Jump Start # 1687

Luke 12:15 Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”

Our Jump Starts this week have suddenly turned into a series about warnings. On Monday, we wrote about “avoiding.” Yesterday, it was “fleeing.” Today, we turn our attention to “Beware.” In our verse, the Lord is warning the disciples about greed. Beware of greed. In one passage in Philippines, Paul uses the word “Beware” three times. There he says, beware of dogs, evil workers and false circumcision. Beware. This word carries the idea of being alert, attentive and watchful.

In driving through parts of Tennessee, you will come across road signs that say, “Beware of falling rocks.” My wife and I were driving in Arizona a few years ago. The road sign said, “Beware of elk.” The only elk in Indiana are in the zoo. I wanted to see one. Soon, another sign said, “Beware of deer.” That was followed with, “Beware of falling rocks.” I asked my wife if she could watch the road, because I was watching for all those other things.

We don’t like warnings. In my area, it’s not uncommon in the spring to have the weatherman interrupt a TV show with storm warnings. Sometimes, when the storms are close, the tornado sirens send out a loud and unpleasant sound. We don’t like to be driving and a warning light comes on our dashboard. And, most do not like sermons that warn. Given the choice, most people like to hear nice sermons on Heaven. But warnings are necessary.

Here are a few obvious things you know:

1. Warnings keep us safe. They are often unpleasant, bothersome and disruptive to what we want to do, but without the warning, we could be injured in a storm or our car could run out of gas. God’s warnings do just the same. They keep us safe. We may not understand the importance of the warning, but God does. He knows the trouble that we can get into. This is why we find verses such as: “Evil companions corrupt good morals.” God knows. Sometimes we think we know more than God. We think we don’t need those warnings. We are too smart for those things. It’s like the warnings on the side of a pack of cigarettes. I don’t know if those ever stopped people from smoking. The guy that wants to smoke will smoke. It’s beyond my understanding how folks can stand outside of a funeral home and smoke, especially when grandpa lies died inside because of lung cancer. Some will just ignore the warnings. When they do, they suffer.

2. Warnings may seem obvious, but they are necessary. I love the many warning labels on products. I don’t know if they are there to avoid lawsuits or because some dummy actually tried it and now the company is forced to warn others about not being so dumb. On a hair dryer, you’ll find a label warning not to use in the shower. Amazing new hairdo if you try it. Warning label on a chainsaw, not to sharpen while it’s running. Warning label on dog food, not to feed to children. And to think, most of these folks that would try these things are probably out driving. That’s scary! God’s warnings are the same. They are necessary. They are necessary for our spiritual growth, our relationship with Him and our wellbeing.

Our verse today is one example. Here, the Lord warns against greed. This warning follows a conversation that started with someone telling Jesus to instruct a family member to share the inheritance. Three things were wrong with this request. Jesus had not been talking about families, money or sharing. He interrupted Jesus. This was laying heavy upon this man’s heart. He couldn’t get any resolution, so he thought he’d use the Lord. The first problem is that he told Jesus what to do. “Tell my brother to share.” One doesn’t tell Jesus anything. Jesus is the Lord. He tells us. We might ask, but we don’t tell. Secondly, had Jesus gotten involved in this family squabble, His mission would have been sidetracked. Here would come someone else with another family problem. Then a neighbor with a property dispute. Then a dog owner with a problem. This person was over charged. This person borrowed but never returned. Do this, Jesus. Do that, Jesus. The entire work of the Lord would have been bogged down with these little disputes. Jesus came to save us from our sins, not to be a civil court judge. Thirdly, this man had a problem with greed. This is why Jesus issued the warning. Storm warning ahead. The way was not calm. Greed will eat you up, as it did this man. He wasn’t listening to Jesus. He was waiting for a moment to jump in and demand that Jesus settle things at home. Greed blinds us. We get thinking about wanting that car, that house, that golf club, that vacation…and before long, it’s all we think about, talk about, and dream about. We become obsessed. We won’t be happy until we get it. That’s greed. It leads you away from God. It consumes you.

3. Warnings are passed on to others. When there are storm warnings in our area, we tell all in the house. Parents will teach their children about warnings. They will show them the proper way to do things. They will point out the trouble of doing things in a dangerous way. Don’t we do the same spiritually? We warn others that the path that they are on won’t end in Heaven. We warn about attitudes and language. We try to help each other. It’s not because we are better, it’s because we don’t want others to be hurt.

Avoid…flee…beware. These are God’s warning lights on the dashboard of life. We need to pay attention to them. We need to see the good in heeding these warnings. We need to know that these warnings could save our lives, especially eternally.

Roger