PG-13, II

Daily Reading: Luke 12

Scripture Focus: But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ (Luke 12.20)

Devotional Thought: Sometimes movies are rated PG-13 because of their "Language." This episode in the life of Jesus is another instance of PG-13, but this time it is due to "Language." Jesus used language that we wouldn't let our children use...

At one point in his ministry, Jesus had told his disciples that to call someone a fool (moros) was as bad as murder (Matthew 5.22). What in the world, then, would prompt God to call the man in this parable a fool (aphrenos)?

As indicated above, what seems to be the same word in our English translation is actually two different words in the original Greek. The word Jesus used in Matthew 5, was actually a derogatory term that conveyed the idea of being "completely senseless, not capable of thought." The word used in Luke 12, however, carries a different meaning: "failing to consider the larger picture." This is exactly why God called him "foolish":

• God was nowhere in this man's plans. In considering his future, his only perspective was this world: "I have nowhere to store my crops... I will tear down my barns and build larger ones."

• He did not think about the immortality of his soul. Eternity was the last thing on his mind: "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years."

• His perspective was limited to himself. He cared not one whit for the needs of others: "I will store all my grain and my goods... Relax, eat, drink, be merry."

This Christmas season, let us enlarge our perspectives to include God, eternity, and others around us. Then PG-13 language won't be needed to describe us!

Prayer: Father, I do not wish to act in foolish ways. Help me to keep eternal things in mind as I consider how to use my temporal possessions. Help me to worship, to invest in heaven, and to share with others. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. (Psalms 139:1-6)