The Worth We Carry
Good morning. I pray you are going to have a great day. Today, we read Luke chapters 12 and 13.
There are many stories and parables in these chapters, but, I they lead to one question: What does God value?
Value is a misplaced concept in our society. We focus on cost. What is the price we pay? How much are we worth to an employer? Will our customers still buy if inflation forces us to raise prices?
My wife is a silversmith. She tries to keep some pieces under twenty dollars and rings under thirty. But the price of silver has doubled in the last year. Even when she pays herself less for the labor, it’s hard to keep those price points low. The college kids who come through the art market we display at have budgets—they’ll only pay what they can afford.
Jesus speaks to this in Luke 12:4–7:
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:4–7, NIV)
He’s showing us we—whom He calls out as hypocrites (Luke 12:1–3)—worry about what could happen to us. We worry about whether our resources will last. We say we trust God’s provision, but then we check the account.
Do We Have Enough?
We do this with more than finances. When asked to take part in ministry, we check our calendars and try to find an excuse. I remember being in a class learning The Way of the Master.(1) We practiced asking people, “If God judged you today, would you be guilty?” Then, “If the wages of sin is death, what do you think your fate is?” It’s a powerful method to witness for Jesus.
In the last weeks of the program, we went to a local mall and approached strangers to share the Gospel. I remember wondering: Do I have enough information? Did I practice enough? Am I bold enough?
Jesus said:
“Do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (Luke 12:11–12, NIV)
But I still checked my “account.” Did I have enough?
What Is Important to Us?
The answer isn’t always yes. We can over-commit and put ourselves in a critical situation. Whether with finances, time, or courage, we must remain within our budget. But we also have to assess: What is important to us?
Jesus points out that we are valuable to God (v 12:7). When we value Him more than the world—forsaking our want to list for His I want you to list—we find that none of those fears matter. God provides what we need when we focus on Him, and then all the planning and calculating become irrelevant.
Will our bank balance or calendar seem sufficient? We may think we have enough. Instead, we must look at our hearts and ask: Do we have Jesus?
If we are in His will, He is always sufficient.
Your Money Is No Good Here
It’s like that old line from movies (I’ve never heard it in real life): “Your money is no good here.” Meaning they don’t want you to pay.
Jesus already paid the price we never could. So it’s pointless to wonder whether He’ll give us enough resources—whatever they may be—for the task at hand.
The Wrong Account
He will punish sin. We see that in these verses too. There will be many who think they had Jesus, but who kept looking in the wrong account. If you’re only familiar with Jesus—not surrendered to Him—you may hear those horrible words:
“I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!” (Luke 13:27, NIV)
Don’t let that happen. We don’t know the hour we’ll leave this life and face judgment (v 12:40). Stop worrying about preparing for day-to-day activities and budgets. Set your mind on being ready for the Master to return.
Tomorrow, we will read Luke 14-16.
Footnotes:
-
Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron, The Way of the Master, evangelism training series, Living Waters Publications, 2004.
