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Mark Wheeler
Luke 12:13-34 05/15/2022
“Trusting in Our Treasure Trove” Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church
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Unto Thee, O Lord
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Join in as Pastor Kathy leads us in our Call to Worship:
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Hello everyone! Welcome to worship at Lidgerwood!!
Welcome! We are glad you are here with us today! We gather here from a topsy-turvy world of amazing and weird and disturbing and exciting events – Kentucky Derby “miracles”, un-predictable weather, shootings, wars, flowers, and grace. Welcome to a moment where we can settle in with God and with each other.
We gather in our church sanctuary – a holy place – and it’s also a safe place – where the divine and the human connect together. Welcome to this holy sacred and safe place today.
Let’s take a second to welcome each other, and those in the room. Tell your loved ones, whoever you can see , “The Lord is with you – and also with you!!”
Welcome to this “gathering” in God’s name. We are assembled in NorthEast Spokane, WA, along with people from all over the world. We are very glad you are “here” with us.
Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit presence and power, in your homes, through your phones and computers, in this building here, and in your lives. Pray with us … and hear and be transformed by God’s Word.
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Our Opening Song of Devotion and Praise is –– My God, How Wonderful Thou Art – #65!! A song of wonder and grace
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Open our hearts today, O Lord, to feel the powerful strength and love You have for us. Help us to listen, not only with our ears, but with our spirits for Your Word of compassion and healing. Enable us to become more faithful disciples for You; for we ask this in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Mom! Make Mark share the ice cream with me!”
You can change the name and the dessert menu, but if you have ever been around more than one-kid-at-a-time, you’ve witnessed (or been a part of) a cry for help just like that.
And it’s not just kids either. As adult children we might cry to lawyers for help in getting our fair share of our parents’ estate. or a better seat at the ballgame, or … our fair share of ice cream….
That’s the set up for the parable we’re reading from Luke’s Gospel today. Let’s turn to Luke 12:13-34. I know that that’s a long passage, and we want to get to the restaurant before the Baptists down the street do, and I know that most of your Bibles (including the Bibles we supply in the pews) stop the story at verse 21. But, you’ll see how vital verses 22 thru 34 are to the full understanding of this story Jesus tells to teach a lesson about in what/whom we place our trust. So, let’s turn to Luke 12:13-34 …. ----
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13 Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 “Friend,” he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”
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16 Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”
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20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’
21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
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22 Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? 25 Can any of you add one moment to his life spanby worrying? 26 If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?
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27 “Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 28 If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you—you of little faith? 29 Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. 30 For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
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31 “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
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Two weeks ago I told you a true mountain climbing story about myself and some friends. That story was meant to illustrate a false sense of living life to the fullest. The fullest lifestyle, rather than seeking thrills, means following the Great Commandment to love the Lord our God with everything we’ve got, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. That delivers not only a “full” life, but an eternal life with God even after our bodies die.
Today I tell another mountain climbing story. Pugslie Selman was by far the biggest kid around, and he didn’t mind letting everyone know it. In a neighborhood full of tough guys, this loner was the undisputed champion. His real name was John Selman, but nobody used it. The few guys he hung around with called him “Pugs”, and most everyone else simply tried to stay out of his way.
This day was different, though. Instead of pushing people around, Pugs was on a ledge 40 feet high, crying like a baby. He had come rock climbing with his buddies, and now he was stuck. He was afraid to go back down the way he had come up, but he couldn’t trust the rope around his waist (or the boy who was holding it) enough to lean out and grab the rock above his head. So he clung to the cliff … and cried.
Predictably, everyone on the ground laughed at Pugslie. They were yelling and joking about the “giant wimp.” But then things changed. Paul Woods, a little guy that Pugslie liked to push around, climbed up the cliff face. “Everything will be alright, Pugs,” said Paul. “You’ll be fine. Just follow me.”
Then Paul climbed ahead of Pugslie, showing him each place to put his feet and hands. Before long, the guys on the ground were cheering Pugslie on as he climbed over the top of the cliff and raised his fist into the air.
Puglsie grew up and is still as big as all the outdoors. But he no longer trusts in only his size to get him success in life. He has learned to trust others, even those smaller and weaker than himself, to help him rise over the next peak.
Today’s parable from the mouth of Jesus is a made-up story to teach a lesson. One of my Bibles titles this parable, “A Warning Against Selfishness”. You can see how that title fits the parable. The rich farmer had more grain than he could handle, so he selfishly built bigger silos … and then he died.
But I don’t think it was really an anti-selfishness parable. [That’s a fine lesson! We shouldn’t be selfish!] But, I think it was a parable about trust! The reason this millionaire-farmer was selfish was because he trusted in his savings to get him through.
Jesus’ parable was meant to illustrate that when we put all of our trust in our own bank accounts, or skills, or good looks, or sure-to-win-horses, or creativity, or …, our trust will eventually betray us.
After the story our great teacher talks about how worthless is it to worry … how sinful it is to worry, because it means we don’t trust God!
In the Sermon on the Mount, which we find in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says virtually the same thing. In the Sermon on the Mount He closes His section on worry by saying, “Seek first the Kingdom of God … and all the things you’re worrying about will be provided.” Here, in Luke’s Gospel, He says, “All the people in the world are trying to get these things, and your Father knows you need them. [Between the lines: Do you trust Him?] But seek God’s Kingdom, and all other things you need will be given to you.”
It’s not that it’s wrong to trust in things or people. Trust allows us to live free from worry. When we trust our husband, we don’t worry about an affair. When we trust our children, we don’t worry about drugs (a party, sex, etc). Maybe we SHOULD worry a little! After all, humans are all capable of making bad decisions, of falling prey to peer pressure, or simply being stupid. But when we do trust them we don’t worry!
And here’s the thing Jesus wants to tell us: God is trustworthy! After the parable, after the command to trust God and not worry about what we need, Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom! So sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where your heart is … that’s what you treasure most!
If God is giving us His Kingdom … why in the world would we worry about this month’s rent? Well, because we still need to pay this month’s rent, or move out on the street. So the question to us is: do we trust God? We say we do … but here’s the test? Even if we end up on the street, does that mean God doesn’t have a different plan? A better plan? Do we trust Him? If we do, then listen to that parable and stop being selfish, and start giving something to those who have less.
Millard Fuller lived a true illustration of this lesson. He was a millionaire Christian who felt like there must be more to life than just making money and building a big bank account. So he and his wife prayed and studied the Bible and listened and waited for direction. What we read this morning was the Bible passage that tipped the scale for them. They ended up selling their business and founding a program to help low income people live in quality homes. Their program is now world-wide. Do you know what it’s called? A wealthy Christian heard God’s voice to be generous and he established Habitat for Humanity!
Trust that something is better. And if we’ve got the ice cream, share it so we can help others trust, too. Amen.
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Great God of Creation, we worship You in spirit and in truth.
Lead us into our 2nd hundred years of learning how to love our neighbors.
Prepare us for Your coming Kingdom and everything You would have us do and be here at LPC. Give us the desire and the ability to trust You fully in the process!
Confirm Your direction with joy and hope.
In Jesus’ authority. Amen.
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CAMERA
Our Choral Anthem !!! Choir – – “Amazing Grace”
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Pastor Kathy, come lead us in Prayer
- what are some praises, thanksgivings, adorations we want to offer?
- Is there a person or a situation you want to lift to our Lord for His answers and grace?
26 We pray this in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray: [The Lord’s Prayer]
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Just like those earliest Christians, we sing praises here in this place because of the commitment and faith and generosity of others who shared the Good News of the Gospel in their time.
So we turn now, in our time, and share our faith and our commitment through generous giving to support the ministry of this church in Christ’s name. Let us gather our gifts together and offer them to God in gratitude and praise.
Receive our tithes and offerings as symbols of our very lives and livelihood, given as response to Your life given for us! Bless it, and by it bless the world around us. In Christ’s name, Amen.
– Offering (4449 N Nevada St, Spokane, 99207 ; click HERE, or text 833-976-1333, code “Lidgerwood”)
Expedition Song #98 – Majesty, Worship His Majesty –! We began today singing the proclaiming God’s Wonder, and we close singing of God’s Majesty!!
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We continue with this benediction: May we Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit.
And give glory to God, today, and forever! Amen.
And as we do that: “May the Lord bless you and protect you;
may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.”
32-33 Announcements
- Fellowship Time – self-serve coffee & pre-wrapped treats –
- Office Hours are (generally) Tuesday thru Thursday, 9-noon!
- Community Garden – is happening!
- Fellowship Church Women’s Connect Tea – Saturday, May 21, 10am-noon, at Fellowship Church– Bring your favorite Tea Cup!
- LPC @ Indians Baseball – Saturday, May 21, 5:09pm @ Avista Stadium
Resources:
The Youth Bible: New Century Version; Word; Waco, TX; 1991; Pp. 1027-1029.
Wheeler, Mark; “Trusting Our Treasure Trove”; Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church; 04/29/2007.
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