whether all our good things are here upon earth. Would we know what our treasure is? Then let us ask ourselves—what we love the most? This is the true test of character. This is the pulse of our religion. It matters little what we say, or what we profess, or what preaching we admire, or what place of worship we attend. What do we most love? On what are our affections set? This is the great question. “Where our treasure is—there will our hearts be also.”
Let us mark, lastly—what an instructive picture these verses contain of the frame of mind which the true Christian should endeavor to keep up. Our Lord tells us that we ought to be “yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord.” We ought to live like servants who expect their Master’s return—fulfilling our duties in our several stations, and doing nothing which we would not like to be found doing when Christ comes again.
The standard of life which our Lord has set up here, is an exceedingly high one—so high, indeed, that many Christians are apt to flinch from it, and feel cast down. And yet there is nothing here which ought to make a believer afraid. Readiness for the return of Christ to this world, implies nothing which is impossible and unattainable. It requires no angelic perfection. It requires no man to forsake his family, and retire into solitude. It requires nothing more than a life of repentance, faith and holiness.
The man who is living a life of faith in the Son of God—is the man whose “loins are girded,” and whose “light is burning.” Such a man may have the care of kingdoms on him, like Daniel—or be a servant in a Nero’s household, like some in Paul’s time. All this matters nothing. If he lives looking unto Jesus—then he is a servant who can “open unto him immediately.” Surely it is not too much to ask Christians to be men of this kind. Surely there was a reason why our Lord said, “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not!”
Are we ourselves living as if we were ready for the second coming of Christ? Well would it be if this question were put to our consciences more frequently. It might keep us back from many a false step in our daily life. It might prevent many a backsliding. The true Christian should not only believe in Christ, and love Christ—he should also look and long for Christ’s second coming. If he cannot say from his heart, “Come, Lord Jesus!”—then there must be something wrong about his soul.
Questions:
1. What are the themes of chapters 1-12?
2. How are believers described here by our Lord?
3. Where should we store our treasure?
Family Application Questions:
1. How can we always be ready for the return of our Lord? What does spiritual readiness look like?
2. What are some differences between earthly treasures and heavenly treasures?
