Bible Text: Luke 12:22-34 | Preacher: G.F. | Series: The Disease of Hypocrisy

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
(Luke 12:22-34)
Covetousness involves far more than an excessive love for money. Covetousness is a Gospel issue – a heart issue. Covetousness forces us to ask the question, “Do we love God more than we love stuff? Do we treasure the gifts of the Gospel more than we treasure the things that our hearts are preoccupied with in this world?”

Jesus’ command to his disciples and us is “Do not be anxious”. This is one of the clearest – and perhaps least obeyed – commands of Jesus.

Jesus is teaching his disciples not to worry about food or clothing, which are the basic necessities of life. Anxiety is like a rocking chair; it will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere.

George Muller said, “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.”  “This means that the remedy for all our fearful worries,” according to Philip Ryken, “is more faith in our faithful God. As soon as we start to feel anxious, we need to stop thinking about our troubles and start thinking about the character of our God – his wisdom, his goodness, his sovereignty, and all the promises he has made to us in Christ.”

Coveting comes down to the issue of what you desire more. Jesus is saying in this passage that it is easy to tell where someone’s heart is; it is wherever you are putting your treasure (what you desire most).  So, the question is, “Is your heart in the right place?” When your heart is in the right place, your treasure will end up in the right place too. Do you care more about God than anything in this world? Do you care more about your soul and the souls of countless others than you care about the treasures and spoils of this life? Do you long to see the Gospel advanced in your heart and in the hearts of others, with people being converted and built up? Do You long to see God’s kingdom advance? Do you long to see God’s glory in this world displayed? Do you care more about those things than anything else?….only the Gospel can do that in a person!