Luke 8:7

We may be very interested in the message of Jesus but refuse to accept it because of our devotion to worldly wealth, pleasures and material things. Life’s worries, riches and enjoyments take precedence, choking out Truth, preventing us from reaching maturity or attaining God’s intended goal for our lives. How easy it is to fall into this category! We live in a land with such distractions and great wealth that I am afraid we suffer from the disease that Beth Moore has dubbed “affluenza”. We don’t worry if we will eat; it’s deciding what we want to eat or even which restaurant we want to eat it in (my personal favorite)! We don’t worry about having something to wear; it’s what selection we will make from our over-stuffed closets that have us fraught. We don’t worry about what we will watch or read or listen to, we have myriads of choices at our beck and call. If we are not careful, we can become consumed, distracted and waste out lives. A perfect example from Scripture is the conversation between the rich young self-confident ruler and Jesus:18 A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 19 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.' “21 "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Luke 18:18-25 (NIV)
This passage isn’t a lesson on riches but a lesson on Lordship. Jesus is looking for wholehearted devotion and a willing mind from among His followers. The ruler in this passage had a vice grip on his wealth preventing the Lordship of Christ and with it abundant life in the here and now and eternal life in the hereafter – not losing salvation but never possessing it. Before we get too comfortable and smug, if riches happen not to be our particular folly, we can substitute anything for “wealth” in the above passage. It can be a job, or fame, popularity, or beauty, companionship, spouse, friends, children, knowledge and even self – the list is virtually endless. The key is what is on the throne of our lives. Anything but Christ and we will be weighed on the scales and found wanting. Jesus gives the meaning for our verse for today later in this same chapter:14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. Luke 8:14 (NIV)
Those described here are people who go about their daily affairs of life without giving heed to the Giver of it. They miss the mark never being brought to the intended goal – actually the word mature has in it the meaning of ripeness. A great quote by Gilbert Arland hits the nail on the head: “When the archer misses the mark, he turns and looks for the fault within himself. Failure to hit the bull’s eye is never the fault of the target. To improve your aim – improve yourself.” Christ observes our lives and the fruit that we bear for His glory. I am reminded of a verse in Scripture that relates to this point: 9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chron 16:9 (NIV)
Let’s consider another example from Scripture of someone consumed with worldliness and his ultimate fate – Judas Iscariot. He walked with Jesus and dined with Jesus and was considered among His inner circle of twelve. Jesus shared bread with Judas the night of His betrayal and even washed Judas’ feet. Yet Judas held back a part of his heart making him susceptible to Satan’s entry. Scripture states:
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. “6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. John 12:4-6 (NIV) 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. John 13:27 (NIV) 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. John 13:30 (NIV) It is always night (darkness) when we are in disobedience. Jesus tells us all plainly: 12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 (NIV)