What Jesus Did : Luke 12:13-15 - Greedy for Financial Justice
by Phil Ware
Greedy for Financial Justice - Luke 12:13-15
One of the men in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, {our father just died}. Tell my brother to share with me the things our father owned." But Jesus said to him, "Who said that I should be your judge or decide how to divide your father's things between you two?" Then Jesus said to them. "Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. A person does not get life from the many things he owns." (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
Most of us can really get upset when someone cheats us financially. Yet incredibly, nearly everyone gets cheated somewhere down the line! There are plenty of folks looking to cheat honest folks. This hurts us terribly when it is a person in our physical or spiritual family because they are supposed to be people we can trust. We shouldn't be surprised when this is a problem brought to Jesus. Jesus makes it clear that he is not going to get into the middle of a family dispute about money. He is not here to insure us financial justice. Jesus is more interested in our earthly character and our eternal trajectory. Greed can manifest itself in those who are rich. However, it is an even bigger problem in those who want to be rich. The issue isn't if we're going to be cheated financially, but whether or not we handle that offense with character and grace. We shouldn't be surprised that forgiveness in the teaching of Jesus is couched in terms of "forgiving a debt" (Matt. 6 & 18).
Today's Prayer
Father, don't let greed have a foothold in my heart. I know that it is a form of idolatry, and I don't want anything to have the desires of my heart but you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
-- Luke Luke 12:13-21 (ERV)
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