Seeking Worldly Things Brings Sorrow
An all-creatures Bible Message

Seeking Worldly Things Brings Sorrow
 
A Sermon Delivered to
The Compassion Internet Church
 
6 March 2016
 
Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor

Scripture References

Luke 15:11-32

Seeking worldly things brings sorrow, because we are to seek heavenly things which bring life everlasting.
 
We are to separate ourselves from the ways of this world, which includes seeking worldly things that are not required to keep us alive and heathy, or which bring pain, suffering, and death to any other living being (human or animal).
 
We are not to be seeking any foods that come from animals, for by buying and eating any animal products, we are contributing to the corruption of this world and causing immense suffering, all of which is not in the heavenly will of God.
 
Likewise, we are not to seek the vanity of wearing any animal skins or fur, for there are plenty of non-animal product clothing and accessories to fill our needs and keep us warm and comfortable.
 
To cause any animal to suffer and die for someone’s lust and vanity shows that person’s hardness of heart, and that they have turned their back on God’s heavenly will.
 
As we look at Luke 15:11-32, let’s see how many of the examples in this parable point to people seeking worldly things.

11. And He said, "A certain man had two sons;
 
12. and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' And he divided his wealth between them.

The younger son is seeking worldly things, and the father goes along with it, but we are not told why the father did this.

13. "And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.

The younger son has no regard for his father’s wealth which would have provided him with all his needs; instead he spent it all on worldly things.

14. "Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be in need.

This is a perfect example of how seeking worldly things brings sorrow, for there in no joy in being in need and having no way out.

15. "And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

As we mentioned above, the raising and killing of animals for food is a worldly act that is not in the creation or heavenly will of God.
 
Furthermore, considering that Jesus is telling this parable to fellow Jews, it is obvious that the father and sons were Jewish, and Jews did not raise or eat pigs, for they were considered unclean.
 
And since we are told that the younger son had to feed pigs, it shows the extent of the sorrow that comes from seeking worldly things.

16. "And he was longing to fill his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.

Some people don’t learn to seek God’s heavenly will in their lives until they have fallen into the depths of despair.

17. "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!
 
18. 'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;
 
19. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men." ' 

This is the first sign of repentance for this son’s seeking worldly things.
 
But how much better it would be if we came to our senses before ever really seeking worldly things, which we believe is one of the points that Jesus is trying to express to the people through this parable.

20. "And he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him, and kissed him.

The father forgave his younger son, but let’s see how he did it.
 
Remember that Jesus is telling this story to worldly people and using worldly examples to help the people see what God wants them to be like.

21. "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

We can see that the younger son is still in a state of repentance, but the father’s way of forgiving is through worldly things, and seeking worldly things brings sorrow.

22. "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;
 
23. and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

How can anyone living in the heavenly will of God ever eat the suffered remains of a once living baby and be merry?
 
The simple answer is they can’t.
 
A true child of God would be repulsed by anyone wanting to kill a baby animal for them, or any animal for them.
 
Even the younger son in all his misery only thought about eating plant foods (pods and bread).

24. for this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' And they began to be merry.

God may look upon truly repentant sinners with the same kind of compassion, or even greater, and welcome them into heaven, but never with worldly things as this earthly father is doing.
 
But was everyone in the family merry?

25. "Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
 
26. "And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things might be.
 
27. "And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.'

Is the older brother jealous or just curious?
 
Let’s see.

28. "But he became angry, and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began entreating him.
 
29. "But he answered and said to his father, 'Look! For so many years I have been serving you, and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a kid, that I might be merry with my friends;

This son is also seeking worldly things, and believes that he can be merry over the exploited and murdered remains of an innocent animal.
 
This is strictly worldly thinking, and not in the heavenly will of God.

30. but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with harlots, you killed the fattened calf for him.'

This is the problem with the whole world, even to this very day.
 
Most of the people in the world are seeking worldly things that bring sorrow and death.

31. "And he said to him, 'My child, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.

This is also what most people forget about God; if we seek God with all our heart and soul we will inherit heaven and the glory it has in store for us.
 
The older son was following the will of his earthly father, but didn’t trust him enough to understand what he already had, and still has.
 
So, by being jealous of worldly things, he was also seeking worldly things, and forgetting that this was exactly what brought his younger brother to ruin.

32. 'But we had to be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.' "
NASB

In other words, the younger brother has repented of his worldly ways, and has been forgiven by his father, just as our heavenly Father will forgive us, but this does not mean that the material worldly things that we may have lost will be restored.
 
This only means that our souls and spirits have been saved from sorrow and destruction.
 
Seeking worldly things brings sorrow and destruction.
 
Seeking the heavenly will of God in our lives brings everlasting life in heaven.
 
Amen.

Return to: Sermons Archive