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Devotional/Inspiration
• Vol. 1: Genesis–Job • Vol. 2: Psalms–Malachi • Vol. 3: Matthew–Mark • Vol. 4: Luke–Acts • Vol. 5: Romans–Revelation
Theological Seminary at Richmond. From 1992–1996, he served as the first Coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Previously he pastored churches in Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, and New Jersey. Cecil is a graduate of Baylor University and is the recipient of the Baylor Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award for 1992. He graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (B.D., Th.D.) and Princeton Theological Seminary (Master of Theology). He has written extensively, publishing numerous articles and two books: A Kingdom of Surprises: Parables in Luke’s Gospel and Modern Myths (sermons preached at First Baptist Church, Asheville, North Carolina). He continues to write Sunday school literature and other Christian educational resources for Baptists. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Cecil enjoys gardening and travel. He and his wife, Dorothy, are parents of an adult daughter.
FORMATIONS SERIES
LUKE – ACTS
CECIL SHERMAN has most recently served as visiting professor of pastoral ministries at the Baptist
Formations Commentary
AVAILABLE VOLUMES:
SHERMAN
O
n most any Sunday, in thousands of Bible study classes across America, one common question is asked in the midst of discussing that day’s session: “What does Cecil Sherman say about this passage?” Cecil Sherman has served as the primary commentary writer for the Smyth & Helwys Formations series of adult Bible study for nearly fifteen years. Across these years, he has offered insight through nearly 700 sessions across 45 issues of the commentary and addressed an extensive amount of Scripture. His work with Formations has made him a fixture in many Sunday school classes. At long last, and after much request, many of these commentaries are being made available once again. These five volumes that make up the Cecil Sherman Formations Commentary collect the uncommon wisdom, insight, and wit that Cecil’s readers have come to treasure week after week through the years.
Where Is Your Treasure? Luke 12:22-34 ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MAY 12, 2002
Introduction To get the power of this text, begin reading at Luke 12:13: “Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.’ ” Jesus said he was not in the business of family arbitration and proceeded to tell a parable about grasping for money (see 12:13-21). Most of us quit reading at verse 21 because we like Bible teachings that dress down the sins of others; we are not too keen on stories that probe our soft underbelly. Think of it this way: • Luke 12:13-21 addresses greedy wealthy people. • Luke 12:22-34 addresses people like you and me, who may not be wealthy but are overly concerned about money. Walter Russell Bowie described our text this way: “Now he turns to the great majority who not only had no thought of ever being rich, but also never could be quite sure of having enough to live on at all” (The Compassionate Christ [New York: Abingdon Press, 1965], 176). I was born in 1927. In 1929, the Great Depression hit our country hard. My father kept his job, but his pay was cut almost in half. Like many others in my generation, I never had an allowance, and I took little jobs, selling magazines, dipping ice cream, jerking soda. My friends were “in the same
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boat.” We had to be concerned about money because if we weren’t, we would have none at all. Growing up the way I did built into me a resolve not to be poor. The flip side of the resolve not to be poor was an inordinate concern about money. I’m a Depression kid; I can’t keep from it. I remember my mother stretching every dollar to make ends meet. Small wonder I grew up asking, “How much does it cost?” Then, along comes a text addressed to me. It’s not really about money. It’s about worrying about money. When we study about that “rich fool,” I’m okay; that’s for rich people. This text has my name on it. Jesus has some advice for us.
I. Don’t Worry About Life; Worrying Won’t Help, 12:22-26. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.… And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest?” This text speaks to an epidemic in our congregations. We are an uptight, wound up, stressed out people. Sometimes our worry and stress are about relationships—marriage, children, aging parents. Too often the worry is about getting and keeping a job, making more money. We create crises by overspending. I visited a family about attending our church. The man said it up front: “We are in debt until we can’t come to church. If we come, you will ask us for money. We don’t have any to spare. We are maxed out. We will come to church when and if we ever get our debts in order.” They had stuff, but it had not made them happy. They were doing what Jesus talked about: “Worrying about…life.” Anxiety is not always bad in the Bible. Paul was anxious for his churches; Timothy was concerned about the Philippians. In this text the sin is “preoccupation with material things. Everyone, of course, protests that he or she only wants enough, but no one knows how much is enough until one has too much” (Fred B. Craddock, “Luke,” Interpretation Commentary [Louisville: John Knox Press, 1990], 163-64). Even now, I can offer rebuttal to the text: “If I don’t worry about making a living for our family, who will?” Plaintively we argue with the text, saying, “I’m just being realistic. I have to make a living.” With rationalizations like the one I quoted above, we get on the treadmill. We work and work. We are anxious and worried, always afraid we are not going to have enough. Worry rather than faith is our calling card. We go
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to church and sing, “God will take care of you,” but we come home and translate the hymn into “God helps those who help themselves.” This text is not about childish idealism that reasons, “I don’t have to work; God will provide.” “Jesus never ordered any man to live in a shiftless, thriftless, reckless way. What He did tell a man to do was to do his best and then to leave the rest to God” (William Barclay, The Gospel of Luke [Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1956], 169). Remember those times when worry held you back from faith? I’m not suggesting we do thoughtless things in the name of God. I am pushing myself to have more faith and less worry about money.
II. Learn Trust and Contentment, 12:29-30. “And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them” (12:29-30). This text is telling us to have faith in God, but having faith is not that easy. If it were, the people who go to church would have it. If the sign of being a Christian is faith, then some of us need to work on getting some. The text says: (1) “Striving” and “worrying” are actually admissions that we are not trusting in God. We seem to fear God won’t come through; therefore, we redouble our efforts about “what we are to eat and what we are to drink” because God may lose track of us or not be able to provide for us. (2) “It is the nations of the world that strive after all these things” (12:30a). Translated: Striving and worrying about getting enough to eat or drink are actually sub-Christian ways to live and ought not be found in Christian company. How do I get from worrying about things and money to trusting and being content? Here are three suggestions: • To get faith, seek out people who have some. Faith is contagious. You can catch faith like you can catch a cold. Conversely, if you run with people who are cynical and faithless, you will catch their cynicism and faithlessness too. • Have a good experience. When you make it through a hard month or a child’s illness, doesn’t this begin to communicate with you? God really is looking over your shoulder. Let your weight down on God, who really is taking care of you.
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• Ask for more faith. Do as the apostles who said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” (17:5a). From living with Jesus they saw a daily illustration. Jesus was under enormous stress, yet he managed to keep himself together and get through each day. Faith was the glue that held him in place. They wanted some of that faith, so they asked for it. We ought to imitate them. “Contentment” does not appear in the text, but it is suggested. “Do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink.” We must learn to be content with what we have. Paul spoke of contentment: (1) “There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these” (1 Tim 6:6-8). (2) “I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:11-13). Paul became so consumed with his mission until getting food and clothing became incidental. He had to have them, but they weren’t very important to him. He illustrates what Jesus wants of us. Stop worrying about food and clothing; pour the worry energy into better causes.
III. Strive for His Kingdom, for Treasure in Heaven, 12:31-34. “Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well” (12:31). Then a difficult faith formula follows. Here’s what we are instructed to do: (1) “Strive for the kingdom” (12:31a). What does that mean? Try to advance the ideas and causes Jesus advanced when he was on earth. He gave a witness to God, taught a new generation of disciples, cared for the poor, tended the sick and helpless, lived a life of service rather than a life of accumulation. He didn’t worry about himself; he worried and prayed a lot over misdirected, wayward, confused people. He lost track of himself, for he was so devoted to his cause. That’s my short definition of what it means to “strive for the kingdom.”
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(2) “Do not be afraid…for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (12:32). God is helping us do everything we are supposed to do. Fear and faithlessness cripple us. Courage and faith empower us. (3) “Sell your possessions, and give alms” (12:33a). “Turning from grave warnings about covetousness and anxiety, Jesus calls for a liberation from both in acts of generosity. Almsgiving was, along with prayer and fasting, the foundation of Jewish piety, and the Christian community continued this responsibility” (Craddock, “Luke,” 164). Too many of our churches don’t take care of the poor seriously enough. It is occasionally the theme of a text; it is often unmentioned. We need to catch what the Scripture is telling us. (4) “Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven” (12:33b). How do we lay up treasure in heaven? Barclay helps us: “If a man clothes his soul with the garments of honor and purity and goodness, nothing on earth can injure them” (The Gospel of Luke, 169). (5) “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (12:34). I’ve heard people talk about how much they loved our church. I weigh those words. If the one who says them can put his/her money in the church, then I know they have a heart for the church. Jesus used this rule; we need to pay attention. It’s easier to give money than it is to quit worrying about money. This session hit me between the eyes. I suspect it hit some of you too.
4
Devotional/Inspiration
• Vol. 1: Genesis–Job • Vol. 2: Psalms–Malachi • Vol. 3: Matthew–Mark • Vol. 4: Luke–Acts • Vol. 5: Romans–Revelation
Theological Seminary at Richmond. From 1992–1996, he served as the first Coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Previously he pastored churches in Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, and New Jersey. Cecil is a graduate of Baylor University and is the recipient of the Baylor Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award for 1992. He graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (B.D., Th.D.) and Princeton Theological Seminary (Master of Theology). He has written extensively, publishing numerous articles and two books: A Kingdom of Surprises: Parables in Luke’s Gospel and Modern Myths (sermons preached at First Baptist Church, Asheville, North Carolina). He continues to write Sunday school literature and other Christian educational resources for Baptists. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Cecil enjoys gardening and travel. He and his wife, Dorothy, are parents of an adult daughter.
FORMATIONS SERIES
LUKE – ACTS
CECIL SHERMAN has most recently served as visiting professor of pastoral ministries at the Baptist
Formations Commentary
AVAILABLE VOLUMES:
SHERMAN
O
n most any Sunday, in thousands of Bible study classes across America, one common question is asked in the midst of discussing that day’s session: “What does Cecil Sherman say about this passage?” Cecil Sherman has served as the primary commentary writer for the Smyth & Helwys Formations series of adult Bible study for nearly fifteen years. Across these years, he has offered insight through nearly 700 sessions across 45 issues of the commentary and addressed an extensive amount of Scripture. His work with Formations has made him a fixture in many Sunday school classes. At long last, and after much request, many of these commentaries are being made available once again. These five volumes that make up the Cecil Sherman Formations Commentary collect the uncommon wisdom, insight, and wit that Cecil’s readers have come to treasure week after week through the years.