“For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.”
Luke 12:58-59
This is the passage we have before us today. It may appear to be disjointed and unconnected. We have comments about rich fools, the bridegroom coming unexpectedly, then thieves, a weather forecast and then comments about taking a brother to court. No wonder people say it is a pot pourri of ideas that Luke has jammed together. But is it really? Don’t forget the verse which closed the section we looked at yesterday:
“Why can’t you decide (judge) for yourselves what is right?”
Luke 12:57
What is the connection between all these things? I am of the opinion that it all flows together.
Jesus has been looking at a string of somewhat different topics. We saw that in the list I gave you in Gems 1,000.
You can consult the full list in Gem 1,000 but allow me to pick some out of that list and add the last ones.
- The Pharisees accuse Him of getting His power from satan
- The Pharisees and the crowd ask for a sign
- They invite him to lunch and accuse Him of not doing the ritual cleansing
- He calls them hypocrites and says they are responsible for the blood of all the prophets
- Don’t fear those who can kill the body; fear the One who can throw you into hell
- More precious than sparrow
- Don’t deny Him
- Blaspheming the Holy Spirit
- When you are brought before the court and the authorities
- Interruption by the brother wanting his share
- Parable of the rich fool
- For this reason I say to you,”don’t worry about your life”
- Seek His Kingdom first and all your needs will be taken care of
- Don’t store stuff on earth; put your treasure in heaven
- Coming bridegroom (with bride?) servants ready
- Coming thief, servants abusing their privilege
- To whom much is given, you will be called to account
- Families will be divided
- A weather forecast
- Judge rightly
Look at all the issues discussed before this section. All are issues requiring right judgements but many of the responses or reactions are far from right judgements. In the string immediately before the parable of the rich fool, Jesus is telling the disciples to make sound judgements. If you are going to worry, worry about the right things. Don’t worry about what these Pharisees can do to you. Rather, worry about what God can do to you. Don’t heed their call, they don’t make sound judgements; they’re full of darkness and they classify the things of the Spirit with the actions of the devil. Seek God’s Kingdom. Don’t hoard stuff here on earth but sow into your heavenly bank account. Be ready for Judgement Day and the coming bridegroom. Don’t be caught with your pants down. You have been given much, use it for His glory. If you don’t rightly apply the principles of God, you will be divided and scattered.
What’s wrong with you? You seem to be able to discern rightly when it comes to the weather, but when it comes to the other principles that God has set in motion, you haven’t a clue. Learn to take the principles and laws of the universe that God designed, and apply them to your life. You can handle it in the physical, observable world and interpret the signs well enough. So learn to judge correctly when it comes to money, Godly fear, provision of your needs, your future, disputes among you, especially in your family. Make sensible judgements when it comes to things and people. Do it before you end up in court. Settle things with your opponent before the law of the land is applied to your case. Note the number of times judgements, cases and courts are mentioned throughout these elements.
They will drag you into court as quickly as they can, but aim to settle quickly. Especially so when you realize where the true values lie. Just like you know about the weather, learn to apply the principles and laws of the Kingdom of God and the Bible. Know where true wisdom is found and learn to interpret things through the eyes of heaven. Look for the big picture perspective.
The secret of success is found in putting His Kingdom first and learning to discern and judge rightly according to the laws He has set within His universe.
Ian Vail
Everybody has a piece of the jigsaw puzzle. Only God sees the picture on the box.
Max Lucado
Our lives are not destined by the stars but by the Son.
Rick Warren
Half the trouble in life is caused by saying YES too quickly, and not saying NO soon enough.
Rick Godwin
God often asks people to do things they know they can’t do. You need a calling bigger than you that calls you out of normalcy!
T. D. Jakes