A Content Heart
Today we’re continuing our 4 week teaching series called The Generosity Tree. It’s a series about how to be generous in a world of greed, and in our 1st week we talked about being generous in three ways. We talked about being generous with our time, talent, and treasures. Well this week we’re talking about having a content heart. We’re talking about having a content heart, being content with what we have, so we can be generous with what we have. But when it comes to having a content heart, when it comes to living a content life, we often think having more money is the answer. Both skeptics and believers often think having more money will give us a happier and more content life. It’s because we could finally buy and do some of the things we feel would bring us more happiness.
For example, let’s say you had so much money, that you never had to worry about money ever again. How much happier would you be?...How much more content would you be?...I mean some of us are stressed over working so hard to just barely scrape by, but if we had more money we wouldn’t have to worry about that stress anymore...If we had more money we could quit our jobs, buy a boat, buy a cabin in the mountains...If we had more money we could travel the world taking nice vacations to Greece, Tahiti, or anywhere we want...If we had more money we could hire a nanny to help with our chores, help drive our kids to all their activities, even hire our own personal Bobby Flay to have dinner ready every night...If we had more money we wouldn’t have to worry about fixing our own cars and homes just to save a few extra dollars. Instead we could just buy a new car and build a dream home with a nice view, a nice Jacuzzi, a nice infinity pool with cascading waterfalls...How much happier, more content would your life be, if you never had to worry about money ever again?...Both skeptics and believers often think if we only had more money, we’d finally be happier and more content with life. But in today’s text Jesus will show us that isn’t the case. He’ll show us that having a content heart is less about the amount of treasure in our pockets, and more about what we’re deciding to treasure in our hearts. So let’s turn to Luke 12 and get into it. If you open your bible to the middle and keep turning right, you’ll find Luke. We’ll be in Luke 12:13-34. The title of the message is A Content Heart, and the big idea of the message is you can’t buy a content heart...You can’t buy a content heart...I’ll give some context as we go.
Luke 12:13-34 states, “Someone from the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritancewith me.’” So what we’re dealing with here are two brothers and an inheritance. We don’t know how they received their inheritance, we just know the one brother isn’t happy with the amount he received. He isn’t content with his share of the inheritance. So he asks Jesus to settle the matter, but instead Jesus gets to the heart of the matter, which is coveting.
Vs. 14, “‘Friend,’ Jesus said to him, ‘who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?’ 15 He then told them, ‘Watch out and be on guard against all greed...” Jesus is getting to the heart of the matter which is greed, it’s coveting. In the original Greek manuscripts the word greed can also be translated as coveting, which is when you crave something somebody else has. The brother in this text isn’t content because he’s coveting his brother’s inheritance, so Jesus tells him to guard against all covetousness. What are those things for you?...What are some of the things you’ve been coveting, you’ve been wanting, that you think will make you happier and more content with life?... The truth is we covet all kinds of things, but we don’t always realize we have a coveting problem, because we’ve given coveting a less intrusive name called marketing. The point of marketing is to get you to think something is missing in your life, so you’ll buy what’s being marketed. If you notice people are usually smiling in advertisements. It’s to subconsciously get you to think if you buy this product, it’ll make your life happier and more content. No, it’ll make you covet. The point of marketing is to make you covet things you didn’t know you needed until you saw it advertised.
For example, you might go to a store to buy one thing, but you end up walking out with several things. It’ll happen to some of us today after church. We’ll go to Publix, see a BOGO sign, and end up getting something that wasn’t on the list. We might not even eat it, but because it’s a BOGO we get it, and the marketing companies are like, “Gothca!...Let’s put up another BOGO next week so we can get them again.” I get duped every time at Walmart in the As Seen On TV section. I’m like, “Yo Andrea check out this flashlight! It can be frozen, run over by a tank, and it’ll still work! I’m getting it!” When am I ever going to need a flashlight that can be run over by a tank?...I guess if there’s a zombie apocalypse, but what are the odds of that?...My point is we’re often being duped by marketing causing us to covet and buy things we don’t really need. Jesus says we need to beware of all coveting, because coveting leads to discontentment in our hearts. The brother in this text is coveting his brother’s inheritance, and it’s led to discontentment in his heart.
Again vs. 15, “He then told them, ‘Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life isn’t in the abundance of his possessions.’” There’s the big idea of today’s message. You can’t buy a content heart...You can’t buy a content heart with an abundance of possessions... Having a content heart is less about the amount of treasure in our pockets, and more about what we decide to treasure in our hearts. Jesus says life isn’t about having an abundance of possessions.
Vs. 16, “Then he told them a parable: A rich man’s land was very productive.’” So Jesus is now telling a story about a rich guy who’s made a lot of money. The first guy was discontent because he didn’t have enough money, but this guy has a lot of money. He’s rich, has a good salary, a good pension, and is financially secure. Jesus says his land was very productive. So this guy is financially secure, but is he content?...This guy is rich, but is he content?...Let’s find out.
Vs. 17, “He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods there.’” The issue we’re dealing with here is greed. The rich man says I’ll tear down my barns, store all my grain, and my goods. The issue isn’t that he’s rich, it’s that he’s greedy, and money is his god. The issue isn’t that he has too much wealth, the issue is that his relationship with God is too shallow. The issue is he’s worshiping his wealth, instead of worshiping God with his wealth, and that leads to discontentment. It leads to discontentment because you’ll always want more, you’ll always want bigger barns, bigger homes, bigger closets, bigger garages, bigger and better things. The brother was discontent because he didn’t have enough, but this rich man’s discontent because he had enough and wanted more. This rich man’s discontent because he’s afraid of losing what he had, so he builds bigger barns to store more so he can make more. Jesus is teaching us we shouldn’t covet, but we also shouldn’t be greedy or worship our wealth. He’s teaching us money can’t buy a content heart. This rich man is wealthy, but he isn’t content.
Again vs. 18, “‘I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods there.’ 19 Then I’ll say to myself, ‘You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21 That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” When Jesus says this very night, your life is demanded of you, he’s talking about the rich man’s death. He’s saying this very night, the rich man will face death. What we’re learning here is money can buy some things, but it can’t buy everything. Money can buy some things, but it can’t buy this rich man’s health. His barns are full of money, but his lungs are about to be empty of life. Money can’t buy his health. In fact if you were in a situation where you had to choose between your wealth and your health, you’d most likely choose your health. If you were in a situation where you had to choose between your wealth and your family’s health, you’d most likely choose your family’s health. If you and your family were to die this very night, then none of the wealth you’ve accumulated really matters anymore. So accumulating wealth isn’t the answer to your discontentment issues, because as soon as your health fades you’ll be discontent again. Jim Carry once said, “I think everybody should get rich, famous, and do everything they ever dreamed of, so they can see it isn’t the answer.” His point is money can buy you some things, but it can’t buy you everything. It can’t buy your health or contentment. Jesus says this very night, the rich man’s life will be taken. This very night his barns are full, but his heart and lungs will be emptied.
Vs. 22, “Then he said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life...’”
The Greek word for worry can also be translated as anxious. Jesus says don’t worry, don’t be anxious about your life. Jesus is connecting the previous sections on coveting, greed, and money with anxiety. He knows when we covet something we don’t have, or when we’re greedy and want more money, it produces stress, anxiety, and discontentment in our hearts. Jesus wants us to be free from the stress, anxiety, and discontentment that comes from those things. When he tells us don’t worry, don’t be anxious, it’s because he loves us and wants us to be free from the stress, anxiety, and discontentment that comes from our coveting, greed, and money.
Again vs. 22, “Then he said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? 25 Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? 26 If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest? 27 Consider how the lilies grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 28 If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you—you of little faith?” Notice Jesus says to consider the Ravens and lilies. Ravens are considered nasty, scary birds, and they’re often symbols of death in movies. I mean nobody puts out a birdfeeder for Ravens. You’ll put out a birdfeeder for hummingbirds, but not for Ravens. Jesus is saying God’s willing to put out a birdfeeder even for the Ravens. So if God is willing to take care of the nasty Ravens, then you can trust he’s willing to take care of you.
But Jesus also says to consider the lilies, to consider how they grow. He says they don’t freak out about how they’re going to grow. They’re not like “Why am I not growing, why am I not blooming, how much longer is winter? Oooh, there’s a petal, I’m starting to bloom. Does this petal make my butt look fat?” They’re not doing that, they’re not freaking out about how they’re going to grow, how they’re going to live. Jesus is saying we don’t need to freak out either, because if God clothes the lilies, then we can trust he’ll clothe us too. He isn’t saying we shouldn’t work, because Jesus even worked. He was a carpenter for roughly 18 yrs of his life. So Jesus worked and he teaches us to work, but he also teaches us to not freak out about God’s provision while we work. Oh you of little faith he says, meaning it’s a faith issue. All of this is a faith issue. Jesus teaches our coveting, greed, anxiety over money is all a faith issue. He teaches us we can be content with life, when we have faith and trust that he’ll provide for us just like he’s providing for the Ravens and lilies. If he feeds the birds and clothes the lilies, then you can trust he’ll clothe and feed you.
Vs. 29, “Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. 30 For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor...” Jesus says sell your possessions and give to the poor. He doesn’t say give away all our possessions, so the implication is to give away some of our possessions to help others in need. When looking at our possessions and money, instead of asking, “How we can upgrade and build bigger barns?” Jesus wants us to ask “How can we use our possessions and money to help others in need?” Instead of hoarding our stuff, Jesus wants us to use our stuff in ways that’ll honor him and help others in need. It’s a complete contrast to the coveting brother and greedy rich man.
So what Jesus is saying is instead of coveting, being greedy, anxious, and discontent, we should be content with what we have and generously give away some of what we have. While at the same time trusting the Lord will always provide for us like he’s doing for the Ravens and lilies. But the reality is we sometimes trust more in the security of our money than the security of the Lord. We do this even though our money doesn’t make us feel more secure, it makes us feel less secure like the brother and rich guy in the text. It makes us feel less secure causing us to covet, be greedy, be filled with all kinds of stress, anxiety, and discontentment. So when Jesus tells us to give he isn’t trying to take our stuff, he’s trying to take our stress. We have money idols in our hearts creating stress, anxiety, and discontentment in our hearts. So Jesus tells us to sell some of our possessions to help others, but also to help get the stressful money idol out of our hearts.
Again vs. 33, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Jesus says where your treasure is, there your heart will be also, meaning it’s a heart issue. Our coveting, greed, stress, anxiety, discontentment over money is all a heart issue. He’s teaching us that living a content life is directly affected by what we’ve decided to treasure in our hearts. If you pursue temporary treasures you’ll have temporary contentment, but if you pursue eternal treasures you’ll have eternal contentment. If you pursue temporary treasures like possessions and money, then you’ll die with a broken discontent heart like the brother and rich man in the text. But if you pursue eternal treasures, if you pursue Jesus as your greatest treasure, you’ll live with a joyful content heart. When we aren’t living with a joyful content heart, it’s a clue we might be treasuring something else more than Jesus. It’s a clue we might be pursuing temporary treasures on earth, instead of eternal treasures in heaven. It’s a clue we might be making something else a greater treasure in our hearts instead of Jesus. Jesus says where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Jesus is our incarnate God who came to show us the way, the truth, and the life. He’s our incarnate God who came to die for our sins on the cross, and to give us a joyful content life in relationship with him. Anyone who makes him the greatest treasure in their heart will live a joyful content life with him now, and a joyful content life in heaven with him later. The more we view him as our greatest treasure in our daily life, the more we’ll experience a joyful content life. He offers both skeptics and believers a much better life where he’s our greatest treasure instead of our possessions, money, or anything else, and when he’s our greatest treasure we’ll have contentment. Your money can buy you some things, but it can’t buy you everything. It can’t buy you more time if this very night, your life is taken from you. It can’t buy you or the people you love eternal life and eternal joy in heaven if this very night, your life and their lives were taken from you. Your money can buy you some things, but it can’t buy you time, it can’t buy you eternal life, it can’t buy you a content heart. There’s only one treasure that leads to a content heart, and that treasure is Jesus. Jesus is our greatest treasure that can lead us to a content heart and a content life.
The big idea of the message is you can’t buy a content heart...Jesus teaches you can’t buy a content heart...Both skeptics and believers often think having more money would give us a happier and more content life. It might make our lives a little easier, but that doesn’t mean it’ll make our lives happier and more content. What Jesus taught us in today’s text is that both the coveting brother and the rich man weren’t content with life. He taught us that having a content heart is less about the amount of treasure in our pockets, and more about what we’re deciding to treasure in our hearts. So if you want to live a discontent life, then covet what you don’t have like the brother in the text, and be greedy with what you do have like the rich man in the text. But Jesus says if you want to live a content life, then instead of coveting what you don’t have, be thankful for what you do have. Instead of being greedy with what you have, be generous in giving away some of what you have. Instead of treasuring your wealth, treasure Jesus more than your wealth. The way to live a content life is to be thankful for what you have, generously give away some of what you have, and treasure Jesus more than your wealth. The degree to which you treasure Jesus in your daily life, is the degree to which you’ll live a generous content life...The degree to which you treasure Jesus in your heart, is the degree to which you’ll live with a generous content heart...