I Want More

Introduction

What do you want more of? The answer to the question probably has something to do with the age of the person. The busy person says more time. The unhealthy person says more health. The lonely person says more relationship. The political person says more power. How would you answer that question?

Leo Tolstoy in his story “How Much Land Does a Man Need?” writes about a successful peasant farmer who was not satisfied with his lot. He wanted more of everything. One day he received a novel offer. For 1000 rubles, he could buy all the land he could walk around in a day. The only catch in the deal was that he had to be back at his starting point by sundown. Early the next morning he started out walking at a fast pace. By midday he was very tired, but he kept going, covering more and more ground. Well into the afternoon he realized that his greed had taken him far from the starting point. He quickened his pace and as the sun began to sink low in the sky, he began to run, knowing that if he did not make it back by sundown the opportunity to become an even bigger landholder would be lost. As the sun began to sink below the horizon he came within sight of the finish line. Gasping for breath, his heart pounding, he called upon every bit of strength left in his body and staggered across the line just before the sun disappeared. He immediately collapsed, blood streaming from his mouth. In a few minutes he was dead. Afterwards, his servants dug a grave. It was not much over six feet long and three feet wide.

What do you want more of? Allow for just a moment for the answer to be God. I want more of God. I want to know him more. I want more faith. I want more confidence in him. I want God to have a greater hold on my heart. I want to know God as I have never known him before. For just a moment allow that to be your answer and let’s put things into perspective.

The Text

Chapter 12 invites the reader to make a decision about what is believed. The dilemma is presented simply. There are the things of this world. There is fear about physical health, political power, possessions — how do we maintain our comfort? How do we keep bad things from happening? On the other hand, is God. God watches. God is concerned. God provides. One can get wrapped up in controlling things or one can trust God to handle things. It seems easy.

Getting wrapped up in controlling things brings fear. Trusting God diminishes fear. Someone wants Jesus to arbitrate a dispute. The parents have died. An inheritance goes to the firstborn son. This man wants Jesus to force his older brother to give him part of the inheritance. Jesus tells the man he has a problem — it is greed. He’s all wrapped up in getting something. It isn’t his. We can argue that the older brother is being unjust. But he isn’t. The law allowed the first born to receive the inheritance. He could do with it as he wished.

The younger sibling is wanting something. It isn’t fair he says. Jesus says you have a bigger problem than fairness. You have a greedy heart. Quit worrying about getting more and learn how to be rich with what God has already given to you. Jesus begins to unfold truth in verses 22 and following. There is more to life than food and clothing. What really matters is one’s relationship with God. Consider the ravens. Ravens are unclean birds. Yet, God cares for them. Birds are completely free from anxiety. Surely he will care for those who belong to him. Flowers grow. They are free from anxiety. Their beauty is a testimony to God’s care.

We cannot add time to the length of our lives through worry. There is no need to worry. Those who belong to God have a relationship with the Creator. Instead of pursuing things, pursue God’s kingdom. God is concerned about making sure that those who follow him have food and clothing. Look around. He cares for the birds and the flowers. We are more significant than these. If he cares about the lesser things then he will care about the greater things.

The Point

Let’s focus on verse 32. There are two things that Jesus says which are remarkable. First, he calls his hearers “little flock.” This phrase suggests that those who seek God’s kingdom are dependent upon God. This sheep image suggests that God is the shepherd. The shepherd is the one who will care for his sheep. Do not forget the connection. We are his sheep and he is the shepherd. But the phrase also suggests risk. Sheep are vulnerable at times. They are not independent. They are dependent. To be dependent means that one relinquishes control and outcome. To be dependent means that we trust the one who is the Shepherd. Pursuing more illustrates our attempt to control. But if we are the flock then the Shepherd provides and we are dependent on him.

Second, Jesus tells us that it pleases God to provide. Literally, it is God’s good pleasure to make us partners with him in the kingdom. Why exchange pursuing things when you have been made partners with God in his kingdom? God wants to do that for us. This is the God that we love and serve. He delights in having his children with him. The result is: don’t be afraid. No fear. No worry. No anxiety. We share in the kingdom. Why worry about the small stuff?

The price of gas may go up. The house we live in may not have the same value now as when we bought it ten years ago. We may not be sure about a lot of things, but we can be sure of this — those who trust God do not need to worry about things.

Jesus says in verses 33–34 that loyalty goes along with what one values. If we value people then we work to meet needs; if we value self then we collect possessions. What do you value?

In 1991 a book entitled “The Day America Told the Truth” was published. It was a book seeking to reveal America’s view of morals, ethics, and religious practices. Surveys were conducted and people were asked to tell the truth about how they thought and acted. One survey asked the question “What would you do for 10 million dollars?” Two-thirds of respondents chose one or more of the following: would abandon their entire family (25%), would abandon their church (25%), would become prostitutes for a week or more (23%), would give up their American citizenships (16%), would leave their spouses (16%), would withhold testimony and let a murderer go free (10%), would kill a stranger (7%), and would put their children up for adoption (3%).

The interesting part of this book was that 90% of all respondents said they believed in God. Saying one believes in God and living consistently with that profession are two different things.

What do you value? What do you want more of? Do you want more of God or things? Dependence or control? Faith or anxiety?

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