What’s in Your Barn?

A Series on the parables of Jesus
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Luke 12:13-34 

[During the first century, it was common for a rabbi to use parables when teaching their disciples. The parables of Jesus were stories that he told to illustrate spiritual truth using some element from everyday life. Jesus used seeds, fish, trees, bread - things people could easily relate to – for a “teachable moment”.]

 

Before being a grandpa, I never gave it much thought. But now that I have three grandchildren… I love it!

 

This past summer, we were together every Thursday having all kinds of fun. I called it - “Thursdays with Grandpa”. We went to the Air Force Museum; the pool; Olentangy Caverns; a baseball game. On many days, we ended with a special time at Wendy’s by getting a frosty. It was a great summer of memories.

 

My role as Grandpa defined me on those days. Of course, there are lots of ways that you can be defined. Jesus told a parable about a man who defined himself by his possessions – the parable of the rich fool.

 

It was about a wealthy farmer who had such an abundant crop that his barns couldn’t hold it all. So, he decided to tear down his existing barns and build bigger ones. After that, he planned to enjoy the fruits of his labor and “eat, drink and be merry”. There was one problem though, because that very night he died.

 

²⁰ “Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’

²¹ “That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.”    MSG

 

The Message opens up the bigger picture of this parable. It’s not just about greed or covetousness or being defined by your possessions. It’s about losing sight of what is truly important by taking your eyes off Jesus. When that happens, we become control oriented, not God oriented; self-centered, not God-centered.

 

²⁹ And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰ For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.    NIV

 

He calls us to “seek his kingdom”. To seek what is eternal. Therefore, we need to ask ourselves, what do I invest my life into? How do I spend my time, treasure and talent? Is it to fill my barn with Self or with God?

 

³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. NIV

 

*****

¹⁵ Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

                                                                                                Matthew 11 NLT

 

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Firm a Foundation

A Series on the parables of Jesus
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Matthew 7:13-29 

[During the first century, it was common for a rabbi to use parables when teaching their disciples. The parables of Jesus were stories that he told to illustrate spiritual truth using some element from everyday life. Jesus used seeds, fish, trees, bread - things people could easily relate to – for a “teachable moment”.]

  

In 1978, we bought a house that was literally slanted. During the viewing, our realtor tried to convince us that it wasn’t. But, when my wife laid a marble on the floor, and it rolled from one end of the house to the other… he couldn’t deny it.

 

Otherwise, it was a beautiful house with oak trim everywhere, built-in cabinets and a bay window. Unfortunately, it was built on a landfill, and the foundation was bad. There were huge cracks in the basement walls.

 

This passage in Matthew comes at the end of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Like any good preacher, he saved the punch line for the end of his sermon. To start with, he gave his listeners this warning.

 

^13-14 “Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God! —is vigorous and requires total attention.         MSG

 

The ESV translates this as “the gate is wide that leads to destruction” and “the gate is narrow that leads to life”. Those gates are evident with every decision we make and every action we take. We daily choose between life and destruction.

 

To this point, Jesus closed his sermon with the parable of the wise and foolish builders, a parable about building on a solid foundation.

 

^24-25 “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.       MSG

 

Long after we sold our house, it was condemned by the city and demolished. In this parable, Jesus made the assumption that rain, floods and winds - the storms of life - will happen. But he also taught that if you build your house - your life - on the Rock, then you will withstand the storms of life.

 

It may not be pretty. In fact, it may very messy. But in the end, Jesus is always faithful, and his Word is eternal. How firm a foundation is not a question, but a statement.

 

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!

What more can be said than to you God hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

 

***

¹⁵ Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

                                                                                                Matthew 11 NLT

 

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams

 

 

 

Miracle at Sea

A Series on the parables of Jesus
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Matthew 24:36-51 

[During the first century, it was common for a rabbi to use parables when teaching their disciples. The parables of Jesus were stories that he told to illustrate spiritual truth using some element from everyday life. Jesus used seeds, fish, trees, bread - things people could easily relate to – for a “teachable moment”.]

  

“In 1941, before America was at war with Germany, a German raider sank the Egyptian liner Zamzam in the South Atlantic. On board of the vessel were more than 120 American missionaries, among them Mrs. Lillian Danielson and her six children.” - From the book “Miracle at Sea”

 

This book is written by Eleanor Anderson, the oldest daughter of Lillian. In it, the author describes her mother as a woman “whose calm faith and quiet common sense kept her six children alive during the harrowing thirty days aboard the Dresden, a German prison ship”.

 

In Matthew 24, Jesus prophesied that the temple would be destroyed. The disciples privately asked him “when will this happen”. His answer? It’s a secret. Only the Father knows.

 

Jesus expanded on this by reminding them about Noah.

 

³⁷ “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. ³⁸ In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat.”  

Jesus then said to his disciples: ⁴² “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.”                NLT

 

Instead of focusing on when future events would come to pass, Jesus focused on how to live in the moment. With this in mind, he told his disciples the parable of the faithful servant.

 

⁴⁵ “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. ⁴⁷ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.                        NIV

 

By all accounts, Lillian Danielson was an amazing woman, a truly faithful servant. She had no idea what was about to happen to her and her six young children. But when it did, she was ready. 

She remained faithful to Jesus through it all - the attack, being in the open waters of the Atlantic, surviving without proper nourishment and protecting her children.

The truth is, we’re all called to be faithful, even when life is difficult. When you have a still born; when you’re struggling in your marriage; when your world seems to be crumbling around you; when it doesn’t seem like God is with you – be faithful.

 

***

¹⁵ Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

                                                                                                Matthew 11 NLT

 

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams

  

Two of the missionaries that were aboard the Zamzam during the attack were Rev. Robert Williams and his wife Lenora. They were my uncle and aunt who were going to Africa for the very first time with the Grace Brethren Church. They eventually made it and served for thirty-five years as “faithful servants”.

 

 

 

The $12.6 Million Card

A Series on the parables of Jesus
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Matthew 13:44-46 

[During the first century, it was common for a rabbi to use parables when teaching their disciples. The parables of Jesus were stories that he told to illustrate spiritual truth using some element from everyday life. Jesus used seeds, fish, trees, bread - things people could easily relate to – for a “teachable moment”.]

  

If you haven’t heard, a 1952 Mickey Mantle Topps baseball card recently sold for $12.6 million!

 

In the 60’s, I was an avid baseball card collector. There was always a high level of excitement as I would open a pack to see who I got; if it was a card that I needed; if there was a player that I really liked. If nothing else, I got to chew the cardboard like stick of Bazooka bubble gum that came with it.

 

In 1961, I actually collected the complete set of Topps cards; all 587! This included Al Kaline (I was a Tiger’s fan), Willie Mays, Roger Maris, Roberto Clemente, Whitey Ford, Sandy Koufax, Hank Aaron, Stan Musial and yes… Mickey Mantle!

 

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.       NIV

 

According to my NIV Study Bible, “These two parables teach the same truth: The kingdom is of such great value that one should be willing to give up all one has in order to gain it.”

 

As an eleven-year-old boy, I took this idea to heart. I collected those baseball cards as if I was looking for “treasure hidden in a field” or “a pearl of great value”.  I was obsessed with getting all 587 cards in the set… no matter what the cost. I even ended up with tons of duplicate cards. But it was all worth it!

 

But these parables raise a question... why. Why did Jesus come to tell us about the kingdom of heaven? Why is the kingdom of heaven “worth it”?

 

The answer is in a Southern folk hymn from the early 1800’s titled, “What Wondrous Love is This”. It tells the story of just how much Jesus loves us.

 

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul.

 

To God and to the Lamb, who is the great I AM,
while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing.

 

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing his love for me,
and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on.

 

It’s not too late for you to start “collecting cards” so that you might find “treasure hidden in a field” or “a pearl of great value”.  The kingdom of heaven is offered because of his wondrous love. It’s worth much, much more than $12.6 million.

 

***

¹⁵ Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

                                                                                                Matthew 11 NLT

 

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams

 

 

If you would like to listen to “What Wondrous Love is This”, the link is found below.

 What Wondrous Love is This