Jesus, like every kingdom-proclaimer, has the burden of awakening hearts to the preeminence of the inner life of the spirit (which is eternal) above the outer life of the flesh (which is temporary).  As is always the case for men conditioned in their thinking by a material world, this task is an uphill battle. Jesus would probably say…

                               How hard it is for the rich to enter into the kingdom of God. 

On this day Jesus is pressed by a huge crowd. People, as usual, are clamoring for solutions to the external problems of their lives. One man makes what seems to be a reasonable request, “Order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance.” Jesus said, “No”. That’s not my job.” This was because Jesus knew this man’s real need was not material. To do His job (which was to proclaim and expand the kingdom of God), it was going to require Jesus to say things that would likely offend this man.  He must expose the real issue at hand, the kingdom-issue, which was the greed that prompted the request in the first place. “Greed?” We might think, “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].

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 where it is resisting the kingdom. I think of these types of words as facilitating the ongoing aspect (mentioned earlier this week) of the circumcision of our hearts, which is the indicator of our participation in the new covenant as was physical circumcision a 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 are invested heavily in the invisible things that moth and rust will not destroy. To do this they have to live and speak a different language (often one that cuts and may offend). 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.”

How alien and sharp these words seem to us. Why would Jesus say such disruptive things? Because he knows that it is always possible that; “This very night our soul is required of us; and now who will own what we have prepared?’ Jesus does not 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.

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

“Fair?”, Jesus might ask.

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?

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.

Then….

Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, 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.

Have we ever asked ourselves if 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 are walking through the isle or looking 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 to, involve distinguishing in our motives between wants and needs? Perhaps if we become aware of edgy words like fairness, want or worry, it is a signal that He is opening a new conversation with us, one that will expand the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

Father, Our hearts are 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 to us. Help us to cloth ourselves for Your Kingdom which has come and is coming. Thank You Father that even though these things seem impossible to us, all things are possible with You. Amen.

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