Cost of Living - Day 03
Day 03 - Wednesday, January 10
Read Luke 12:13-21
Highlight
This passage opens with a man asking Jesus to render a judgment between him and his brother. This was a common practice at the time - Jewish rabbis (teachers of the law) would make judgments as they traveled throughout Israel. Jesus refuses, but it isn’t because he doesn’t have a right to pass judgment. Rather, he puts his focus on an area that only He would be able to judge: the man’s motivations. Jesus knows that the man is motivated by greed, so he pivots to a parable about being motivated by earthly possessions and pleasures.
Jesus quotes a hedonistic motto that would have been familiar to his first century audience: ‘eat, drink, and be merry.’ But Jesus calls the man who believes this a ‘fool,’ which is not a term Jesus uses lightly. The Old Testament uses the term fool in a very specific way. An example is found in Psalm 14:1, which says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” By this, it doesn’t mean that the fool is literally an atheist, but rather that through his motivations and actions He is a practical atheist: the fool lives as if there is no God. This is the sense in which Jesus uses the term ‘fool’ in this parable.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
Read Luke 12:13-21
Highlight
This passage opens with a man asking Jesus to render a judgment between him and his brother. This was a common practice at the time - Jewish rabbis (teachers of the law) would make judgments as they traveled throughout Israel. Jesus refuses, but it isn’t because he doesn’t have a right to pass judgment. Rather, he puts his focus on an area that only He would be able to judge: the man’s motivations. Jesus knows that the man is motivated by greed, so he pivots to a parable about being motivated by earthly possessions and pleasures.
Jesus quotes a hedonistic motto that would have been familiar to his first century audience: ‘eat, drink, and be merry.’ But Jesus calls the man who believes this a ‘fool,’ which is not a term Jesus uses lightly. The Old Testament uses the term fool in a very specific way. An example is found in Psalm 14:1, which says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” By this, it doesn’t mean that the fool is literally an atheist, but rather that through his motivations and actions He is a practical atheist: the fool lives as if there is no God. This is the sense in which Jesus uses the term ‘fool’ in this parable.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
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