Luke 21:34 KJV
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
The context is, of course, the imminent and surprising return of Jesus Christ. His coming will be in such a manner that the greatest number of people on the earth will be caught unprepared. In this passage Jesus lists three things that can so overcharge our hearts that we would be caught unawares
Surfeiting -It means an illness due to overindulgence either to food or alcohol. Americans may be the guiltiest of anyone in the world for this. The medical community tells us that the leading causes of death and serious illness in the United States are almost all caused by our habits of eating.
Drunkenness -
Means just exactly what it sounds like.
Cares of this life-
Here is the surprising one and the one I focused my attention on this morning. Jesus lumped the cares of this life in with such obvious evils as surfeiting and drunkenness. Things like,
Paying the bills
Making a living
Raising our children
Carry with them the same spiritual risk as does obviously sinfulness if we allow them to so preoccupy or minds as to not seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The best of intentions can leave a man spiritually destitute if they are only intentions pertaining to this life.
Our attention needs to be solely upon the things of the eternal life. Our efforts in this life need to be efforts to prepare ourselves and others for the life that we will all live when this life is done. The best and most fulfilling life on earth is a life lived for the life in heaven.
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
The context is, of course, the imminent and surprising return of Jesus Christ. His coming will be in such a manner that the greatest number of people on the earth will be caught unprepared. In this passage Jesus lists three things that can so overcharge our hearts that we would be caught unawares
Surfeiting -It means an illness due to overindulgence either to food or alcohol. Americans may be the guiltiest of anyone in the world for this. The medical community tells us that the leading causes of death and serious illness in the United States are almost all caused by our habits of eating.
Drunkenness -
Means just exactly what it sounds like.
Cares of this life-
Here is the surprising one and the one I focused my attention on this morning. Jesus lumped the cares of this life in with such obvious evils as surfeiting and drunkenness. Things like,
Paying the bills
Making a living
Raising our children
Carry with them the same spiritual risk as does obviously sinfulness if we allow them to so preoccupy or minds as to not seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The best of intentions can leave a man spiritually destitute if they are only intentions pertaining to this life.
Our attention needs to be solely upon the things of the eternal life. Our efforts in this life need to be efforts to prepare ourselves and others for the life that we will all live when this life is done. The best and most fulfilling life on earth is a life lived for the life in heaven.
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