Luke 12:16–21, 27–28, 31–34, 42–44, 48b

Family Bible Study
Chair of Theatre, Samford University; Southwestern Seminary graduate

Money Matters
Luke 12:16–21, 27–28, 31–34, 42–44, 48b
The title of this lesson might better be phrased “What you do with money matters.” Christ has very clear instruction concerning the proper way for a believer to approach money, and Luke 12 is a wonderful example of this. The overall principle we find in the New Testament is that money is material, neither good nor evil of its own accord. The good or evil comes in the way people approach any material or social structure they encounter in God’s creation.

Wealth does not last. Jesus drives this point home through the parable of the wealthy landowner who has an abundant harvest. The landowner says that he will tear down his barns, build bigger ones and then just “take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” How different would Jesus’ message have been had he left the parable here. This is the motivation of so many people — accrue as much wealth as possible and then relax. This is simply not a biblical principle. Christ’s parable concludes, beginning in verse 20, with this shocking turn of events: “But God said to him, ‘you fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’” That is harsh but clearly Jesus wants us to know that the selfish acquiring of wealth was not what God had in mind for us. God wants us to turn the wealth that comes through our lives into the work of the Kingdom. So what does that mean?

The first work of the Kingdom is living a life of faith and trust in God, our Provider. Beginning in verse 27, Jesus addresses the questions of those who heard the parable of the wealthy landowner. Jesus lived in a time of extreme wealth alongside extreme poverty. The Romans were at the height of their power. Jesus, no doubt, recognized that those who would follow Him wanted to know what material benefits would be available to them as opposed to the wealth of those who follow the Roman way of life. Jesus’ response was completely in keeping with the entirety of our relationship with God.  In verses 27–28, Jesus told them God is completely aware of what we need, both essentials and luxuries. God can be trusted infinitely more than Rome (the pagans) to provide and in so doing, keep us in peaceful communion with Him.

Verses 31–34 expound on the idea of communion and expending what we have been given in the kingdom of God. Jesus says, “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” Jesus also instructs them to sell what they have and give it to the poor. Fewer sets of verses in the Bible have stirred more disagreement, been utterly ignored or misinterpreted more than these. It might be easier to make sense of this by comparing it to something Christ said in Chapter 6, “Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands — all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you.” In other words, the investment we make in the lives of others is returned to us accordingly, not just with money but, perhaps more importantly, relationally. God blesses the way we see Him and each other, and that is a permanent return on the dollar.

None of this is an excuse to be foolish with money. On the contrary, we are called in verses 42–44 to be careful stewards of the blessings, monetary and otherwise, God gives. Jesus responds to a question from Peter by saying, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.” In other words, believers who are good managers of money — those who can make a return on investment — will be treated to more responsibility. The Kingdom needs money to fulfill the Great Commission. We live in a fiscal world. As long as we keep our focus on God, not on the accumulation of material goods, we will understand what really matters when it comes to money.