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“And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.”

Luke 12:10–12

Charles M. Alexander, who was the song leader for many of R. A. Torrey’s great revival campaigns told of attending a service in Tennessee where people were praying for God’s power on their lives. One of those who was loudest in prayers was known in the church for continual backsliding and going away from God. Alexander said that once, as that man prayed for “the filling of the Holy Spirit,” a woman who was sitting nearby watching, knowing his pattern of hot and cold living prayed aloud, “Don’t bother filling him, Lord. He leaks!”

The Holy Spirit who indwells our lives from the moment of salvation is given to us both as a guide for our lives and as a seal that God will never forsake us. But we must walk according to His guidance if we are to benefit from it. Paul wrote, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). This is a direction—not for a one-time event, but for a continuing action. We all “leak” and need to yield ourselves to Him to be filled again and again.

The Holy Spirit only guides and teaches those who are listening. Through our obstinance and refusal to obey, however, we can hinder His work in our lives and disappoint and sadden Him: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

“And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

Luke 12:13–15

In his classic story “How Much Land Does a Man Need?” Tolstoy tells of a greedy man who wanted a vast estate. He is offered what seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. For a small sum of money, he can have all the land he can travel around in one day’s time. Beginning early in the morning, Pahom sets out, determined to claim the best land he finds and as much as he can. He stops to rest and eat only reluctantly, and pushes himself to cover more and more ground. Finally he makes a desperate rush to return to the starting point before sundown so that he does not forfeit his money and his land.

He reaches the hill just as the sun sets and falls dead from exhaustion. Tolstoy concludes, “Pahom was dead! The Bashkirs clicked their tongues to show their pity. His servant picked up the spade and dug a grave long enough for Pahom to lie in, and buried him in it. Six feet from his head to his heels was all he needed.”

All of us face the temptation to be covetous and to give our energy and attention to acquiring the things that we think will bring us happiness and contentment. But no amount of acquisition can substitute for peace in the heart. And the things of this world are only temporal. “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:7).

“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.”

Luke 12:16–19

In his book Money for Nothing, Edward Ungel recounts the results of his investigation into the lives of people who won large jackpots playing the lottery. He tells the tragic story of Abraham Shakespeare, who won $30 million in 2006. Shakespeare was hounded by relatives and acquaintances for money and found himself surrounded by new friends who offered to help him. One of them, Dorice Moore, convinced him to transfer his assets to her to “protect” them, not long before she ended his life. A few weeks before he was killed, Shakespeare told his mother that he wished he had never won.

While many people dream of getting rich, they fail to understand that wealth does not take away problems and temptations; it simply changes their nature and scope. In fact, while great wealth is often viewed as a blessing, it can be the means of destruction for those who refuse to heed the wisdom and instruction of God. “For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them” (Proverbs 1:32). Money is not evil, and having money is not wrong. It is simply a tool that we should use for eternal purposes. The danger comes when our focus is taken away from the eternal by the temporal resources so many try so hard to obtain.

“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Luke 12:20–21

In 1989, during filming for the television detective show B. L. Stryker, production assistants secured permission from the residents of a house in West Palm Beach, Florida, to stage a crash scene in front of the house. They warned the people that there was a possibility that there could be some damage to the lawn and the landscaping as a result, but were told to go ahead. At the last minute, a phone call from the irate owner of the house—who lived out of state in New York—halted their plans. The people living in the house were just renters, and did not have the right to authorize destruction of the property.

Everything that we have belongs to God. And one day we will face Him to give an account of how we have handled what He has entrusted to our care. This world is not meant to be our focus. All that we have will be left behind. As the old saying goes, “There are no pockets in a shroud.” We never see the funeral hearse followed by a U-Haul truck. The life that is focused only on this world is a foolish life, and it will not produce eternal rewards.

The rich fool in the parable believed he was thinking about the future as he planned to store up resources and enjoy a life of ease and comfort. But in reality his thinking was deceitfully short term. He had no thought of eternity, but found that his life was over before he expected it to be. We need to live each day with a consciousness of what truly matters and act accordingly.

“And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?”

Luke 12:22–24

After Abraham Lincoln was elected president but before he took office, he was interviewed by the famous newspaper editor Horace Greeley. Greeley wanted information about the future and the looming threat of the Civil War. Lincoln responded with a story from his days as a lawyer. Lincoln said that he traveled on horseback from one court to another, and once after particularly heavy rain, found it difficult to cross the flooded streams. Nearing the Fox River, he stopped for the night. As he sat at supper, his dinner companion was a Methodist circuit riding preacher. Lincoln asked what he thought about crossing the Fox River in time of flood, and the old circuit rider replied, “I have one fixed rule regarding the Fox River—I never cross it until I come to it.”

So much of our lives are spent worrying about the future. People fret over health, money, politics, environment, relationships, and more. Yet worry has never made any situation better. You will never see a stressed out bird making an appointment with a therapist. They trust their Maker, and He feeds them. And even though we intellectually realize God’s care for even the smallest of animals, too often we fail to apply that same care to ourselves. The promises of God have not lost their power. He still stands ready and able to back up every promise. Still we act as though we have no source of help and must figure everything out on our own.

“And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

Luke 12:25–27

Just about every little boy who dreamed of growing up to be a basketball player wanted to be taller. They looked up to those they saw on the court and realized that almost all of them were above average in height. But there are exceptions. Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues had a long NBA career as a professional basketball player, despite the fact that he stood only five feet three inches tall. His rookie year, one of his teammates was Manute Bol, who, at seven feet seven inches, was twenty-eight inches taller than Bogues! Despite his lack of height, Bogues developed a complete game that kept him in the league for fifteen years.

Whether we are tall or short, one thing is certain—worrying about it won’t change it even a fraction of an inch. The right course to take when we have a challenge is to trust in the love and goodness of our Father in Heaven, and believe that He will do what He has promised to care for us. The world is filled with examples and illustrations of God’s goodness in the way that He has provided for the needs of all His creatures. Yet too often we think that somehow we are exceptions to His care, and must figure things out on our own. But as the old saying goes, worry is like a rocking chair. You may move back and forth and use up energy, but you aren’t getting anywhere. Worry doesn’t change things—it only takes away our strength.

“If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.”

Luke 12:28–30

Maybe you’ve heard the story of a teacher in math class presenting one of her students with this question: “Suppose your mother baked a pie, and there were seven of you—your parents and five children. What part of the pie would you get.” The boy replied, “One sixth.” “I’m afraid you don’t know your fractions yet,” the teacher said. “Remember that there are seven of you.” “Yes,” the boy said, “but you don’t know my mother. She would say she didn’t want any pie and cut it in six pieces.”

There are times when a parent’s love exceeds available resources and they are not able to do everything they would like to do for their children. That never happens with God. He never sees a problem or need in our lives that He is not able to meet. While He allows us to experience difficulties and struggles as part of our process of becoming more like His Son, nothing that happens to us takes Him by surprise or taxes His resources.

The world around us is filled with examples and illustrations of both God’s power and His concern for even the smallest animals and plants that He made. When we think we are alone and must care for ourselves without His help, we are living just like the lost do. Instead, we should confidently trust that He will do what is best for us.

“But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Luke 12:31–34

In the 1980s, workers renovating the old Lexington Hotel in Chicago, which had once been used by the gangster Al Capone for his headquarters, discovered a series of secret tunnels and passageways under the building. In addition to an underground shooting range, they discovered a sealed vault. Immediately there was great speculation regarding what riches might be hidden inside. Some thought that there might be bodies hidden there. In April of 1986, millions watched on live television as the vault was opened. But when the cameras were taken inside, all the vault contained was some garbage and a few empty bottles. There was no treasure in Al Capone’s vault.

All around us people are hard at work laying up earthly treasures. While there is certainly nothing wrong with wise and careful planning for the future, we must never forget that this world is only a temporary stop and that we are meant to care about what is eternal. Trusting in God rather than in what we are able to accumulate brings peace and frees us from fear. Spending our lives and our treasure on what is eternal ensures that when we reach Heaven we will not go empty handed. The world cares about stuff in the here and now, but God wants to present us with eternal rewards. In fact Jesus said it was God’s “good pleasure”—something in which He takes great delight.

“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.”

Luke 12:35–37

President John Kennedy was fond of historical anecdotes that he used to illustrate his speeches. One of his favorites dated back to the American Revolution. In 1780, with the fate of the country still hanging in the balance as the war with England continued, the Connecticut House of Representatives meeting was in session. Suddenly the sky darkened ominously, even though it was the middle of the day. Some feared it was a sign of coming judgment and called for the body to be adjourned. But the Speaker of the House, Colonel Davenport, rose and said, “The Day of Judgment is either approaching, or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought.”

The reality that Jesus is coming back is one of the most powerful motivations that we have to do right and serve God. John wrote, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:2–3). The fact that Jesus has not yet returned does not change the fact that it could happen at any moment.

“And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”

Luke 12:39–40

As the Allied forces prepared for the invasion of Europe in 1944, they realized that the chances of success would be much higher if they could cloak the actual intended landing zones so that the Nazis would be forced to defend the entire coast. An elaborate operation known as Operation Bodyguard was devised to sow confusion among the German high command about both the Allied strength and their intended target. They utilized double agents, allowed false-coded messages to fall into enemy hands, and even staged plywood tanks and planes. The operation was so successful that for weeks after the Normandy landing, Hitler refused to commit full reinforcements, believing that it was only a diversion and that the real attack was yet to come.

The awesome power of God is so great that He does not need to deceive the enemy in order to defeat him. It does not matter what Satan does, He cannot stop God’s plan from being fulfilled. Satan tried throughout history to destroy the Jewish people. When the time came for Jesus to be born, the devil intensified his efforts, but all to no avail. We are on the winning side! “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). We do not need to understand everything about God’s plan for the future to understand that it will take place. All we are commanded to do is to be faithful and prepared. The rest we can safely leave up to God.

“And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.”

Luke 12:42–44

Charles Spurgeon was the most famous preacher of his generation, regularly speaking to crowds of thousands each week in his church in London. His sermons were reprinted in the newspapers, and for many services, tickets were required for those who wished to attend. Yet he did not start out that way. Instead Spurgeon began his ministry in small and obscure villages, speaking to a handful of people at a time. Spurgeon said, “I am perfectly sure that, if I had not been willing to preach to those small gatherings of people in obscure country places, I should never have had the privilege of preaching to thousands of men and women in large buildings all over the land.”

Often we say that if we had more money we would give more, or if we had more time we would do more. Yet in reality, the test of our stewardship and faithfulness is not what we would do with greater resources and opportunities, but what we are doing right now with what we already have. A person who is selfish and stingy with a little would not change if he suddenly became wealthy. A teacher who does not prepare for a class of six would not automatically become diligent for a class of sixty or even six hundred. Rather than seeking more, we should realize that we will give an account to God for our stewardship of what He has given us, and seek to use every day to the fullest to accomplish as much as we can for Him.

“And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

Luke 12:47–48

In his speech to the Harvard graduating class in 2007, Bill Gates revealed the impact his mother had on his life by encouraging him to do good for others. Gates said, “A few days before my wedding, she hosted a bridal event, at which she read aloud a letter about marriage that she had written to Melinda. My mother was very ill with cancer at the time, but she saw one more opportunity to deliver her message, and at the close of the letter she said: ‘From those to whom much is given, much is expected.’”

Whatever we have is a gift from God. He has graciously given us life, talents, abilities, and resources to use in His Kingdom. These gifts, however, come with a requirement and an expectation—that we will put them to use. In the parable of the talents, Jesus talked about the condemnation that came to the servant who hid what he had been given to ensure it would not be lost. “His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed” (Matthew 25:26).

God expects and has a right to demand a return on the investment He has made in our lives. Every one of us has opportunities to do things for Him that no one else does. You were uniquely created and gifted by God for His purposes, so put everything you have to work for Him.

“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

Luke 12:51–53

While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Law from God, the people turned to Aaron and insisted that he make an idol they could worship. He carved a golden calf, and they began to worship the false god in place of Jehovah, despite the fact that He had just delivered them from bondage and slavery in Egypt. When Moses returned to the camp, he was angry at the lack of faithfulness of the people, and called for help in making things right. “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him” (Exodus 32:26).

The popular cultural ideal of Jesus as a weak, soft-spoken pacifist with only a message of love and harmony may appeal to the world, but it is far from the picture the Bible presents. The real Jesus Christ found in Scripture was as divisive as truth. He taught truth, stood for truth, and was the truth. Those who followed Him found that truth was not always popular with others.

Even for us today, if we are going to follow Christ in a sinful world, we should not expect popularity and praise. Increasingly, we are seeing those who hold to the Bible standards of right and wrong being labeled as bigoted and intolerant. The world never wants their evil deeds to be exposed, and they react negatively to anyone who points out the difference between right and wrong. But we must stand for what is right regardless of the consequences.

“And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?”

Luke 12:54–56

On December 26, 2004, a massive earthquake in the Indian Ocean, the third largest ever measured by seismograph, sent tsunami waves crashing onto the shores of numerous countries. When the waters finally subsided, nearly a quarter of a million people were dead, and billions of dollars in homes, property, and businesses were destroyed. Most of the people had no warning of the coming danger, but on several islands the population was completely spared. According to their tribal traditions, when they felt the earthquake shake the ground, the people immediately fled away from the beach into the mountains. They had passed down wisdom from one generation to the next that warned of the danger of flooding following an earthquake.

The Bible gives us clear indications of what the end times will be like, and God expects us to prepare ourselves accordingly. We are not meant to be blindly wandering through events, but rather wise to know what is coming so that we will not be caught off guard. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). The condition of the world as we go forward is not getting better. And as a result, we will face new challenges and temptations in the days ahead. The key to being ready for what happens next is to be grounded in the Scriptures so we are not swayed by error.

“Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.”

Luke 12:57–59

Though no one knows exactly who originated the expression, “A stitch in time saves nine,” this proverb has been in print in one form or another since at least 1732 (and it appears to be even older than that). The concept of fixing a problem while it is small rather than waiting until it becomes larger seems so self-evident that it almost does not need expression. But the tendency of our fallen nature is to procrastinate and delay rather than taking on a challenge, and often that ends up with us facing much harsher consequences than we would have.

There is no merit in delaying doing something that is right and helpful. Whether in terms of healing a relationship, offering encouragement, or meeting a need, sooner is always better than later. While wise planning for the future is important, we must be careful not to fall into the trap of putting off doing things for others until some later date. The reality is that some opportunities are only available for a short time, and if we delay, they will disappear.

One of General George Patton’s favorite sayings was, “A good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution applied ten minutes later.” We certainly should not be constantly dashing around without any thought or plan for our lives, but we need to be active. Far more is lost by procrastination and delay than by fervent service for the Lord in the present moment.

“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

Luke 13:1–3

D. L. Moody told the story of a tragedy that occurred while he was in England on one of his preaching trips. In a small fishing town named Eyemouth after a week of bad weather, the fishing boats determined to set out when the sky finally cleared to make up for lost time. Moody said, “Before they started, the harbor-master hoisted the storm signal, and warned them of the coming tempest. He begged of them not to go; but they disregarded his warning, and away they went. Very few of those fishermen returned. In the church of which my friend was pastor, I believe there were three male members left. Those men were ushered into eternity because they did not give heed to the warning.”

The message of Jesus was rejected by many in His day because they did not believe they needed to heed a warning of sin and the absolute requirement of turning to Him. The Pharisees and others thought they were just fine as they were, and that Jesus was only addressing the “sinners.” They failed to recognize, or were unwilling to admit, that they needed the message just as much as anyone else.

Often we find it comforting to apply commands of Scripture or the messages we hear preached to the lives of others, rather than considering our own condition. This is a deadly error, because if we fail to see our own sin and repent of it, we will suffer the consequences. Every time we hear a warning, we should prayerfully consider if it applies to us and how we should respond.

“He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”

Luke 13:6–9

There is a world of difference between the Bradford pear tree and the Bartlett pear tree. Both names sound similar, and at a casual observation, they would appear to simply be different varieties of the same kind of tree. They are not. The Bartlett pear is known for bearing sweet, juicy fruit. In the spring, the Bradford pear tree is covered with beautiful white blossoms that would seem to indicate a bumper crop of pears. But the Bradford is a sterile hybrid that does not produce any fruit. It looks like a pear tree, and if all you care about is appearance, it is fine. But if you want pears, Bradford trees are a waste of time and space.

God’s purpose for us as His children is not that we be decorative, but that we be fruitful. Long before we were saved or even born, God had a plan for us to serve Him and work in His Kingdom. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). All Christians, not just those in vocational ministry, are to be fruitful. The work of the Holy Spirit in and through our lives will have a noticeable impact on the way we speak, think, and act.

“And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.”

Luke 13:10–13

Billy Bray was born into a poor mining family in Cornwall, England, in 1794. He followed his father into the mines, giving little thought to the future of his soul. But his near death in a mining accident prompted him to consider the gospel, and John Bunyan’s book Visions of Heaven and Hell brought him to the Lord. Though Bray had little education, he was excited about his faith and became a powerful preacher. He never lost the joy of his salvation. Bray said, “I shouted for joy, I praised Him with my whole heart for what He had done. They said I was a mad-man, but they mean I was a glad-man; and glory be to God, I have been glad ever since.”

Too many Christians have gotten over their salvation. They are genuinely converted, saved from sin and eternal suffering in Hell, and part of God’s family—and they act just as miserable, dejected, and worried as the lost who have no eternal hope. It shouldn’t be that way! There is never a day, no matter how difficult our circumstances may be, when we do not have much for which to be thankful. The salvation we freely received was not given to us because we deserved it. It was a free gift of God’s grace, and we should always be grateful to Him. As Billy Bray liked to say, “If they put me in a barrel, I’d shout ‘glory’ out the bunghole.”

“Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”

Luke 13:18–21

In the 1600s, Louis XIV, the Sun King of France, took his father’s hunting lodge at Versailles and began remodeling it into a massive palace. In 1682, Louis XIV moved the court there, and it became the official seat of government. Nothing but the best would do for the king and his court. No expense was spared as artisans from around the world were brought in to create sculptures and ornamentation for the royal family to enjoy. Thousands of pounds of gold and silver were used to trim fixtures and furniture throughout the massive building. Today millions of guests each year visit Versailles to marvel at the opulent splendor created by a king with virtually unlimited resources and power on display.

But all of those glories, and everything created by man, pales in comparison to the splendor of Heaven. God does not use gold for decoration—He uses it like we use asphalt. His kingdom is not limited in any way, but rather reaches through time and space. Our limited minds cannot fully grasp the vast wonders of God and His kingdom, but we know it is far beyond anything we know, and He has made us part of it. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:”

Luke 13:23–25

Dr. Bill Rice recounted an experience he had while on a trip to Israel many years ago. From his hotel room he watched two Bedouin shepherds walking toward each other. Each was followed by a large flock of sheep. As the shepherds greeted each other and began to talk, the sheep milled around, grazing on the sparse grass. Within a few moments, the two flocks were so mixed together that Dr. Rice said he didn’t see how they could ever get them separated. But when the conversation was over, each shepherd headed off, calling for his sheep to follow. In just a few moments the two flocks were perfectly divided and each went on their way.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:27–28). It is not enough for us to simply know of God, we must also have a personal relationship where we know Him and He knows us. There are many people in our world who call Jesus “Lord” but have never become His own through salvation. When they stand before Him, they will be shocked to find that what they claimed was not real—and that God does not know them as part of His family.

“Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.”

Luke 13:26–8

Harry Ironside told the story of the famous agnostic Robert Ingersoll who was known for his opposition to all religion, especially Christianity. Ingersoll announced a lecture in which he would prove that Hell did not exist—that it had been dreamed up by theologians to scare people into doing what they said. According to Ironside, just as Ingersoll was beginning, a drunken man in the audience stood up and called out, “Make it strong, Bob. There’s a lot of us poor fellows depending on you. If you are wrong, we are all lost. So be sure you prove it clear and plain.”

The world does not like to acknowledge the reality of Hell, because they do not want there to be any consequences for living however they like. But no amount of denial can change the reality that those who do not trust Christ as Saviour will spend eternity apart from God. Though Hell was not prepared for man, but for Satan (Matthew 25:41), it is the destination for those who cannot enter Heaven because their sins have not been taken away.

Hell is not metaphorical, but literal. The flames are real. The suffering is real. And the sentence is eternal. The world may not want to think about Hell, but we should. Because we have been spared that awful fate, we should do everything that we can to warn others of the danger of eternity apart from God.

“The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.”

Luke 13:31–33

One of the greatest illustrations of the complete sovereignty of God is the life of Jesus. Everything that He did was done in God’s timing, and though both religious and political leaders plotted against Him, no one could do anything to change the schedule for His life, death, and resurrection that God had planned. Herod’s plot to kill Jesus was not a threat to Him, because the time of the crucifixion had not yet come. Even when it did, it was not the power of Roman legions but the purpose of God that put Jesus on the cross, as He told Pilate. “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin” (John 19:11).

What was true of Jesus’ life is true of ours as well. God is fully in control. He has complete knowledge of everything that will happen—what is future and unknown to us is not to Him. This truth is so important for us to remember as we make our way through a worry-filled world. We do not have to know what is coming next to be confident that God will ultimately use all the circumstances of our life for His glory and for our good. We can take both good and bad with complete faith that God knows what He is doing.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

Luke 13:34–35

During his large evangelistic campaign in England in 1875, D. L. Moody preached a number of messages in London. In a sermon on why men reject God, Moody said, “Let any man get an invitation from Queen Victoria to go down to Windsor Castle, to some banquet; and there is not a man but would consider it a great honor to receive such an invitation. But only think of the invitation that I bring tonight! It comes from the King of kings. The marriage supper of the Lamb is going to take place, and God wants every man in this assembly to be present. I have missed a good many appointments in my time, but, by the grace of God, I mean to make sure of keeping that one.”

The description Jesus gave to Jerusalem is one of the saddest epitaphs ever recorded: “Ye would not.” The offer of salvation was presented by the Messiah Himself, yet the great majority of people refused to accept the invitation. They were looking for something other than what Jesus offered, and missed the greatest opportunity any person ever has. Rather than being sheltered and cared for by God Himself, the city and the people were eventually destroyed. All of God's invitations carry the weight of a royal command that cannot be disobeyed without consequence. And most of them come with a time limit. Though He is patient and long-suffering, He will not wait forever for us to respond.

“And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?”

Luke 14:2–5

Dr. R. B. Ouellette related a lesson that his father taught him by example. He watched as his dad, who served faithfully for many years as a pastor, evangelist, and director of a rescue mission, was asked for prayer about a financial need by a man. After Dr. Ouellette’s father prayed with him, he opened his wallet and gave him money to help meet the need. He later told his son, “I have learned that if I am prompted to help someone and don’t do it right away, I usually don’t ever do it.”

We are not often in life presented with opportunities to help when it is convenient. Usually the greatest needs cross our paths at moments when we are busy, burdened, or in some difficulty ourselves. There are always reasons we can think of why it would be better to help later on. But those excuses often lead to inaction.

It is important to note that Jesus kept God’s law regarding the Sabbath. He did not break the law to do good claiming that the ends justify the means. However, He was not bound by man’s rigid traditions that had been built up around what God commanded, and He did not use the Sabbath as an excuse to avoid doing good to others. Instead, He used it as an example to us of the importance of meeting needs in the lives of others whenever and wherever we can.

“And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.”

Luke 14:7–9

In Aesop’s fable “The Tortoise and the Ducks,” he tells of a tortoise who envied those who could travel about and see the world. Taking pity on him, two ducks came up with a plan that would allow him to experience places he had never seen before. “We can help you to see the world,” said the ducks. “Take hold of this stick with your mouth, and we will carry you far up in the air where you can see the whole countryside. But keep quiet or you will be sorry.”

The tortoise was very glad indeed. He seized the stick firmly in his mouth, the two ducks took hold of it one at each end, and away they sailed up toward the clouds. Just then a crow flew by. He was very much astonished at the strange sight and cried: “This must surely be the King of Tortoises!” “Why certainly—” began the tortoise. But as he opened his mouth to say those foolish words he lost his hold on the stick, and down he fell to the ground.

There are some people whose only interest is self-promotion. They only take jobs that will bring them praise, and they only work hard when others are watching. Paul describes a different approach: “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men” (Ephesians 6:6–7).

“But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

Luke 14:10–11

Before the 2001 football season, Notre Dame announced the hiring of George O’Leary, who had been the head coach at Georgia Tech, to lead their program. A few days after he was hired, a reporter discovered that his biography claimed O’Leary was a three year letterman on the football team in college, but that he actually had not played in even one game. Then it was discovered that the master’s degree O’Leary claimed on his resume was from a school that didn’t even exist. O’Leary was fired by the school. In an apology statement he wrote, “In seeking employment I prepared a resume that contained inaccuracies regarding my completion of course work for a master’s degree and also my level of participation in football at my alma mater.” He went on to describe it as “a selfish and thoughtless act.”

Many people are tempted to take shortcuts and try to promote themselves on the way up the ladder. But the only way to truly get ahead is to have God’s help and blessing. “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:6–7). To receive His grace, we must be humble because God resists the proud. If our goal is the praise of men and their approval, we should not expect God’s help along the way. If our goal is to glorify Him, He will place us in the position to best accomplish that noble purpose.

“Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.”

Luke 14:12–14

Many people like to cite Bible “verses” that aren’t actually in the Bible. According to several surveys, ones of the most often quoted of these “verses” is this: “God helps those who help themselves.” But while the Bible does teach individual responsibility and the importance of our effort and hard work in whatever we do, it does not teach that God is impressed with our work on our own behalf. Instead, it repeatedly teaches, as Jesus does in the above passage, that God is looking for those who are committed to helping and meeting the needs of others.

The Christian life is not meant to be self-focused. Our natural sinful tendency is to worry only about what we can get for ourselves, but the Divine tendency is to sacrifice for the needs of others. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). The example that Jesus left for us was of compassion and ministry to those who were without value in the eyes of the world. The Lord could have chosen to be born in a palace, but instead was born in a stable. Rather than living among the elite of Jerusalem, he grew up in the despised town of Nazareth. And his ministry—like our lives should be—was focused on others.

“And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”

Luke 14:17–20

When people do not want to do something, they will use any excuse to justify their conduct. At one point the noted author O. Henry was having difficulty getting a royalty check that was due to him from a New York publishing house. He had been promised that it would come, but no payment arrived. Finally, he went to the office in person only to be told that the man who signed checks for the company had a sprained ankle. “Does he sign them with his feet?” O. Henry asked.

Rather than trying to avoid what we should do, we need to demonstrate character by taking on responsibility and seeing to it that we do all that we can and should do. This is true in our work for God and in every other part of our lives. There is no part of life where we should not be diligent and faithful. Those who rely on excuses may avoid work in the short term, but they rob themselves and others in the process.

When his father instructed him to take food to his brothers, David did not abandon his responsibilities or make excuses. “And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him” (1 Samuel 17:20). The path to accomplishment is never paved with excuses.

“So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

Luke 14:21–23

On Sunday night, October 8, 1871, D. L. Moody was preaching at his church in Chicago on the topic, “What Shall I Do with Jesus?” At the conclusion of the sermon, he told the large crowd to take the text home and think it over. The following week he announced that he would preach on the cross, and ask them to answer the question. But that night the Great Chicago Fire swept across the city, destroying thousands of buildings, including Moody’s church, and leaving some three hundred people dead.

“I have never since dared,” Moody later said, “to give an audience a week to think of their salvation. If they were lost they might rise up, in judgment against me. I have never seen that congregation since. But I want to tell you of one lesson that I learned that night which I have never forgotten, and that is, when I preach, to press Christ upon the people then and there and try to bring them to a decision on the spot. I would rather have that right hand cut off than to give an audience a week now to decide what to do with Jesus.”

Salvation is literally a matter of life and death—eternal life and death—and our presentation of the gospel to others should reflect that. It should be a matter of greatest urgency.

“And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

Luke 14:25–27

In his sermon “The Secret of Loving God,” Charles Spurgeon highlighted the importance of taking a public stand for God and declaring our love for Him to the world with the story of his baptism. “I always look back, with deep gratitude, to the day when I was baptized. Up to that time, I was timid and fearful, and afraid to confess Christ; but after I went into the river, and was publicly baptized into His death, I lost all fear of man, and I think I can honestly say that I have never been ashamed to acknowledge my Lord from that day to this. The world has had many a cruel word for me from that day to this, and there is no love lost between us; I am done with the world as the world is done with me; I am crucified to the world, and the world to me.”

The command for us to love God above all else begins with the internal—our heart, our soul, our mind, and our strength—but it certainly does not end there. The proper love of God in our hearts will inevitably be displayed in our actions. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). The proper affection for God as the supreme love of our lives guides everything else that we do. It determines how we use our time, what we allow and avoid, and how we treat those around us. There is nothing that can take the place of loving God above all else.

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.”

Luke 14:28–30

During the days of Hudson Taylor, the China Inland Mission established a boarding school in China where young men could come and receive an education both in secular and spiritual matters. At one time, the school was headed by a Mr. Li, a conscientious worker. His diligence came to the attention of the Standard Oil Company, which was expanding their operation in China, and he was offered a position that would double his pay.

He initially agreed to accept the job, but when he was told that it would require him to work on Sundays and miss the services at his church, Mr. Li declined the position. In response, the company offered to raise his salary further to three times what he had been making, and to give him Sundays off. But as Mr. Li prayed, he came to the decision that he needed to stay with his work for the Lord, despite the financial sacrifice. He wrote, “I am sorry I cannot come and work for your company. I have decided to work for God, and win the boys to Jesus Christ. I beg you a thousand pardons.”

True service for God never comes without a price. Jesus knew the cost before He came to Earth to die for our sins. All of the time, effort, and resources that we put into His work could be used for other purposes. But Jesus calls us to consider the eternal rather than the temporal, and to be willing to make whatever sacrifices are required in order to live as He calls and commands us to live.

“Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

Luke 14:31–33

In 1888 Jonathan and Rosalind Goforth went to northern China to open a pioneer missionary work there. They labored on the field for decades, being forced to flee from the Boxer Rebellion, and then returning to China and Manchuria where they stayed until Jonathan’s blindness forced them to return to Canada in 1935. Over the years they made many sacrifices for their work, including the deaths of five of their eleven children. In her book How I Know God Answers Prayer, Rosalind recounted her sorrow at returning home after a mission trip to find their home had been broken into and all their belongings stolen. “My dear, they were just things,” her husband reminded her, and they continued on in the work.

The recognition of the temporary nature of our earthly possessions is vital to our faithful following of Jesus Christ. The materialistic culture that surrounds us encourages us to adopt the mentality that our belongings define our worth and status. Jesus calls us to be willing to give up anything and everything in order to follow Him. While most of us will likely never be called on to make such extreme sacrifices, the point is that our value system—the things that we truly love—are revealed by that to which we cling most tightly. Jesus calls us to follow Him, which means placing His commands above our own interests and desires, and being willing to pay the price to be His disciple.

“Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

Luke 14:34–35

In Bible times, salt was a valuable substance. In the Roman Empire, it was common for workers and soldiers to be paid in salt. In fact our word salary comes from the Latin word for “salt money.” The description of a lazy worker as “Not worth his salt” traces back to that custom. Salt was valuable not only because it was rare, but because it was so important to food preservation and flavoring. Salt was sometimes collected in pools by bodies of water like the Mediterranean Sea, and more often was mined from the ground. But when salt was exposed to the elements, it would lose its sharp nature, and become simply a bland chemical that no longer produced any positive effect.

The world has a way of wearing away the “saltiness” of Christians. Over time we can become more like the world as the edges of our distinctiveness get ground down and we cease to stand apart as God calls us to do. God’s intention is for His children to be distinct and different from the world in their love, their life, their language, and their labor. Titus 2:14 reminds us that Christ “…gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

In our day, there is enormous pressure to stop clearly and plainly declaring the Word of God so as to avoid offending anyone’s sensibilities or hurting their feelings. But the Divine law has not changed. Sin is still sinful and God still hates it. Righteousness is still right and God still loves it. And our job is to be salt and light to the world.

“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”

Luke 15:1–2

The Pharisees and religious leaders hated Jesus for many reasons. He pointed out their hypocrisy and refused to follow their additions to God’s law, choosing instead to keep the law as God had given it. But of all the things that Jesus did that infuriated them, nothing sparked more outrage than the fact that Jesus loved “sinners.” Of course the Pharisees were just as sinful as those they condemned, but their approach to those they held in contempt was to have nothing to do with them at all. They thought that by avoiding sinners at all costs, they were avoiding contamination.

Jesus never tolerated sin, but He was gracious and kind to sinners and was happy to spend time showing them the way of salvation. “The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children” (Matthew 11:19). Jesus knew the need of sinners was not condemnation but repentance and salvation, and He interacted with them in a way that made them want to hear the message.

The world often views Christians as being harsh and judgmental because we still believe in right and wrong, and because we believe right and wrong are defined by the Bible. We should never abandon the truth or compromise our message in order to reach the lost, but we should be compassionate and loving in our dealings with others so that they know we care for their souls. There is still a Heaven and a Hell, and every person we meet needs God’s salvation.

“And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?”

Luke 15:3–4

In 1987, Joy White took her infant daughter, Carlina, to the hospital in New York City because the child was running a fever. To her horror, someone snatched the baby girl from her hospital bed, and she disappeared. Police were unable to identify any suspects, and the case was never closed. But Joy White believed that her daughter was still alive. Twenty-three years passed, but she never gave up hope. Then in 2011, she received a call from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children with the amazing news that her daughter had been found. The mother’s love in her heart never failed, and her long search was finally rewarded.

All of us are born sinners apart from God, and we have no hope of rescuing ourselves. But in His boundless love and mercy, our Heavenly Father did not wait for us to seek Him—He sent His son to seek for us. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14–15).
The world likes to think that people are fine just as they are, but the Bible teaches that all of us are in desperate need of a Saviour. The reality is that we don’t look for Him. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Romans 3:10–11). He must seek for us, that is exactly what Jesus did.

“And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”

Luke 15:5–7

William Cushing had a successful pastorate, but then one day he lost his voice. Determined that he still wanted to do something for God, Cushing began writing poems. He worked with Ira Sankey on a number of hymns that were greatly used in D. L. Moody’s revivals. One day when he heard a report of those who had been saved in a meeting, Cushing rejoiced. He later said, “It seemed like such a glad day with the very bells of Heaven ringing in my soul. Then the words, ‘Ring the Bells of Heaven,’ at once flowed down into this waiting melody.”

Ring the bells of heaven! there is joy today
For a soul, returning from the wild!
See! the Father meets him out upon the way,
Welcoming His weary, wand’ring child.

Ring the bells of heaven! spread the feast today!
Angels, swell the glad, triumphant strain!
Tell the joyful tidings; bear it far away,
For a precious soul is born again.

Glory! glory! how the angels sing!
Glory! glory! how the voices ring!
‘Tis the ransomed army, like a mighty sea,
Pealing forth the anthem of the free.

When the lost are saved, all of Heaven rejoices. The salvation of a sinner is the culmination of the work and sacrifice of Jesus, and we have the privilege of being part of this most important effort. “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).

“Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”

Luke 15:8–10

If you’ve ever lost something valuable, you know how frustrating it can be to look for it. If it happens at night, you face a choice—you can either wait for the sun to come up, or you can find some kind of a flashlight to help in your search. The decision is usually based on how valuable the lost object is. If it is something fairly minor, you may be content to wait for the sun to come up. But if what you have lost is something important to you, you will probably be down on your hands and knees with a light, searching for it even in the darkness.

We need a renewed sense of the incredible value of the souls of men. Too often we relegate witnessing to an activity we do once a week, or even less frequently. But if we are aware of the reality of Heaven and Hell, we will not wait for convenient times and “good light” to witness. We will strike a match and go out into the darkness to find those who are lost. When Paul summed up his ministry in the city of Ephesus, he pointed out the around-the-clock nature of his effort. “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20:31).

“And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.”

Luke 15:11–12

J. Wilbur Chapman was often asked to speak in prisons as he traveled around the country in revival meetings. It is said that once he was at the prison in Joliet, Illinois, preparing to speak when the warden said, “Dr. Chapman, we have had twenty-four ministers here this year, and every one of them has preached on the Prodigal Son. Can you speak on something else?” Chapman looked at his Bible which was marked in Luke 15, and then stood to preach. But instead of focusing on the wayward son, Chapman talked about the loving father who never gave up on his child.

We call it the parable of the Prodigal Son, but Jesus told this story as the conclusion of a series of three parables aimed at revealing the nature of God’s love toward the lost and the way people respond when others are saved. The world we live in has a distorted picture of God, and that has often infected the church as well. We need to return to the focus that the Bible places on our Heavenly Father and understanding of His nature and character.

This parable begins with what was, in the Middle Eastern culture of Jesus’ day, an unbearable insult. Sons did not go to their fathers and demand to be given their inheritance. Yet rather than responding in kind, the father did as he was asked. All of us were born as sinners, enemies of God both by nature and by choice. We have no hope apart from God’s love, but His love is overwhelming. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

“And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.”

Luke 15:13–14

When the Prodigal Son got to the far country, at first it seemed like everything was going exactly as he had planned. The rules that he had been forced to obey at home were gone, and he had the resources to do whatever he liked. But there came a day when the money ran out, and then the party came to a quick end. Those he thought were his friends, when he had money, were nowhere to be found when he was broke.

Satan is a master deceiver, and the pictures he paints in temptation leave out the end of the story. If we choose to follow his way, there may be some short-term enjoyment, but the party always ends. One of the best defenses we have against temptation is the realization that the pleasures of sin only last for a short time. “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:24–25).

God’s pleasures are not temporary, but eternal, and never leave us with the pain at the end. There may often be difficulties or obstacles that arise when we follow Him, but obedience is always worth the cost. The difference between God’s party and Satan’s is that God’s celebration will be eternal and unending. “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:5).

“And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.”

Luke 15:15–16

Though Sam Jones was raised by godly parents and grandparents, he turned to drink, and his brilliant and promising legal career was destroyed by his alcoholism. He lost job after job but refused to quit drinking. Finally, a visit to his father’s deathbed provoked a change. Jones later said, “I went to the bar and begged for a glass of liquor. I got the glass and started to drink and looked into the mirror. I saw my hair matted, the filth and vomit on my clothes, one of my eyes totally closed, and my lips swollen. And I said, ‘Is that all that is left of the proud and brilliant lawyer, Sam Jones?’ I smashed the glass on the floor and fell to my knees and cried, ‘Oh God! Oh God, have mercy!’ Something happened to old Sam Jones.”

The following Sunday, Jones walked the aisle of his grandfather’s church and announced his conversion, and the next week began preaching the gospel. Jones said, “I have been going round the country bragging about Jesus ever since.” Sam Jones crisscrossed the South for the next several decades, seeing half a million people saved under his ministry. But it was not until he had lost everything that he was willing to turn to God.

Too many times we insist on continuing in our sin until we reach absolute rock bottom, instead we should quickly repent and turn to God. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7).

“And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”

Luke 15:17–19

Dr. Curtis Hutson once preached a sermon from the story of the Prodigal Son titled “The Insanity of Sinners” because the Bible says that the young man “came to himself,” which indicates he had not been in his right mind. Dr. Hutson said, “Every sinner is insane, because his judgments are out of order. Notice what he did. He put eternity in the background. He wasn’t thinking about the future, only about the here and now. He thought he knew better than his father. Sinners sometimes feel they know what is better for them than God does.”

Although we usually think of this parable in the context of evangelism, this truth is just as applicable to saved sinners as it is to lost sinners. When we turn away from following God to go our own way, we are on the pathway to destruction. Yet despite knowing the clear warnings of Scripture about what happens if we sin and refuse to repent and turn back to God, Christians continue to yield to temptation, and then try to cover their sin rather than confessing and forsaking it. The false concept that we can hide our sin from God dates back to the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve tried to keep God from finding out that they had eaten the forbidden fruit. It has never yet worked in all of history, but people continue to try it rather than quickly making things right with God.

“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

Luke 15:20

When people in Jesus’ day heard Him tell the story of the Prodigal Son, they heard it through the lens of their culture. To the Jewish listeners, this story contains something unusual that we often don’t think of. For a man of wealth and standing in that time to run was extremely rare. He would have servants to take care of his tasks and would dispatch one of them to care for urgent matters. Yet the father saw his son coming from a great distance and ran to meet to him. This is a wonderful picture of the way God treats us.

We do not have to persuade God to save us—He delights in rescuing sinners from Hell and placing them into His family. He is even patient and allows us opportunities to respond to the gospel rather than quickly giving us the punishment that we deserve. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

The full measure of the love of God for us can only be understood through the lens of the cross. God was willing to cause His perfect and innocent Son to suffer and die for the sins of man so that we could be redeemed, and He delighted when our redemption was accomplished. “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand” (Isaiah 53:10).

“And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:”

Luke 15:21–22

Dr. H. A. Ironside told of an unusual experience he had while preaching in Washington state. He was staying with a family of sheepherders during lambing season. Ironside said, “One morning I was startled to see an old ewe go loping across the road, followed by the strangest looking lamb I had ever beheld. It apparently had six legs, and the last two were hanging helplessly as though paralyzed.” His hosts explained that the lamb had been orphaned and they had a ewe who had lost her lamb to a snakebite. But the ewe had originally rejected the lamb because it was not her own.

Ironside went on, “So the herders skinned the lamb that had died and very carefully drew the fleece over the living lamb. This left the hind-leg coverings dragging loose. Thus covered, the lamb was brought again to the ewe. She smelled it once more and this time seemed thoroughly satisfied and adopted it as her own. It seemed to me to be a beautiful picture of the grace of God to sinners. We are all outcasts and have no claim upon His love. But God’s own Son died for us, and now we who believe are dressed up in the fleece of the Lamb who died. God has accepted us in Him.”

God does not accept us because of anything good we have done, but because the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ has been placed over our lives like a cloak that covers us completely. That is a symbol of our standing in His family through His grace alone.

“And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”

Luke 15:23–24

Long before his son returned from the far country, the father of the prodigal was preparing for his return. We know this because he had started feeding a special calf to make sure it would be ready for a celebration meal when the boy did come back. That was an expression of faith—the kind of faith we need to have when we pray. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Even before we see it, we should believe that God will do what He promises and act on that belief.

There is an old saying, “Don’t pray for rain and leave your umbrella at home.” Too many times we do what we should in praying about our needs and burdens, but without truly believing that God will hear and answer. Instead of walking forward confidently and preparing for the answer, we live with fear and worry. The presence of that emotional and mental discomfort and stress reveal that we do not truly expect God to answer us—that our faith is weak.

In contrast Abraham received a promise from God for something that seemed completely impossible. Yet he was willing to completely uproot his life and family, move hundreds of miles away, and trust that God would fulfill His promise. “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17). Abraham did not believe because he saw, but rather he saw because he believed.

Today’s Lesson from Luke

“Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.”

Luke 15:25–28

While we know we should be gracious and forgiving toward others, there are times when we want them to get what they deserve rather than receiving mercy. Of course we want mercy for ourselves, but sometimes we are unwilling to extend it to others. Jonah was like that. When God called him to go to Nineveh and preach, he refused, because he knew that if they repented, God would forgive them. “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil” (Jonah 4:1–2).

The reality is that a desire for others to get what they have coming reveals a hardness in our hearts more than a commitment to justice. It is easy for us to fall into the trap of the Pharisees, thinking that we are doing pretty good as we are and don’t really need God’s grace and mercy. Yet the very best that we do falls far short of God’s standard of absolute righteousness, and it is not our goodness but His grace that prevents our destruction. Rather than proudly judging others who fall short, we should rejoice when they receive God’s forgiveness.

“And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.”

Luke 15:29–30

It is easy for us to look around and think that we are better than those around us, and not as much in need of God’s grace as they are. But while such proud thoughts are satisfying to our fallen nature, they are not in line with reality. Near the end of one of his best known poems, “To a Louse—On Seeing One on a Lady’s Bonnet at Church,” the Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote:

O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!

If we truly saw ourselves as God sees us (for while we may deceive others He always knows not only our actions but our thoughts), we would abandon any pretense of pride.

The problem we have is that rather than measuring ourselves against the standard of God’s perfect holiness, we look to those around us and measure ourselves against them. It is easy to find areas in which we are superior (or at least can convince ourselves we are) and focus on those. The problem with this approach is that it is flawed and foolish. “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12). Instead of thinking that we are better than others by looking horizontally, we need to look up and realize that we are just as much in need of God’s grace and mercy as those around us.

“And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.”

Luke 15:31–32

The great Scottish poet, historian, and teacher Thomas Carlyle lost his wife Jane unexpectedly after forty years of marriage. On her grave he had these words carved: “For forty years she was the true and loving helpmate of her husband, and by act and word unweariedly forwarded him as none else could in all of worthy that he did or attempted. She died at London, 21st April, 1866, suddenly snatched from him, and the light of his life as if gone out.” Yet Carlyle’s diary reveals that he had failed to fully appreciate his wife until she was gone. He wrote, “Cherish what is dearest while you have it near you, and wait not till it is far away.”

There are many opportunities that are only available to us for a limited period of time, and if we fail to take advantage of them, we will miss out. The older brother of the prodigal son had lived at home with a generous father who had vast resources, and never benefited because he failed to take the opportunities that his status would have provided. The result was that he became bitter and blamed his father for his own failure to take what was freely offered.

So many times we do without the things that we want or even need because we do not pray as God has instructed for our needs to be met. “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not” (James 4:2). It is a tragedy if our needs are not met because we fail to take God at His Word.

“And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.”

Luke 16:1–2

In 1960 Bernie Madoff started a small stock trading company that quickly became a major player on Wall Street. Madoff would eventually become chairman of the NASDAQ exchange. He received investments from some of the wealthiest individuals and institutions in the country, and offered a much higher rate of return than normal to his investors. In 1999 a financial analyst called his business practices into question, but the authorities did not take the charges seriously. It was not until 2008 that Madoff was finally arrested for defrauding billions of dollars from investors. Rather than investing the money that was entrusted to him, Madoff siphoned off much of it to fund his lavish lifestyle. After his conviction, Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison.

One day each one of us will stand before God as stewards called to answer for how we have handled the time, talent, and treasure that God has given to us. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). The reality is that everything we have belongs to God, and He holds us responsible for how we use it. While we certainly would not cheat others or steal from them, when we fail to utilize the resources God has given to us, we are defrauding Him. That thought should motivate us to diligence and faithful service, recognizing that He is fully aware of not only what we have done and not done, but of what we could have done if we had been willing to do so.

“Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.”

Luke 16:3–4

All of us face situations in our lives at times when we do not immediately know what to do. Whether it is an unexpected job loss, a serious medical diagnosis, a crisis in a family relationship, or even a natural disaster, we have a moment (or sometimes several moments) when we simply are not sure how we should respond. Christians are not immune to trouble and difficulty, no matter what popular television preachers may say. We have many of the same struggles, burdens, tears, pains, hurts, and heartbreaks that the world has. The difference is that we have a resource that is not available to the world—our faith.

Job was a wealthy man with a large family, but all that he had was taken away from him in a single day. On the worst day of his life, when he did not know what else to do, Job trusted God. “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:20–21).

All of us face situations that are beyond what we can handle, but we never have to face those burdens alone. God is always ready and able to assist those who turn to Him for guidance and help. The problem is never that He does not know or cannot help, but that too often we try to make it on our own without seeking His face.

“So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.”

Luke 16:5–7

The central character in the parable of the unjust steward that Jesus told seems like an unlikely candidate to receive praise and approval from the Lord. He was not careful in his business dealings, and as a result he was on the brink of losing his job because he was costing his employer money. It was not for his carelessness, but for his response that this steward is praised. Looking ahead at what was coming, he used the authority given to him to arrange discounts for those who owed money to his boss so that they would be favorably inclined toward him in the future.

Many people fail to adequately prepare for the future. Instead of planning ahead, they just go from one day to the next with little thought of tomorrow. Sometimes people even dress up this approach and call it living by faith. But faith is not blindly assuming that everything is going to work out somehow without us being involved. Faith is obeying what God has told us to do, and His Word instructs us to look ahead—or suffer the consequences. “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished” (Proverbs 22:3).

There are times when we complain about what happens to us when we could have avoided the unpleasantness if we had simply been diligent in our planning and preparation. As the old saying goes, it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.