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Trampled Or Treasured?
Jon Burgess1Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Luke 12:1
Jesus looked out at the thousands of people who had gathered to be ministered to and noticed their actions revealing their hearts. Instead of making room for each other they were pushing and shoving and trying to get to the front of the crowd. The hypocrisy of gathering to be healed by a Holy Man while wounding those around them was appalling. The interesting thing is that Jesus did not place the entirety of blame for this behavior on the crowd, but rather on their spiritual leaders. It's why upon seeing the trampling down of their fellow man he turns to his disciples and warns them to not follow their example of hypocrisy. This moment is proof that even in the middle of a massive move of god where miracles abound we can miss God's heart for the man next to us. Jesus goes on to contrast this cruelty towards the needs of others with how the Father cares for His chldren: Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yetGod feeds them. And how much more valuable then these" (Luke 12:24)! In other words, we wont trample others to get our needs met when we know we are treasured by The Father who meets all our needs!
Instead of pushing our way to the front we are called to push others to the front. Instead of living in an insecure panic that fails to notice the needs of others we are learning to treasure those around us! When we know are treasured by our Father God we will treasure our fellow man. When we feel trampled on by scarcity and sickness and we feel far from God fear will cause us trample on others in our desperate attempt to meet our own needs. Jesus goes on to contrast the hypocrisy of the leadership of the Pharisee with how He has called His disciples to lead:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Luke 12:32-34). John Maxwell says that everything rises and falls on leadership. Where the pastor goes there too goes the people. If I want New Hope to know they are treasured by the Father I must know that too! If I want New Hope to treasure others then I must do the same.
Lord, after watching the first Presidential debate prove the point of this passage today it would be easy for me to cross my arms in disgust and shake my head in shame. They were trampling all over each other in a desperate attempt to prove their leadership prowess. Yet, instead I need to heed the warning to beware the yeast of the Pharisees. Hypocrisy is easy to fall in to when when I'm not falling at Your feet. Give me Your heart for those around me. Let me minister out of Your generosity rather then my scarcity. Let me look into the eyes of the trampeled and show them they are truly treasured by their Heavenly Father! The true test of leadership in the Kingdom of God is servanthood. Servanthood is a sure-fire cure for hypocrisy!
