In his saving us, Jesus’ mission is to awaken our hearts to the preeminence of life in the Spirit, which is eternal, and to demonstrate its superiority over the flesh, which is external and momentary. For men conditioned in their thinking by a material world, this task can be an uphill battle. Jesus would probably say:

 How hard it is for the rich to enter into the kingdom of God. Yet all things are possible with God. (adapted from Matthew 19:23-26)

On this day, a huge crowd presses Jesus. People are clamoring for solutions to the external problems of their lives. For example: one man makes what seems to be a reasonable request, “Order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance.” Jesus says, “No. That’s not my job.” Jesus knew this man’s real need was not material. To fulfill His mission, to proclaim and expand the kingdom of God, it was going to require him to say things that were offensive.  He had to expose the real issue at hand, which was the greed that prompted the request in the first place. “Greed?” we might ask. “That’s a bit harsh isn’t it? Didn’t the man say he only wanted his fair share?” Let me ask you a question: from God’s perspective, is “fair” a word that even applies to us as sons and heirs of the kingdom?

Behold,” Jesus announced, “The kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts].” (AMP)

Jesus is building His kingdom one heart at a time. His tools are innocent sounding stories with razor sharp edges that have the potential of piercing the heart of flesh where it resists eternity. I think of words of this nature as facilitating the ongoing circumcision of our hearts, which is the indicator of our membership in the new covenant, as physical circumcision was the sign of belonging to the old covenant.

Kingdom proclaimers endeavor to increase true wealth for others. They are conscious of the brevity of this life and desire that, when men stand before the Lord, their portfolios be invested heavily in the invisible things that moth and rust cannot destroy. To do this, they live and speak a different language (often one that cuts and offends). Listen to Jesus:

Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.” (Luke 12:15 MSG)

How alien and sharp these words seem to us. Why would Jesus say such disruptive things? Because he knows it is always possible that, “This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?” He doesn’t want anyone to die whose heart has stored up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.

Jesus continues:

 “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.”  (Luke 12:22-23)

Now Jesus reveals another unbelievably sharp edge of His scalpel. He is not only after what we want in order to protect us from greed, He is now slicing away at our needs to protect us from worry. We might be thinking, “That’s not fair.” Jesus might ask, “Fair?

With stories of birds and flowers he makes His case for the invisible yet unending kingdom. He wants to see men dressed suitably for that realm. He knows that none of the external things we tend to focus on will transfer when we die. And besides, if we have strived to possess them, we are even now shabbily dressed.

 “But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you?” (Luke 12:28)

Here is how He suggests we approach our wardrobe. First:

 Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself. (from Luke 12:29-32 MSG)

Then:

 Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bank robbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. Luke 12:33-34 MSG) 

Have we ever asked ourselves whether we are resisting or promoting the kingdom of God in our hearts? Maybe, in light of this story, we can simply pray and ask God to show us where we are obstructing the kingdom. When we walk through the aisle or look through the catalogue, we can become more in tune with our hearts when they say, “I want that.”  Could watching over our hearts diligently as we are commanded, equip us to distinguish between wants and needs? Perhaps our heart’s edginess and offense with words like fairnesswant or worry, is our signal that He aspires to open a new conversation with us, one that will expand the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

Father, may our hearts be yours to shape and mold as you will. Cut away fleshly obstructions to Your kingdom. Show us how to die to any undersized and misplaced wants so that You might give us Your kingdom and its accompanying abundant Life. Thank You for saying these sharp and essential things. Help us to cloth ourselves for Your Kingdom, which has come and is coming. Thank You, that even though these things are impossible to us, they are all possibilities with You. Amen.

An entertaining story with many of its own sharp edges dovetails with today’s passage: The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. I highly recommend it.

 

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