Luke 12:13-21, Addendum on Self-Control (4)

6)    Self-control and companionship (seeking popularity).

a)    Prov. 25:17: Make your visits to the neighbors count.  Don’t overdo it!

b)    1 Cor. 15:33: Believe this: bad company is a stronger influence than our good ethics.  We eventually wear thin. 

c)    James 4:4: If you choose friendship with the world (i.e. those whose course of life is after the principles of this sinful world), you have chosen to be the enemy of God.  There is no thought of middle ground here.  One or the other.

d)    Prov. 18:24: Better to emphasize a few close friends than many friends.

e)    Prov. 27:6,9,17:

i)      Real friendship strengthens both friends.

ii)   True friends can reprove with effectiveness.

iii)            True friends bless each other with good advice.

f)     Here are some illustrations: Gen. 28:1-9 (Esau’s issue was the choice of his wives); 1 Sam. 18:1-4 (David and Jonathan).

7)    Self-control and provision (the desire to be rich; extravagance).

a)    Prov. 28:22: Stinginess leads to all types of poverty.  Meditate on that!

b)    Prov. 3:9-10:

i)      Give to God FIRST. 

ii)   Remember the adage: you can’t outgive God.

c)    1 Tim. 6:5-10:

i)      Godly people are content, not greedy.  Greed is not the way to riches.

ii)   God promises to meet our needs (as in necessities, not luxuries).

iii)            My greed will actually be a trap and will enslave me.

d)    Matt. 6:19-21:

i)      Put money in good places.  It will help to lead the heart.  But don’t give for your benefit; that’s selfish.  Give for God’s glory and the benefit of others.

ii)   Give yourself to God and His purpose; the rest will handle itself.

e)    Today’s passage (Lk. 12:13-21) is a good illustration.

8)    Self-control and stewardship.  This is related to the previous topic but I think emphasizes a separate area of our lives.

a)    Prov. 20:14: Always look for bargains.  Interesting, isn’t it, that there is no commentary on this.  This is what a wise buyer does: he seeks a better price.

b)    Prov. 27:23-24: Take watchful care of what you have.  And by the way, I always applied this to my calling as a pastor, the shepherd of the flock of God. 

c)   Two illustrations: again, from the previous topic, the foolish rich man who put his trust in riches (Lk. 12:13-21) and Achan (Joshua 7) who stole to meet what he considered to be his needs.