최중현 교수(롬한인장로교회) 영어설교- How to Defeat Covetousness(Luke12:13-34)

How to Defeat Covetousness 

(Luke 12:13-34)

1. The text is about the foolish rich man recorded only by Luke.

(1) The text begins with a question about [one of the crowd] in verse 13. Let’s look at verse 13. That’s right. When he asked to solve his inheritance problem, the Lord’s answer to him was [Covetousness] in verse 15. That’s right. Paul said that covetousness is the seed of sin.

(2) In fact, how many times do we collapse because of greed while living on this earth?

First, as in verse 13, we collapse because of material desires, and as in verse 18, we collapse because of the desire to have more. And as in verse 22, there are many times when we collapse because of gluttony and bravado about what to eat and drink. However, you should know that these things have nothing to do with going to heaven.

(3) Nevertheless, the person who heard the Lord’s 3 blessings and 6 curses in the previous verse is referring to material things in today’s text. So, I don’t know if the author Luke intentionally emphasized our appearance now by saying [one of the crowd] at the beginning of the main text. Think about it, in the Jewish society at that time, the issue of inheritance was clearly decided in Deuteronomy 21. However, this person had a covetousness to have more. That is why he emphasized [to defeat covetousness].

2. Then how to defeat greed?

(1) Let’s first look for the method in the Lord’s parable.

1) First, if you look at verse 16, the rich man in the text put his success in life on material things. If you look at verse 17, what would be this man’s problem if he had no place to store his produce because he had so much produce, and the solution he thought of while worrying was to tear down the barn and build a bigger one? That’s verse 19. That’s right. He only thought about the problems of his body, but he never thought about the problems of his soul.

2) Yes, everything on this land has its owner. But today, the rich man misunderstood everything on this land as his own. So in verse 17/ my crops, in verse 18/ my barns, my surplus grain, in verse 19/ my soul, the Lord emphasized that he was self-centered.

3) Third, you must know that the standard of happiness in life is absolutely not material. Looking at verse 19, the view of happiness in life is not to achieve [the joy of resting in peace, eating, drinking, and having fun], but the rich man in the text puts his happiness in material things. That’s right. It is the rich man’s illusion of happiness. Everything on this earth must have an owner. However, this rich man was mistaken as if time was his, his life, his health, and his material possessions. So, in verse 20, the Lord asked if he took your soul tonight, whose would it be? That’s right. It means that we are only managers of the produce entrusted to us by God. So, remembering that when the owner comes, you must pay the bill, so in [Ecclesiastes 12:1], Solomon said, [Remember your Creator while you are young... Before the dust still returns to the ground and the spirit returns to God who gave it, remember.

(2) So the Lord clearly stated who he was.

Everyone, the purpose of the Lord’s coming to this earth is as a ransom offering for our sins. So, you must know that salvation does not lie in the lot or the little of the produce. However, if you look at people’s lives, they live [worrying about what they will eat and what they will drink]. So, the secret to defeating covetousness is that, like verse 31, [a life that seeks his kingdom and his righteousness first] is important. Only then can such a person live as a true rich man. That is why the Lord said repeatedly, “Do not worry, do not be troubled, and do not be afraid”.

(3) But what about us now?

1) Are you still living in worry? So in verse 25 the Lord said this about sorrow. Let’s read it together. That’s right. Who can grow one character taller just because they care?

2) So, let’s experience the God who cares for us. In verse 27, the Lord spoke of the beauty of the lilies of the field. How much more does God take responsibility for what you wear and live?

3) So, as a conclusion, he rebuked them for having little faith. One of my favorite Bible verses is [God’s gift]. Who doesn’t like gifts?

a) First, in Ecclesiastes 3:13, [It is God’s gift that everyone eats and drinks and enjoys pleasure through hard work]

b) Second, in Ecclesiastes 5:19 [God gives us riches and wealth, these are God’s gifts]

c) Third, in John 4:10 [if I knew who I was, that would be God’s gift]

d) Fourth, in Acts 8:20 [Give me the Holy Spirit, saying, did you think you bought God’s gift with money?]

e) Fifth, in Ephesians 2:8 [You have been saved through faith; it is the gift of God]

That’s right. There are so many gifts that God has given you. But aren’t we living as fools now?

[Conclusion]

The greatest happiness on this earth is definitely not a lot of material things. However, when you look at people, they live by putting material things first because of greed. Everyone, what is true happiness? That is peace, the Lord said in conclusion. So where does true peace come from? Because the peace that the Lord gives is true peace, in verses 33-34 the Lord emphasized the peace of the heavenly kingdom and spoke of the blessings of those who live by giving alms.

Like Hymn/ 412, I hope that these blessings overflow to you all.

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