Let's pray.
Gracious God, as we come to this passage,
we ask again that you would challenge us,
you would convict us, you would clarify for us
misunderstandings of what it is to be your disciple.
Father, these words from Jesus, which cut right to our heart,
and we can explain away,
and just by saying that he's using hyperbole,
Lord, I pray that we might not do that.
Help us to hear the full weight of them,
and Lord, to walk away from here,
challenge to rethink the basic principles of our life,
and we ask it for your sake.
Amen.
So you're shopping in Chatswood Chase,
you're walking through the stores,
you're browsing a wide variety of items,
and finally it happens.
Something catches your eye.
You're excited by it.
You hold it.
And you know you want it.
There is one final hurdle remaining.
It's the price.
So you reach down for the postage stamp size tag,
dangling from the greatest treasure that you've ever seen,
but now sits within your hands.
And this is it.
It's the price tag moment.
Number one.
Numbers start to come into focus.
Is it too much?
50% more than you'd guessed.
100% more than you can afford.
2,000% more than you need to spend on something like this.
But still,
you stand there
making the decision
to buy
or not to buy.
And you ask yourself
the all-important question,
is it worth it?
We face those price tag moments
every day.
That is,
we are consistently doing
cost-benefit analysis,
asking ourselves the question,
is it worth it?
It's because the society
which we live in
is a materialistic,
consumer society,
and we are forced
to make those
value judgments.
We make our choices,
one price tag moment
after another.
And of course,
the price tag moment
is different for us all.
For one of us,
$100,
spending $100 on fabric
is a no-brainer.
For some of us,
it is a
significant thing
to spend $100
on fabric.
You ask kids,
$100 on lollies,
no problem at all.
It's a great way
to spend money.
For others,
it's ridiculous.
You'd rather spend
your $100
on a shirt.
And that's what makes
Jesus' passage here
for us so pertinent.
He's on his way
to Jerusalem,
as we know.
He's on his way
to Jerusalem to die.
And along the way,
he teaches his disciples,
he tells them
what they can expect
if they're going to
come and follow him.
That is,
they're going to take up
their cross
and follow him.
And in the process
of what he does
is he clears up
their misconceptions
of what it actually
means to be
his disciple.
He talks about
things like trust,
conviction,
singled-mindedness,
persecution.
And now he turns
his attention
to one of,
if not the major,
distraction
for the Christian life.
In fact,
I think every
scholar I read
on the passage
said this is
the major,
major distraction
for the Christian life.
Jesus sets it up
in a way
that he sets up
nothing else
in the New Testament
and that is greed,
the disease
of possessionitis.
the issue is raised
because a guy,
you see it there
in the passage,
pick up your Bibles,
Luke chapter 12
verse 13.
This guy calls out
in the crowd
and he says,
teacher,
tell my brother
to divide the inheritance
with me.
But Jesus picks it up,
he knows what's going on,
he knows his brother,
this guy doesn't want
an arbiter
between him
and his brother.
He wants someone
who's going to command
his brother
to cuff up the cash
and give it to me.
He gets a hint
of greed
and so he takes
an opportunity
to teach
and he says,
watch out.
Be on your guard
against all kinds
of greed.
A man's life
does not consist
in the abundance
of his possessions.
Watch out!
It's like you're
driving the car,
you've been distracted
for a moment,
you're looking over there
and your passenger
says,
watch out
because you're driving
straight over
pedestrian crossing
and someone's walking
in front of your car.
It's that kind of
watch out!
Danger!
Be on your guard
against all kinds
of greed.
You see,
what Jesus does
into this greed-ridden
consumer world,
he comes with
his own
price tag moment,
his own
price tag question
and this is it.
In Luke chapter 9
verse 25,
what good is it
for a person
to gain the whole
world and yet
forfeit their soul?
That's Jesus'
price tag question.
Greed affects us
all in one way
or another.
The difficult thing
for us is that greed
in the society
in which we live
is a huge blind spot
and I think for us
therefore it's the most
socially acceptable
sin in our culture.
We don't see it
as big as it is
but it's the one
thing that probably
more than anything
else I think
what Jesus would
be saying here
that would be
sucking the life
out of spiritual
integrity
consistently.
It was American
millionaire Malcolm
Forbes who coined
the famous phrase
he who dies
with the most toys
wins
and this is the
philosophy that
most of us live
by
and so here again
comes the voice
of Jesus
and this time
to the person
who thinks that
their security
and meaning
comes from
building bigger
and bigger barns
who thinks that
life is about
getting as much
as you possibly
can
and this is
Jesus price tag
moment
you fool
this very night
your life will be
demanded from you
you fool
can you imagine
getting to the
end of your life
and instead of
hearing well done
good and faithful
servant
you hear the words
from King Jesus
you fool
you've read the
price tag
moment all wrong
he who dies
with the most toys
still dies
like everyone else
and will still stand
before the judgment
throne of God
like everyone else
and he will put
a huge zero value
against all the
things that you've
spent your life
chasing
you fool
this passage
here is a passage
to challenge us
to take again
a look at the
price tag
and to
work out
what is really
worth
treasuring
and that's
the bottom line
here
the bottom line
here is not
valuing the things
of eternity
enough
that's the danger
and valuing the
things of this
world too
highly
on the surface
though you could
say this guy
has made some
wide choices
he's made some
good investments
even
he has a bumper
crop and rather
than wasting it
he makes more
and more storage
space
seems like a
reasonable thing
to do
that's because
that's what we
do
so it seems
reasonable
whereas what
Jesus is saying
is that that
bumper crop is a
gift from God
and you've stored
it for yourself
the rationale
his philosophy
of life
his desires
and his attitude
that lie behind
his decision
to build bigger
and bigger barns
are there
consistently
if you read
through the
passage
you notice
things like
my crops
my barns
my grain
my goods
myself
me
I
self interest
in making it
self security
in having it
and now he
has plenty to
retire on
and spend the
rest of his
life in
self indulgent
ease
and he says
here I will
take life easy
and eat
and drink
and be merry
but Jesus says
he's read the
price tag
all wrong
and he joins
the dead
and the
departed
and he has
made no
provision for
eternity
and Jesus
says
you fool
his
contentment
is in what
he thinks
he can
control
his
investments
but God
says to him
in verse 12
verse 20
you fool
this night
this very
night
your life
will be
demanded
of you
in other
words
and hear
this
if a
person
finds
his income
rising
and rising
and instead
of funneling
that increase
into kingdom
ministry
and for the
poor
instead of
doing that
they buy
more of
and bigger
things to
increase their
ease and to
build their
security
like this
rich man
then God
will call
that person
a fool
and take
away
their life
did you
hear that
did you
hear the
warning from
Jesus
lips
it's what
I love
about
John
Wesley
John
Wesley
when he
first started
his ministry
life
got paid
28 pounds
a year
he learnt
to live
on 26
pounds
gave 2
pounds
away
as his
ministry
grew
and his
income
increased
from position
to position
he learnt
he eventually
got paid
40 pounds
a year
he learnt
to live
on 26
pounds
a year
and gave
the rest
away
eventually
he got
paid
80
pounds
a year
he learnt
to live
on 26
pounds
a year
and gave
the rest
away
greed
is a
distraction
for everyone
not just
the rich
people are
convinced
that more
money will
solve their
problems
meet every
longing in
their life
will give
them the
security
it motivates
us to
earn
more than
we need
to own
more than
we can
use
and yet
still
somehow
to ache
for more
and more
is because
of greed
that we
consistently
muck up
the price
tag moment
day after
day
not just
the little
decisions
but the
biggest
one of
all
we swap
the creator
of the
universe
and find
our
satisfaction
in the
created
things
and that
is why
Jesus
warning
against
greed
in the
Bible
New
Testament
in the
Gospels
is so
strong
again
and again
what
profit
is it
he asks
watch out
he calls
you fool
he rebukes
and he
says things
like no
one
can serve
both God
and money
no one
not just
most of us
won't be able
to do it
but no
one will be
able to
do it
and so
if we're
not going
to pursue
material
things
then how
do we
deal
with our
physical
needs
and the
answer
in this
passage
as it
is with
the rest
of the
Bible
is trust
God
do not
worry
that's
the main
gist
of this
next
section
verse 22
therefore I
tell you
do not
worry
about your
life
what you
will eat
about your
body
what you
will wear
again in
verse 29
and 31
do not
set your
heart
on what
you will
eat
or drink
do not
worry
about such
things
for the
pagan world
runs
after all
such
things
and your
father
knows
you need
them
you see
what Jesus
says here
is that he
calls us
as his
disciples
a radical
re-changing
value
to actually
look at the
price tags
and he
says to
stop
things
seeking
and go
for kingdom
seeking
stop
things
seeking
and go
for kingdom
seeking
and to
do it
without
anxiety
for not
having
things
he
calls
us
to be
different
from the
rest
of the
world
he
says
do not
set
your
heart
on what
you will
eat
or what
you'll
drink
because
the
pagan
world
runs
after
all
such
things
to be
different
from the
rest
of the
world
the
followers
of Jesus
replace
thing
seeking
for
kingdom
seeking
they
leave
the
financial
success
of their
ventures
with
God
as they
focus
on the
spiritual
payoff
the
righteousness
payoff
the
mercy
payoff
the
Christ
exalting
payoff
not the
money
payoff
the
basis
of this
fearlessness
in the
face
of
anxiety
is a
single
minded
focus
on the
kingdom
of God
in all
that we
do
is that
God's
promise
is to
us
that he
will be
there
for us
verse
30
our
father
knows
that we
need
them
all
he
knows
it
and
he'll
provide
for it
do
not
worry
it is
the
constant
attitude
of the
disciple
of
Jesus
what
Jesus
does
is he
turns
our
value
on
its
head
he
puts
the
creation
order
back
in
its
right
order
instead
of
serving
the
created
order
instead
of
serving
material
needs
Jesus
says
that
the
focus
should
be
on
relationship
the
deepest
dimensions
of
our
life
should
be
relationship
with
God
and
relationship
with
others
in other
words
as it
says
in
verse
23
life
is
more
than
food
and
the
body
more
than
clothes
it's
what
we
saw
a couple
of
weeks
ago
with
the
parable
of
the
good
Samaritan
real
life
has
to
do
with
relationships
and
what
Jesus
is
saying
is
that
if
we
pursue
material
gain
then
we
will
never
ever
be
able
to
be
the
good
Samaritan
we
will
never
ever
be
in a
position
to
think
that
I
can
give
up
my
time
my
money
my
energy
to
be
a
good
Samaritan
because
this
material
gain
is
primary
living
is
more
than
having
it
is
being
in
relationship
with
God
and
relating
well
to
others
and
so
Jesus
mentioned
a few
reasons
why
we
shouldn't
worry
in
this
section
verse
25
he
says
who
of
you
by
worrying
can
add
a
single
hour
to
his
life
since
you
cannot
do
this
very
little
thing
it's
amazing
Jesus
says
even
adding
an
hour
to
my
life
is
a
very
little
thing
why
do
his
advice
here
is
both
logical
and
practical
worry
all
you
like
you're
not
going
to
be
able
to
change
a
thing
when
I
was
a
teenager
I
was
worried
about
getting
bald
Ashley
and
Martin
weren't
doing
much
air
time
back
in
those
days
and
what
Jesus
is
saying
here
what's
the
point
worry
about
it
in
fact
worrying
about
it
probably
make
life
fall
out
anyway
in
fact
I
think
there
should
be
a
general
health
warning
attached
to
worry
and
stress
and
anxiety
may
actually
reduce
the
length
of
your
life
rather
than
increase
it
what
he's
saying
is
wasted
energy
but
I
think
he's
saying
more
than
that
it's
more
than
just
wasted
energy
it's
actually
an
approach
to
life
it's
actually
an
approach
to
life
the
reason
why
we
shouldn't
worry
about
the
things
of
our
God
is
good
merciful
trustworthy
and
has
made
promises
he's
made
promises
to
provide
I
don't
think
it's
a
mistake
here
that
Jesus
refers
to
God
in
verse
30
and
verse
32
in
this
passage
as
their
father
and
in
verse
32
he
refers
to
the
disciples
as
the
little
flock
I
don't
think
that's
a
mistake
the
picture
here
is
of
a
God
who
is
a
tender
carer
and
provider
for
easily
frightened
fragile
sheep
and
so
the
promise
is
to
give
everything
of
the
kingdom
to
his
fragile
sheep
his
disciples
in a
world
where we
are
fragile
sheep
amongst
ravenous
wolves
the
promise
here
of
God
is
that
he
will
provide
for
us
God
will
graciously
mercifully
lovingly
give us
everything
that we
need
to
fulfill
his
purposes
for
us
now
in case
you didn't
get that
last bit
let me
just
emphasize
it
his
purposes
for
us
he
will
give us
everything
we
need
to
fulfill
his
purposes
for
us
the
basis
of
fearlessness
is
not
our
human
resources
but
God
being
there
for
us
don't
fear
even
though
we
are
sheep
amongst
ravenous
wolves
and
even
though
we
are
little
and
they
are
great
but
remember
the
basis
of
your
fearlessness
is
you
have
a
father
who
owns
and
who
runs
the
world
and
really
loves
giving
everything
of
the
kingdom
to
his
sheep
like
but
did
you
notice
what
the
threat
is
in
verse
32
you
notice
there's
a
threat
here
that
in
verse
32
leads
Jesus
to
say
fear
not
little
flock
and
what's
the
threat
in
the
context
of
the
scriptures
here
what
is
the
threat
there's
two
you
can
go
backwards
you
can
go
forwards
if
you
go
backwards
a
few
verses
the
thing
that
they
are
in
danger
of
fearing
is
the
call
to
no
longer
be
like
the
nations
who
seek
things
and
who
build
bigger
barns
that's
the
threat
that's
the
fear
for us
not
to be
like
them
if
we
actually
focus
on
the
kingdom
and
stop
pursuing
things
and
ease
and
security
the
big
question
that
comes
in
our
mind
is
will
I
actually
be
happy
will
I
actually
survive
and to
this
Jesus
says
fear
not
little
flock
don't
be
afraid
to
stop
seeking
things
fear
not
or
if
you
go
forward
in
the
context
into
verse
33
the
thing
that
they
are
in
danger
of
fearing
is
giving
things
away
verse
33
fear
not
little
flock
sell
your
possessions
and
give
to
the
poor
so
if
you
go
backwards
a few
verses
the
fear
is
not
seeking
the
things
the
way
the
nations
do
and
if
you
go
forward
a few
verses
it's
not
fearing
giving
away
the
things
that
you
own
unlike
what
the
nations
do
seeking
the
kingdom
in
verse
31
includes
both
of
those
things
stopping
something
we stop
doing
and
something
we start
doing
we stop
focusing
on our
quest
on
things
and we
start
selling
what we
don't
need
and
turning
our
stockpile
of
resources
into
ministries
of
kingdom
bringing
love
that's
the
call
just
let
that
filter
down
for
a
moment
Jesus
knows
that
this
passage
as it
does
for me
and
frankly
as I
look on
your
faces
as it
does
for
you
strikes
fear
in our
very
hearts
he
knows
it
strikes
fear
in our
hearts
fear
not
fear
in our
hearts
fear
in us
that
God's
will
for us
for you
for me
might be
a lifestyle
for the
very one
that I'm
currently
striving to
pursue
right
now
right
now
and that
strikes fear
in your
heart
Jesus
knows
it's a
fearful
message
and so
he says
fear
not
little
flock
it is
your
father's
good
pleasure
to give
you
the
kingdom
to give
you
the
kingdom
the
pathway
to the
kingdom
is the
path
of
falling
in
love
with
Jesus
King
Jesus
treasuring
King
Jesus
trusting
our
heavenly
father
falling
out of
love
with
the
things
of
this
world
and
taking
on
a
wartime
lifestyle
that
maximizes
all
income
for the
cause
of
this
kingdom
and
he
says
fear
not
little
flock
he
knows
it's
a
tough
call
and
since
this
is
the
pathway
that
leads
to
the
kingdom
and
since
Jesus
says
our
father
will
give
us
the
kingdom
then
we
can
be
assured
of
his
goodness
his
provision
his
mercy
as
we
walk
that
path
therefore
do not
be
anxious
and
do
not
set
your
heart
on
what
you
will
eat
or
drink
or
wear
Jesus
is calling
us not
to waste
our life
to seek
first his
kingdom
to have
different
priorities
from the
non-Christian
world
to have
our security
tied up
in him
relationship
with him
not our
superannuation
not our
education
not our
inheritance
not our
job
not our
reputation
nothing
but the
gracious
provide
God
as we
seek
his
kingdom
and his
righteousness
we are
to pursue
relationship
with God
we are
to pursue
his
will
for our
lives
we are
to pursue
the evidence
of his
rule
in our
lives
we are
to pursue
God's
kingdom
it is to
pursue
his
righteousness
and as
we do
that
as we
pursue
righteousness
we will
never
lack
anything
we need
in order
to pursue
righteousness
he is
talking
here about
the very
basic
approach
to life
that we
have
are we
anxious
and lacking
trust
in God
constantly
trying to
gain
control
over the
things
that we
do not
have
control
over
as of
two months
ago
I thought
I had
control
over my
dual cab
Hilux
I really
did
and that
changed
in a
twinkling
of an
eye
do not
put your
trust
Jesus says
in this
passage
in the
things
where
moth
will
destroy
eat and
destroy
where
rust
will
destroy
where
thieves
will
break
in
and
steal
or
the
New
South
Wales
police
will
put
on
the
back
of
a
truck
do
not
trust
in
those
things
he says
we trust
in the
God
the
gracious
provider
and
concentrate
our
lives
on
God
honoring
relationships
by
pursuing
righteousness
and
serving
others
with
our
resources
the
two
things
that
tell
us
the
answers
to
that
question
whether
or not
I
am
pursuing
kingdom
mindedness
kingdom
mindedness
is
my
heart
and
my
wallet
verse
34
for
where
your
treasure
is
there
your
heart
will
be
also
our
heart
tells
us
if
we
are
anxious
and
our
wallet
tells
us
if
we
are
generous
and
both
tell
us
whether
we
treasure
Jesus
more
than
anything
else
and
value
what
he
values
regard
important
what
he
regards
as
important
and
both
of
them
tell
us
whether
we
got
the
price
tag
moment
right
and
we
actually
treasure
Jesus
more
than
anything
want
to
remember