Beware of “bigger barns” syndrome

Tomorrow morning I’m speaking to our Iron Man Fellowship breakfast from LUKE 12. Think about this. Ask yourself if your life aims at getting more stuff, or more of God. Jesus thought this was mighty important — He gives a rebuke, a reminder, then a parable, and warns of the judgment to come!

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
Luke 12:13-21 ESV (emphasis added)

The plot to kill Lazarus…

Yes, that Lazarus, the one Jesus raised from the dead. Opponents of Jesus wanted him dead. Why? Read for yourself, in JOHN 12 [emphasis added] — 

9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

Two “wow” thoughts come to mind.

#1. Here a life greatly changed by Jesus was changing the lives of others! I have been changed — born again — because of Jesus; am I impacting the lives of those around me?

#2. Those opposing Jesus couldn’t help but face, in Lazarus, evidence for the divine power of Jesus. Nevertheless, they sought to get rid of the evidence rather than change their view of Jesus! How rock hard is the heart of unbelief! How irrational are those who refuse to believe.

I praise God for His grace to me, in opening my eyes, and giving me life in Christ.
pdb