Luke 12:31-35
Luke 12:31 (KJB)
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all
these things shall be added unto you.
Seek - Denotes an earnest, diligent, tenacious search for something
(Rom 14:17 KJV) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. The Lord Jesus now
sums up the entire section that in contrast to the godless who only look for and
crave material things, the true believer is to look diligently for the Kingdom
of God which is our food, raiment, and drink.
Food - (John 4:34 KJV) Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of
him that sent me, and to finish his work. We too must do the will of God
who has sent us to do some form of ministry and not to be slothful in doing it
so we can complete it in the time He has given us.
Raiment - (Isa 61:3 KJV) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give
unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise
for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. We must diligently
seek the robe of Christ’s righteousness to be imputed to the believer upon
salvation.
Drink - (1 Cor 10:4 KJV) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for
they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Just as the Israelites in the desert drank from the rock to quench their thirst
and save their lives from death. The true believer spiritually drinks from the
rock of our salvation to eternally save our lives from the second death. (Psa
18:46 KJV) The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my
salvation be exalted. Then Jesus states that all the things that the Gentiles
crave and live their lives for will be added unto us. In other words, there will
be no toiling and anxiety because God will supply the very physical needs that
we have.
Luke 12:32 (KJB)
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the
kingdom.
Jesus then calls His disciples “little flock.” This is because they are a small
flock and down through the ages Christians will always be a minority in this
world, just as we are today. He commands them not to fear because He knows that
they are totally under the care of God. Not only did Jesus tell the disciples
that they need not be anxious for anything, here He tells them plain out that
God delights in giving them the Kingdom. (Rom 14:17 KJV) For the kingdom of
God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy
Ghost. Three of the distinctions of God’s Kingdom is that the believers are
made righteous through the shed blood of Christ, then they have peace with God
through that shed blood, the war is over, and then we have joy in the Holy Ghost
through the shed blood. Joy is the Christian attribute which remains permanent
long after happiness fades. Joy is present even under persecution. Then the
Kingdom of God is eternal and that means no end. When we look at these things,
how could we compare a new car or new boat to them?
Luke 12:33 (KJB)
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.
Overall in this verse it is teaching us not to depend upon the wealth systems of
this world. First, we are to sell what we have, that is, if we have an
overabundance of material goods, then we need to sell them and give the money to
send forth the Gospel. If we do not have an abundance of material goods, we sell
what we have and that would be the talents and gifts the Lord gave us. What I
mean by that is to use the talents and gifts for the service of the Lord and by
doing that we would be giving alms. The bags which we put our heavenly treasures
in is found in the Kingdom of God, which is in the heavens. In other words,
whenever we give to God’s work to advance the Kingdom of God, we are placing our
treasures in the heavens. That treasure is kept for eternity in the heavens
because Heaven does not fail. On earth, the safekeeping will fail no matter how
many burglar alarms are used. The wealth system is subject to changes in value
overnight. No thief can ever take away money which has been given to the work of
God because there will be no thievery in Heaven. In ancient times, money was
kept in silver and gold coins and they were subjected to weather conditions. The
bronze and copper coins would also be subject to weather and could rust if not
used regularly, making their value as nothing. Giving to the Lord’s work assures
every donation to remain intact for eternity.
Luke 12:34 (KJB)
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
If you are unsaved and your focus is on this earth, it will be a fleeting
investment and you will die in your sins. If you are truly saved and your focus
is on Heaven and bringing the Gospel here on earth, then you will live in
eternal bliss forevermore. It is a question of which direction your heart is
focused on.
Luke 12:35 (KJB)
Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
In ancient times, men wore long flowing robes and if they were doing some kind
of work, they would literally have to tuck the robes into the belt which went
around their waist and then they would be ready for both work and the speed of
that work. Then in the second part of this verse the disciples are told to keep
their lights burning. A light is to guide one in the dark and if they are to
keep them burning, then that means they will be ready when they have to travel
for some reason or for those who work at night. This verse is also teaching the
Christian to always be prepared.