NOT RICH AND NOT SMART!

 

Friday, November 27, 2020

 

NOT RICH AND NOT SMART!

 

Luke 7:31-32

31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

 

Luke 12:20-21

20 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?

21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

 

2 Tim 3:7

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

           Jesus came to a generation that was difficult to describe. He asked: “whereunto shall I liken this generation?” They were detached, aloof, and they were not easily satisfied. Emotionally they were bored. They were not enticed with mirth, and they were not moved by sorrow.

 

           He called the rich man a fool because he had a value system that was selfish and worldly focused. He had no thoughts of God or eternity and made no investments in that direction. His barns were too small for his plenty so, he tore them down. He never gave any thought to sharing. He soon lost the one thing he could ill afford to lose because he paid no attention to it.

 

           To the educated, Paul reminded Timothy that the smartest of them could not grasp the knowledge of the truth. When education is traded for indoctrination, pride and confusion is always the result. Paul had experienced this firsthand in Greece when he spoke to the philosophers who always were eager to hear “some new thing” but could not understand the Gospel.

 

           I fear that we are surrounding ourselves with things, but we are in great need. We are drowning in information but devoid of truth. In fact, we deface and reject truth when we encounter it. Our spirits are dry without laughter or tears. Our revivals are shouting matches decrying gnats while swallowing camels. We are ripe for judgment.

 

There is still hope.

 

2 Chron 7:14

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

 

Dear Lord, the world has become a frustrating and uncomfortable place to dwell. Awaken our spirits that we may feel. Clarify our vision that we may see. Help us to identify the truly important things. Give us peace inside. AMEN