"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³³Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." —Luke 12:32-34
The insurance industry has become a massive part of the world’s economy. Health insurance. Life insurance. Home and auto insurance. We dutifully pay our premiums with the hope of making our earthly lives and possessions secure from harm or loss. Certainly, there is a measure of wisdom in doing so. Nevertheless, when considered in the light of eternity, the security such costly insurance provides is woefully limited in its scope. It may temporarily offset the expense of a medical procedure or replacing a damaged vehicle. However, the moment an individual steps into eternity, earthly insurance cannot make a single provision for the one who dies.
How much would you pay to have complete security for all of your needs forever? In these verses, Jesus proclaims a promise infinitely greater than any insurance plan you could ever buy. He declares that it is the Father’s good pleasure to freely provide His own kingdom for the eternal provision and enjoyment of His people. Through faith in Christ, God welcomes us into His kingdom, and the King’s everlasting rule and care begins even now.
In making this promise, Jesus addresses His disciples as a “little flock.” The image is of a flock of sheep small enough that the shepherd knows each one personally and intimately. He knows their names. He knows their personalities. He knows what each one is facing. And it is not difficult for Him to shepherd them and provide for them according to their needs. More than this, it is His pleasure to care for this flock. It brings Him great joy to do so. God’s people don’t have to badger Him until He reluctantly acquiesces to their miserable requests for help. He delights to watch over them and to give them His own presence and provision.
What does He ask in return? “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy.” In other words, He asks that we hold loosely to His earthly provisions now, so that through us he might extend His gracious provision to others, and in the process, increase our own joy for eternity. Notice, this is not a payment that secures God’s provision. It is an expression of trust in the provision He has freely promised and provided according to His abundant grace.
Living this way is not easy, because our hearts are so powerfully drawn to the things of this world. Should I prioritize expensive vacations or generously support the ministries of my church? Should I buy a luxury vehicle (along with the costly insurance it demands) or invest more freely in caring for the genuine needs of those around me? Should I pad my retirement account or give that money to missions–or better yet, sell my home and go to the mission field myself! These decisions require a change of heart that treasures Christ and His eternal promises more than the immediate pleasures of this life. And yet, when we experience this change of heart through the gospel, there simply could be no better “win-win” situation for all involved. We receive a treasure that will never fail, even as others have their genuine needs met, and God is glorified as the all-sufficient Provider.
The gospel promises of Christ are unmatched. So fear not, little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!
For Reflection
What things in this life is your heart drawn to in order to feel secure?
Have you experienced what Jesus said, that "it is more blessed to give than to receive"?
Ask the Lord to enlarge your heart toward others out of the overflow of His care for you.
John Kimbell is Pastor of Preaching at Clifton Baptist Church in Louisville, KY, where he has been serving since 2008. He completed his M.Div. and Ph.D. at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. John was introduced to regular Scripture memory through the Fighter Verses memory program at Bethlehem Baptist Church while attending college in Minnesota. John is married to Sarah and they have six children.