你的計劃是否夠長遠？
路加福音十二章15至31節
15於是對眾人說：你們要謹慎自守，免去一切的貪心，因為人的生命不在乎家道豐富。
16就用比喻對他們說：有一個財主田產豐盛；
17自己心裡思想說：我的出產沒有地方收藏，怎麼辦呢？
18又說：我要這麼辦：要把我的倉房拆了，另蓋更大的，在那裡好收藏我一切的糧食和財物，
19然後要對我的靈魂說：靈魂哪，你有許多財物積存，可作多年的費用，只管安安逸逸的吃喝快樂罷！
20神卻對他說：無知的人哪，今夜必要你的靈魂；你所預備的要歸誰呢？
21凡為自己積財，在神面前卻不富足的，也是這樣。
22耶穌又對門徒說：所以我告訴你們，不要為生命憂慮吃甚麼，為身體憂慮穿甚麼；
23因為生命勝於飲食，身體勝於衣裳。
24你想烏鴉，也不種也不收，又沒有倉又沒有庫，神尚且養活他。你們比飛鳥是何等的貴重呢！
25你們那一個能用思慮使壽數多加一刻呢（或作：使身量多加一肘呢）？
26這最小的事，你們尚且不能作，為甚麼還憂慮其餘的事呢？
27你想百合花怎麼長起來；他也不勞苦，也不紡線。然而我告訴你們，就是所羅門極榮華的時候，他所穿戴的，還不如這花一朵呢！
28你們這小信的人哪，野地裡的草今天還在，明天就丟在爐裡，神還給他這樣的妝飾，何況你們呢！
29你們不要求吃甚麼，喝甚麼，也不要罣心；
30這都是外邦人所求的。你們必須用這些東西，你們的父是知道的。
31你們只要求他的國，這些東西就必加給你們了。
信息分享
耶穌的回應，一方面拒絕介入他們兄弟的糾紛，另一方面，又直接向群眾指出，這人要處理的真正問題，不是如何分配家產，而是他那顆渴求物慾的心。為了說明這點，耶穌便講了一個故事。
有一位財主，以為自己已為未來作好了精心的安排，還計劃蓋一個更大的倉房，來收藏糧食和財物，此後，便可無憂無慮地享福。在世人眼中，他必然是一個精明而有遠見的成功人仕；可是在神的眼中，他卻忽略了一件最要的事情──為他的永生作好準備。
為未來計劃，是正確和值得推許的，但問題卻在於我們的計劃是否夠長遠。我們若只想到今生，而從來不思想來世，那麼，我們可能會在毫無準備之下，赫然發現自己快要面對來世的問題。
來生的問題，只有一個答案；可是，我們若一直忽略自己其實急需救恩，這個問題將永無出路。出路只有一條：藉著相信耶穌基督，得著神的救恩，如此，我們便獲得保證，可得享永生。
耶穌接著還勸勉眾人，我們在生活上所需用的一切，神是知道的；我們只需信靠神的供應，神必會把我們所需用的賜給我們。
神不單看顧我們今生的生活，而且還讓我們得享永生，神對我們實在是無微不至！神已經為我們準備了一切，你有沒有留意呢？抑或只懂得努力為自己籌算準備？此刻，或許是時候檢視你的計劃是否真的夠長遠呢！
ARE YOU PLANNING FAR ENOUGH AHEAD?
Luke 12: 15 - 31
15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.
17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’
18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’
20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.
23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?
25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?
29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.
30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.
31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
Message
Jesus refused to be drawn into this family quarrel, but pointed out the man's real trouble which was a desire for material things. Then Jesus told this story.
A rich man thought he had everything worked out nicely. He would be very comfortable for years ahead with all that he had. He also saw the need of building bigger barns to hold his crops. The world would have said he was smart and successful, but God said he had forgotten the most important thing of all, preparation for eternity.
Planning ahead is a wonderful idea, if we plan far enough ahead. If all we think of is this world and nothing of the next, we will suddenly find ourselves face to face with the next world before we are ready for it.
There is a question that has only one answer. Here is the question, 'How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?' - the salvation Jesus Christ offers? The answer is 'there is not escape'. We can only come to God through Jesus Christ.
Christ went on to say that the things of this world do have their place. God will see to it that we who trust in him have all we need when we need it.
Isn't he a wonderful God? He is willing to look after us now in this world and give us a place in the next world too. He has planned all this for us. Are you part of his plan or are you still making your own plans. If so are you planning far enough ahead?