The Division of Covetousness
The Gospel of Luke • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 33:30
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· 3 viewsTheme: The division, decision, and distribution of covetousness. Purpose: To warn people about the dangers of covetousness.
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Luke 12:13-21
Luke 12:13-21
Theme: Jesus Teaching
Key verse: v.32
59 verse; 1,407 words
Grade level: 6.0
Outline:
I. Be careful... lest Satan hinder you. Verses 1-12
II. Be confident... God will not fail you. Verses 13-34
III. Be consistent... in preparing for Christ's return. Verses 35-59
Coveting People and the Consequences of Their Actions (taken from Treasures in Luke)
Sustenance and Supremacy were coveted by Eve as she desired the forbidden fruit and wanted to be like a god (Genesis 3:6).
The result was the fall of Adam and the human race.
The Substance of Sodom was longed for by Lot. His greed motivated him to set his sights and take his family to Sodom. Lot was vexed by the wickedness of the city, the children became influenced by its wickedness, and Lot’s wife was destroyed by her love for the city.
She was turned into a pillar of salt (Genesis 13 & 19).
Subjects in Lot’s home were lusted after by the sodomites as they banged on the door of Lot (Genesis 19:5).
They were smote with blindness.
The Shares of Esau’s birthright and blessings were craved by a devious Jacob who tricked his father in order to attain Esau’s blessing (Genesis 25:21). Jacob had to flee his home because of the danger he faced with Esau.
He never saw his mother again.
The Salary of Jacob was craved by Laban as he changed Jacob’s wages ten times in order to gain Jacob’s bounty of the herds (Genesis 31:7).
He lost his family.
The Servant of Potiphar, Joseph, was craved by Potiphar’s wife as she sought to fulfill her sexual passion for Joseph by clutching him and trying to drag him to her bed.
Joseph refused, fled for his life, was falsely accused, and thrown into prison (Genesis 39:7).
The Spoils of Jericho were craved by Achan.
The result was the army’s defeat at Ai and the destruction of Achan and his family (Joshua chapter 7).
The Sheep and Steaks of the Amalekites were coveted by King Saul. He disobeyed the Lord and did not destroy these animals as commanded.
The result was the loss of his throne (1 Samuel 15).
The Soil and fruit of Naboth’s Vineyards were coveted by King Ahab who ended up framing Naboth and having him executed in order to get the land (1 Kings 21).
Ahab died on the battlefield and Jezebel was tossed from a window and died.
Over and again, we find one example after another about the damaging effects of covetousness and why the Lord issues a warning about it here in Luke 12.
The Division of Covetousness is seen in these PLACES:
I. Where The Division Begins. v.13
I. Where The Division Begins. v.13
13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
The crowd was gathered to see and hear Jesus.
“company” (1828) A number of persons untied for the same purpose
The courts were competent to deal with such secular concerns. The law of inheritance was covered in Deuteronomy 21:15–17. Jesus was on His way to the cross. (Exploring Luke. John Phillips)
“Master” (1828) A man who rules, governs, or directs others in business and daily affairs.
The NAS, NIV, NKJV, ESV, HCSB, ASV, NLT changes “Master” to “teacher”
The Lord has now is done with secular material things.
But He will deal with that when He returns.
Focus on the task at hand. Get the job done!
The Division of Covetousness is seen in these PLACES:
I. Where The Division Begins. v.13
II. Where The Division Balances. v.14
II. Where The Division Balances. v.14
14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
“judge” (1828) Someone who is invested with authority to hear and determine causes
John 5:22 “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:”
“divider” (1828) one who deals out to each his share.
For the born again: 2 Corinthians 5:10.
For the lost: Revelation 20:11-15.
“divider” - NAS, NKJV, ESV arbitrator, NIV “arbiter”
The Division of Covetousness is seen in these PLACES:
I. Where The Division Begins. v.13
II. Where The Division Balances. v.14
III. Where The Division Breathes. v.15
III. Where The Division Breathes. v.15
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
“covetousness” (1828) A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good; usually in a bad sense, and applied to an inordinate desire of wealth
Man is born covetous (Mark 7:20-23)
Goldberg’s book, The Complete Book of Greed, states that in the closing days of the war, the Nazis were intent on taking this stolen wealth with them. In 1945, Martin Bormann, Hitler’s deputy, utilized a German submarine operation to transport the booty taken at the death camps to the country of Argentina. The Nazis’ own records reveal that six U-boats carried across the Atlantic Ocean 550,000 ounces of gold, 3,500 ounces of platinum, and 4,638 carats of diamonds, plus works of art, gold marks, British pounds, American dollars, and Swiss franks amounting to millions of dollars. At $1100 an ounce, the value of the gold today would be worth 605 billion dollars. At $1200 an ounce the platinum would be worth today over four billion dollars.
“consisteth” (CWSB) to be
Christ warned mankind not to become so taken up with worldly possessions.
Few people can handle riches well without destroying their character.
Conclusion:
“This world lasts only a little while, the other world lasts forever.”
H.H. Hailey