The Counter-Intuitive Challenge: Luke 12:13-34
Focus Passage: Luke 12:13-34 (NASB)
While teaching people about the topic of worry, Jesus makes a very counter-intuitive challenge to everyone present. While Jesus’ message began by focusing on guarding against greed, He then shifted from greed to worry before making this challenge.
This detail makes me wonder if greed and worry are connected. I have not ever thought about these two ideas being related, but what if greed and worry were linked together? What if greed was the hidden source behind the temptation to worry in our own lives?
I believe these ideas are connected, because Jesus’ challenge to everyone – both His followers as well as those who were simply listening to His message – is this: “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.” (v. 33)
In this passage, Jesus basically challenges everyone to sell all their stuff and give it to charity. In the context of what Jesus is teaching, the word “charity” would be giving it somewhere where the money is needed, and it cannot be repaid. This would not include giving your money to your stockbroker to invest for you, or giving it to your rich grandparents in hopes that they will gift it back to you in their will.
Instead, Jesus shares a counter-cultural message that by scaling back and living on less, we can truly win in multiple areas of life. When we scale back, we win because we are pushing back against the temptation of greed; we win because we are more free to be led where God calls us; we win because we don’t have as much stuff to worry about; and we win because we are investing in heaven.
Not only do we win in this life, but our investments into heaven are powerful as well. Not only does God keep track of our gifts and add them to our heavenly savings account, when we give to charities that help spread the news about Jesus, we are indirectly helping to bring other people into a saving relationship with Jesus – which ultimately blesses heaven with more people who get to share eternity with God.
Accepting Jesus’ counter-cultural challenge is counter-intuitive because when we fell like we are losing by scaling back, we are winning in ways we cannot even begin to imagine, and ways we will only fully understand when history ends.
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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