Lesson 10: Giving Back – Luke 12

KJV 1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. 4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. 8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. 10 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. 11 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: 12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. 13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15 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. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 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. 19 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. 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. 22 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. 23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24 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? 25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27 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. 28 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? 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 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. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36 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. 37 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. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 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. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. 41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? 42 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? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 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. 48 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. 49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! 51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 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. 54 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. 55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. 56 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? 57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? 58 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. 59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

CEV 1 As thousands of people crowded around Jesus and were stepping on each other, he told his disciples: Be sure to guard against the dishonest teaching of the Pharisees! It is their way of fooling people. 2 Everything that is hidden will be found out, and every secret will be known. 3 Whatever you say in the dark will be heard when it is day. Whatever you whisper in a closed room will be shouted from the housetops. (Matthew 10. 28-31) 4 My friends, don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but after that, there is nothing else they can do. 5 God is the one you must fear. Not only can he take your life, but he can throw you into hell. God is certainly the one you should fear! 6 Five sparrows are sold for only a few cents, but God doesn't forget a single one of them. 7 Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10. 32,33; 12. 32; 10. 19,20) 8 If you tell others that you belong to me, the Son of Man will tell God's angels that you are my followers. 9 But if you reject me, you will be rejected in front of them. 10 If you speak against the Son of Man, you can be forgiven, but if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you cannot be forgiven. 11 When you are brought to trial in the synagogues or before rulers or officials, don't worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say. 12 At that time the Holy Spirit will tell you what to say. 13 A man in a crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of what our father left us when he died.” 14 Jesus answered, “Who gave me the right to settle arguments between you and your brother?” 15 Then he said to the crowd, “Don't be greedy! Owning a lot of things won't make your life safe.” 16 So Jesus told them this story: A rich man's farm produced a big crop, 17 and he said to himself, “What can I do? I don't have a place large enough to store everything.” 18 Later, he said, “Now I know what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I can store all my grain and other goods. 19 Then I'll say to myself, ‘You have stored up enough good things to last for years to come. Live it up! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’ ” 20 But God said to him, “You fool! Tonight you will die. Then who will get what you have stored up?” 21 “This is what happens to people who store up everything for themselves, but are poor in the sight of God.” (Matthew 6. 25-34) 22 Jesus said to his disciples: I tell you not to worry about your life! Don't worry about having something to eat or wear. 23 Life is more than food or clothing. 24 Look at the crows! They don't plant or harvest, and they don't have storehouses or barns. But God takes care of them. You are much more important than any birds. 25 Can worry make you live longer? 26 If you don't have power over small things, why worry about everything else? 27 Look how the wild flowers grow! They don't work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you Solomon with all his wealth wasn't as well clothed as one of these flowers. 28 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. Won't he do even more for you? You have such little faith! 29 Don't keep worrying about having something to eat or drink. 30 Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father knows what you need. 31 But put God's work first, and these things will be yours as well. (Matthew 6. 19-21) 32 My little group of disciples, don't be afraid! Your Father wants to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves moneybags that never wear out. Make sure your treasure is safe in heaven, where thieves cannot steal it and moths cannot destroy it. 34 Your heart will always be where your treasure is. (Matthew 24. 45-51) 35 Be ready and keep your lamps burning 36 just like those servants who wait up for their master to return from a wedding feast. As soon as he comes and knocks, they open the door for him. 37 Servants are fortunate if their master finds them awake and ready when he comes! I promise you he will get ready and let his servants sit down so he can serve them. 38 Those servants are really fortunate if their master finds them ready, even though he comes late at night or early in the morning. 39 You would surely not let a thief break into your home, if you knew when the thief was coming. 40 So always be ready! You don't know when the Son of Man will come. 41 Peter asked Jesus, “Did you say this just for us or for everyone?” 42 The Lord answered: Who are faithful and wise servants? Who are the ones the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their food supplies at the proper time? 43 Servants are fortunate if their master comes and finds them doing their job. 44 A servant who is always faithful will surely be put in charge of everything the master owns. 45 But suppose one of the servants thinks that the master won't return until late. Suppose that servant starts beating all the other servants and eats and drinks and gets drunk. 46 If that happens, the master will come on a day and at a time when the servant least expects him. That servant will then be punished and thrown out with the servants who cannot be trusted. 47 If servants are not ready or willing to do what their master wants them to do, they will be beaten hard. 48 But servants who don't know what their master wants them to do will not be beaten so hard for doing wrong. If God has been generous with you, he will expect you to serve him well. But if he has been more than generous, he will expect you to serve him even better. (Matthew 10. 34-36) 49 I came to set fire to the earth, and I wish it were already on fire! 50 I am going to be put to a hard test. And I will have to suffer a lot of pain until it is over. 51 Do you think that I came to bring peace to earth? No indeed! I came to make people choose sides. 52 A family of five will be divided, with two of them against the other three. 53 Fathers and sons will turn against one another, and mothers and daughters will do the same. Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law will also turn against each other. (Matthew 16. 2,3; 5. 25,26) 54 Jesus said to all the people: As soon as you see a cloud coming up in the west, you say, “It's going to rain,” and it does. 55 When the south wind blows, you say, “It's going to get hot,” and it does. 56 Are you trying to fool someone? You can predict the weather by looking at the earth and sky, but you don't really know what's going on right now. 57 Why don't you understand the right thing to do? 58 When someone accuses you of something, try to settle things before you are taken to court. If you don't, you will be dragged before the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to the jailer, and you will be locked up. 59 You won't get out until you have paid the last cent you owe.

Introduction:

Our study this week is about what we should do “in our last years.” If the “giving back” in the title is directed towards the parents rather than the children, doesn’t that make the title very odd? Aren’t old people poor? Isn’t the cry “I’m on a fixed income” a plea for favorable financial treatment? What about all of those discounts for old people? Doesn’t that show that they are in need? The truth is that a lot of older people, especially those who followed the teachings of the Bible on money, have quite a bit saved for their old age. What should those old people do with their assets in their final years? Let’s plunge into our study of the Bible and learn more!

I. The Farmer

A. Read Luke 12:16-17

KJV 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

CEV 16 So Jesus told them this story: A rich man's farm produced a big crop, 17 and he said to himself, “What can I do? I don't have a place large enough to store everything.”

How does Jesus describe the wealth of the farmer?

(Jesus says the farmer was rich. The suggestion is that he was rich before what Jesus describes next.)

B. Read Luke 12:18-19

KJV 18 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. 19 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.

CEV 18 Later, he said, “Now I know what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I can store all my grain and other goods. 19 Then I'll say to myself, ‘You have stored up enough good things to last for years to come. Live it up! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’ ”

Is this a smart business plan?

Isn’t this saving for the future? Isn’t this just like what Joseph did at God’s direction? See Genesis 41:47-49

KJV 47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. 48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. 49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.

CEV 47 For seven years there were big harvests of grain. 48 Joseph collected and stored up the extra grain in the cities of Egypt near the fields where it was harvested. 49 In fact, there was so much grain that they stopped keeping record, because it was like counting the grains of sand along the beach.

C. Read Luke 12:20-21

KJV 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.

CEV 20 But God said to him, “You fool! Tonight you will die. Then who will get what you have stored up?” 21 “This is what happens to people who store up everything for themselves, but are poor in the sight of God.”

God calls this prudent farmer a “fool!” We need to discuss a few questions to better understand that label.

1. Is there any reason to believe that this farmer is old and this teaches us something about old people with money?

(There is no evidence that he is old - other than the farmer died that night. This parable might teach Christians of any age about how to deal with profits.)

2. Look again at Luke 12:19

   KJV 19 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.

   CEV 19 Then I'll say to myself, ‘You have stored up enough good things to last for years to come. Live it up! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’ ”

Is there anything wrong with this?

Doesn’t this sound like the farmer planned to retire “for many years?”

3. Compare Luke 12:21

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

   CEV 21 “This is what happens to people who store up everything for themselves, but are poor in the sight of God.”

Why does God call this farmer a “fool?” Is it because he saved for
the future?

(No. The actual indictment is that he saved for the future “for himself” and was “not rich toward God.”)

a. What would it take to be rich toward God?

(As we have studied, Malachi 3

KJV 1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. 2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. 4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts. 6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts. 13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? 14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? 15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. 16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

CEV 1 I, the Lord All-Powerful, will send my messenger to prepare the way for me. Then suddenly the Lord you are looking for will appear in his temple. The messenger you desire is coming with my promise, and he is on his way. 2 On the day the Lord comes, he will be like a furnace that purifies silver or like strong soap in a washbasin. No one will be able to stand up to him. 3 The Lord will purify the descendants of Levi, as though they were gold or silver. Then they will bring the proper offerings to the Lord, 4 and the offerings of the people of Judah and Jerusalem will please him, just as they did in the past. 5 The Lord All-Powerful said: I'm now on my way to judge you. And I will quickly condemn all who practice witchcraft or cheat in marriage or tell lies in court or rob workers of their pay or mistreat widows and orphans or steal the property of foreigners or refuse to respect me. 6 Descendants of Jacob, I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I never change. That's why you haven't been wiped out, 7 even though you have ignored and disobeyed my laws ever since the time of your ancestors. But if you return to me, I will return to you. And yet you ask, “How can we return?” 8 You people are robbing me, your God. And, here you are, asking, “How are we robbing you?”You are robbing me of the offerings and of the ten percent that belongs to me. 9 That's why your whole nation is under a curse. 10 I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house. Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing. 11 I will also stop locusts from destroying your crops and keeping your vineyards from producing. 12 Everyone of every nation will talk about how I have blessed you and about your wonderful land. I, the Lord All-Powerful, have spoken! 13 You have said horrible things about me, and yet you ask, “What have we said?” 14 Here is what you have said: “It's foolish to serve the Lord God All-Powerful. What do we get for obeying God and from going around looking sad? 15 See how happy those arrogant people are. Everyone who does wrong is successful, and when they put God to the test, they always get away with it.” 16 All those who truly respected the Lord and honored his name started discussing these things, and when God saw what was happening, he had their names written as a reminder in his book. 17 Then the Lord All-Powerful said: You people are precious to me, and when I come to bring justice, I will protect you, just as parents protect an obedient child. 18 Then everyone will once again see the difference between those who obey me by doing right and those who reject me by doing wrong.

sets the mark at giving back to God 10% of income.)

b. Do you think that God is speaking of money when He charges that the farmer is not rich towards Him?

(The story says nothing about whether the farmer paid tithe on his gain, but it does tell us exactly how the farmer intended to spend his time. The farmer’s plan does not include any statement about spending time on God.)

c. Do you think God killed the farmer because he foolishly failed in his obligations towards God? Remember this is a story!

D. I don’t think we can properly understand the story Jesus told if we fail to notice why Jesus told the story.

Read Luke 12:13-15

KJV 13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15 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.

CEV 13 A man in a crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of what our father left us when he died.” 14 Jesus answered, “Who gave me the right to settle arguments between you and your brother?” 15 Then he said to the crowd, “Don't be greedy! Owning a lot of things won't make your life safe.”

Could these be the children of the now dead farmer?

(Since Jesus is telling a story about a farmer, the answer is “no,” but these facts might fit into the story.)

1. What do you think about Jesus’ answer in Luke 12:14

   KJV 14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

   CEV 14 Jesus answered, “Who gave me the right to settle arguments between you and your brother?”

   ? Does this seem right to you? Is it true we don’t have to answer to Jesus?

(Jesus is simply saying that He is not a local judge.)

E. Luke 12:15

KJV 15 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.

CEV 15 Then he said to the crowd, “Don't be greedy! Owning a lot of things won't make your life safe.”

holds the key to our entire discussion so far about the farmer.

What is the caution that Jesus gives?

(Not to covet.)

1. Why? (“Life does not consist in the abundance of … possessions.”)
2. Is that a definition of covetousness - a focus on possessions (or lack of them) instead of other things in life?

a. Consider how that definition of covetousness fits these facts. Instead of asking Jesus for spiritual guidance, the brother asks for help prying money fromhis brother.

F. Re-read Luke 12:16

KJV 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

CEV 16 So Jesus told them this story: A rich man's farm produced a big crop,

Jesus tells the farmer story to illustrate His response to the brother. With that in mind, tell me what you think is the point of the farmer story?

(We should not be focused on our possessions rather than a relationship with God. Why? Because our possessions can disappear in an instant, while our relationship with God is eternal.)

1. Does this story have anything to say to old people who have great possessions?
2. Does this story have anything to say to old people who do not have great possessions?
3. Have you noticed that people who do not have great possessions are often more focused on possessions than those who do? Is it an accident that Jesus told the brother without the inheritance to be “on guard against all covetousness?”
4. Does this story have a lesson for young people?

(It must. It was a younger person with an inheritance dispute who started the discussion.)

G. After considering our discussion of the farmer story and its context, what should the farmer have said in Luke 12:19

KJV 19 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.

CEV 19 Then I'll say to myself, ‘You have stored up enough good things to last for years to come. Live it up! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’ ”

that would be better than what he did say?

(He should have said, “I don’t need to earn a living for many years. I will spend that time advancing God’s kingdom, relaxing more, enjoying eating and drinking, and my life will be filled with joy.”)

II. Inheritance

A. The death of the farmer in the context of the brothers’ dispute over an inheritance raises the issue of how the farmer should have considered the possibility of his death.

Read 1 Timothy 5:8

KJV 8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

CEV 8 People who don't take care of their relatives, and especially their own families, have given up their faith. They are worse than someone who doesn't have faith in the Lord.

Should old people with assets pass them on to their children?

(We are required to provide for family. However, the context of this instruction is helping those who are poor.)

1. In considering our decision about our money when we die, is being rich towards God still a consideration?

(It must be given the farmer story.)

B. Let’s consider some texts on passing our wealth on to our children. Read Proverbs 13:22

KJV 22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

CEV 22 If you obey God, you will have something to leave your grandchildren. If you don't obey God, those who live right will get what you leave.

Assume your children don’t need your wealth. Does this suggest that we should give it to them anyway because of a concern about grandchildren?

1. Should we provide specifically for our grandchildren?

C. Read 2 Corinthians 12:14

KJV 14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

CEV 14 I am planning to visit you for the third time. But I still won't make a burden of myself. What I really want is you, and not what you have. Children are not supposed to save up for their parents, but parents are supposed to take care of their children.

Do parents have an obligation to pass assets to their children?

(At best this is a secondary point Paul is making.)

D. Read Psalm 103:13

KJV 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

CEV 13 Just as parents are kind to their children, the Lord is kind to all who worship him,

If you answered the prior question with a “yes,” is this a question of compassion rather than obligation?

E. Read Numbers 27:9-11

KJV 9 And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren. 10 And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren. 11 And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the Lord commanded Moses.

CEV 9 If he has no daughter, his brothers will inherit the land. 10 But if he has no brothers, his father's brothers will inherit the land. 11 And if his father has no brothers, the land must be given to his nearest relative in the clan. This is my law, and the Israelites must obey it.

. Think about what is being written here. Is this a command to leave an inheritance, or a command about what happens if you leave an inheritance?

F. Read Deuteronomy 21:17

KJV 17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

CEV Moses said to Israel: 15-17 Suppose a man has two wives and loves one more than the other. The first son of either wife is the man's first-born son, even if the boy's mother is the wife the man doesn't love. Later, when the man is near death and is dividing up his property, he must give a double share to his first-born son, simply because he was the first to be born.

. Do you think that this still applies to Christians today? (One commentator pointed out that this is the only
place in the Bible stating that a double portion should be given to the first born. There are other references to a “birthright,” which encompassed more than an inheritance of property. In Genesis 25:5-6

KJV 5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. 6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

CEV 5-6 While Abraham was still alive, he gave gifts to the sons of Hagar and Keturah. He also sent their sons to live in the east far from his son Isaac, and when Abraham died, he left everything to Isaac.

Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac, even though Isaac was neither his first born son nor his only son.)

G. Read Genesis 49:3-4

KJV 3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: 4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

CEV 3 Reuben, you are my oldest, born at the peak of my powers; you were an honored leader. 4 Uncontrollable as a flood, you slept with my wife and disgraced my bed. And so you no longer deserve the place of honor.

, and 1 Chronicles 5:1-2

KJV 1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. 2 For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's: )

CEV 1 Reuben was the oldest son of Jacob, but he lost his rights as the first-born son because he slept with one of his father's wives. The honor of the first-born son was then given to Joseph, 2 even though it was the Judah tribe that became the most powerful and produced a leader.

What is the lesson here in how we should leave our assets to our children?

(This is a consideration of merit.)

H. Read Proverbs 13:11

KJV 11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

CEV 11 Money wrongly gained will disappear bit by bit; money earned little by little will grow and grow.

What caution does this raise about an immediate transfer of wealth to our children upon our death?

(It might be a mistake because they may lose it.)

I. Read 1 Timothy 6:17

KJV 17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

CEV 17 Warn the rich people of this world not to be proud or to trust in wealth that is easily lost. Tell them to have faith in God, who is rich and blesses us with everything we need to enjoy life.

What is the best inheritance that we can pass on to our children?

(To trust in God rather than money.)

J. Friend, our lives do not consist of the things we own. They can be gone in an instant. Why not, consistent with 2 Corinthians 4:18

KJV 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

CEV 18 Things that are seen don't last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. This is why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.

, turn our focus to a relationship with God. That is an eternal blessing.

III. Next week: Managing in Tough Times.