“The Just Shall Live By Faith”

New King James Version                          Written by: David Hicks

 

Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

“Articles of Faith"

An Orderly Account Of The Greatest Story Ever Told

(A Study in Luke)

Chapter 12:13-28:

In our previous lessons from the beginning of this chapter, the Lord has been engaged in teaching His disciples the proper attitude they were to have toward God and His Christ. In the establishment of this attitude was the recognition that they were going to have to avoid the spirit of hypocrisy displayed by the leaders of the people. As he concluded with the portion of His sermon concerning the boldness necessary to confess Him in the presence of those who would bring them before magistrates and authorities; one from the crowd will interrupt the Lord and demand that the Lord arbitrate a dispute between him and his brother. This is where we will pick up and visit the parable of folly.

Text #1:

Luke 12:13-15 “Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. ”
14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

As the Lord is teaching His disciples, it is being done in the presence of the multitudes. It is not said if something in the Lord's sermon caused this man to think the Lord would arbitrate the situation with his brother. At any rate, his selfish motives (Vs. 15), caused him to seek the Lord's aid against his brother.

Two Things:

First , it should be noted that the Law of Moses had already provided laws for the proper division of inheritances (Numbers 27:6-11; Deuteronomy 21:15-17).

Second , it is obvious that the brother asking the Lord for His assistance is unsatisfied with the existing laws. It should also be noted that the Lord's rebuke is directed at both of them. This teaches us that covetousness (to fix your desire upon, to lust after, and to long for) made the one brother say, “divide” and the other say, “no”!

Jesus is now going to instruct through parable concerning the proper attitude each should have to overcome covetousness.

Text #2:

Luke 12:16-21 “Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”' 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

He Thought Within Himself: The rich man's sin was not theft or extortion; he came by his goods honestly. His sin is betrayed in the conversation with himself. There were those around him with nothing; yet, he horded his goods. He never considered the needy; instead we have him stating what “I” will do 6 times and “MY” goods 5 times.

His covetous nature convinced him that he controlled time! He failed to realize that God owned his soul!

This same instruction would continue to be emphasized into the kingdom of the Lord, note:

James 3:13-17 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

1 John 3:17  “But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

Neither brother thought of anything beyond maintaining or obtaining a portion of the inheritance. Had either been rich toward God, this case would have arbitrated itself to the benefit of all!

Text #3:

Luke 12:22-28 “Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?”

Similar teaching found in: Matthew 6:19-21; 25-34; in the Sermon on the Mount.

To His Disciples: The interruption passed, the Lord returns to His teaching directed at His disciples.

Worry: First and foremost it is important to note that the Lord is not asking them not to worry, the statement comes, “do not worry about your life”; it is direct and leaves no room for debate (a command).

The word worry here stems from the root meaning, “anxious” and actually could be translated either way. It conveys a state of mind full of doubt or double-mindedness. It indicates a state or sense of suspense or worry which comes from a mind of doubt.

The issue here is not the understanding that we are to provide for the necessities of life, it is the understanding that providing for things we need is not to become an obsession.

To Christians, the Apostle Paul wrote:

2 Thessalonians 3:10 “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”

1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

These principles of work and labor being necessary efforts were to be honored under the Old Law (consider Proverbs 6:6; 10:5; 12:11; 13:11; 20:13; 28:19) and under the Law of Liberty. By this we know that God is not going to provide for those who do not provide for themselves.

So, the instruction of the Lord concerning worry over things of the flesh is not telling us that we are not to strive to provide for the necessities of life. It is however; teaching that we are not to obsess or be anxious over them to the point of worry. Life is not about these things, note:

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Ask yourself this question; if you cannot through any effort on your own, add one more moment to your life than your limited nature has determined, then why exert the effort to worry over things that will not matter when you are gone?

And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?

The illustrations that follow this question are given to show that God provides for the temporal needs of things passing away, even in physical splendor. However, He has provided a greater purpose in life for you and me than physical blessings! To realize this is to understand that serving God is our very purpose and all we do must be built around that in order to honor our Master.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.”

To build your life around the temporal things of life and then fret over them, is to be labeled by the Lord's last statement in our text; “O you of little faith”.

Next: “Where Your Treasure is, There Your Heart will be Also!”