Dear Friends,

I pray you are well. Over the last few weeks as my wife, Judy, and I have walked through a season of physical challenge (she had surgery for a badly broken arm), I have had more and more honest prayer before the Lord…prayer that He would help me to walk each day as Jesus walked and love those around me as Jesus loved. It is humbling to encounter our own frailty when we are faced with challenges.

Often, though, our frailty brings us back to God’s perspective and tears us away from a perspective of self-reliance. Having a self-reliant, now-oriented perspective is very dangerous, according to Jesus’ teaching in Luke 12. As I re-read it today, I was struck with the fact that Jesus consistently challenges His followers to see differently. In Luke 12, Jesus challenges His followers to see the following things differently: religion (vv 1-3), death (vv 4-7), conviction (vv 8-12), money (vv 13 – 21), abundance (vv 22 – 34), the future (vv 35 – 40), stewardship (vv 41 – 48), peace (vv 49 – 53) and conflict (vv 57 – 59).

Luke 12 is also a chapter that is full of warning and encouragement. It warns those who put their trust in worldly accomplishments or possessions (vv 13 – 21). It warns those whose perspective shrinks down to a world-sized vision rather than a God-sized vision (vv 35 – 48). It warns those who have knowledge of God’s heart and His plan and does nothing to prepare or to execute on His will (vv 42 – 48).

On the contrary, it encourages those who are expectantly waiting for Jesus to show up (vv 35 – 40). It encourages those who do their best with the knowledge and resources they have (v 48). It encourages those who seek His kingdom by actively investing in His work on earth with people (vv 22 – 34).

As financial advisors, we easily hone in on Jesus’ teaching about money in this chapter, which is not a bad thing. But, I would encourage you to read Luke 12 this week and read it as one who is asking, “What perspective does Jesus want for me to have?” and, “How does His teaching inform plans and choices I am making in this season of my life?”

What a rich text! I pray that you find much encouragement and challenge as you explore it for yourself.

Blessings,

Ron