Read the Bible

A Heed against Hypocrisy

¹ While all this was happening, many thousands of people had shown up to see and hear Jesus. There were so many people around that some were getting crushed. Jesus spoke to his twelve cowboys amidst the throng of folks saying, "Watch out for the religious leader's hypocrisy³ Things whispered behind the hay will be shouted in the streets. Things mumbled under your breath will be blasted from the rooftops.

⁴ "My friends, don't be afraid of those who can kill your body. When you die, it is over in a second. ⁵ But listen, be afraid of the One who has power over your soul. We should fear the Boss because he is the only one who has the authority and power to throw you in the trash fire which is forever. He's the One you should be bowing down to.

⁶ "But before you start thinking the Boss is against you, consider this, what do a few birds cost—two cents at the most? But God doesn't even forget about these little birds. ⁷ The Boss has numbered the hairs on your head, so you don't have to be afraid. You are worth more than all the birds in the world. ⁸ I'm telling you the truth. If you ride for me in public down here, I will show the angels in heaven that you have eternal life in God's outfit because you are in my tally book. ⁹ But if you shun me down here, I'm going to shun you in heaven. ¹⁰ I will forgive everyone and everything except the person who denies me and the power of the Holy Spirit.

¹¹ "And when you are arrested or put on trial, don't try to work up a defense strategy. ¹² When the time comes for you to speak, the Holy Spirit will give you the words to say."

The Folly of Material Wealth

¹³ Someone in the crowd hollered out, "Boss, tell my brother to split the cow herd with me that our father left us!"

¹⁴ Jesus turned to him and said, "I'm not here to settle your petty disputes." ¹⁵ Then he said to everyone, "Beware of the greed of material wealth. True life cannot be measured by what you have in your pastures."

¹⁶ Then he told them a story, "A rich man had a fine ranch that produced fine cattle. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, 'I don't have enough grass for all my cows. I wonder what I should do?' ¹⁸ Then he thought, 'I know! I'll sell this small ranch and buy a bigger one. Then I will be the biggest rancher around. ¹⁹ I'll be able to sit back and admire all the things I have accomplished and obtained! I'll spend my days with wine, women, and song.

²⁰ "But God said to the rancher, 'You've been a fool, cowboy! You're gonna die tonight, and someone else will get everything you've worked so hard for.' ²¹ So the moral of the story is not to waste your life on things, but store up treasure in heaven by a genuine ride with the Boss."

Quit Frettin'

²² Then Jesus spoke again to his twelve cowboys, "So don't fret about what you will eat or wear. ²³ True life is more than feeding your stomach and clothing your body. ²⁴ Look at the crows. They don't farm or ranch. They don't even have a barn to store their grain in, but the Boss still gives them food. And you are more loved than crows. ²⁵ Can frettin' about something add even one minute to a day? ²⁶ And if frettin' can't even fix a small problem, why are you wastin' all that time frettin' about the big stuff? ²⁷ Think about the flowers you see while ridin' through your pastures. They don't do anything to clothe themselves in such beauty. But I'm telling you the truth that even the wise King Solomon could not spend all the money in the world and dress as beautiful as they. ²⁸ So if the Boss takes such care with flowers that are here one day and gone the next, how much more will he care for you? Why do you doubt God so much?

²⁹ "Don't worry about where your food and drink comes from. These things are trivial compared to the more important things in life. ³⁰ People who don't know or trust in God worry and fret about things like these. But the Boss already knows all your needs and will provide for you. ³¹ You just saddle up and ride for him, and he will take care of all your needs. ³² Don't worry, cowboys. The Boss wants to take care of you.

³³ "Sell everything you own and give the money to those who need it more. This way you will be investing in your eternal future. This type of investment will never lose its value or fall out of a hole in your pocket. Down here, money can be stolen and even lost, ³⁴ but wherever you keep your treasure, that's where your heart will remain.

Don't Let Your Guard Down

³⁵ "Keep your britches on and your boots by your bed. Keep a light burning in the barn so you can catch your horse at a moment's notice. ³⁶ You need to be ready when the Boss calls. ³⁷ The cowboys who are waiting on his return will receive a magnificent reward. I'm telling you the truth when I say that the Boss will give the cowboys new clothes, sit them down at the big table, and give them food to eat. ³⁸ Now the Boss might get back in the middle of the night or just before daylight, but when most everyone has given up, that's when the Boss will return. A reward will be waiting on the cowboy who is ready to ride.

³⁹ "I mean, if you knew someone was going to steal your saddle, you would wait up and keep him from taking it. You wouldn't just let him grab your rig! ⁴⁰ But you must also keep this same diligence when waiting on the Boss, for God's Top Hand will come when you least expect him."

⁴¹ Pete asked, "Are you talking about everyone being ready or just us?"

⁴² Jesus said, "A top hand is a cowboy who has shown himself to be faithful in the little things as well as the big. The boss is always looking for top hands to lead and teach other cowboys. ⁴³ A top hand will get an excellent reward for the integrity he shows while the boss is away. ⁴⁴ If he does well, the boss will put him in charge of the whole ranch. ⁴⁵ A cowboy who thinks he is top hand material, but mistreats other people and then thinks about nothing except eating, drinking, and getting drunk, ⁴⁶ this cowboy will be punished severely when the boss returns. He'll be thrown off the ranch and told never to return.

⁴⁷ "And the cowboy who knows what he should be doing, but isn't prepared or ready to do the job will also be punished. ⁴⁸ Now if someone doesn't know what they are supposed to do, but makes a mistake anyway, they will just be talked to. Top notch work will be required from top hands. And when more is given, more will be expected."

Jesus Will Split the Herd

⁴⁹ Jesus said, "I have come to start the prescribed burn over the dead patches of this world. ⁵⁰ My upcoming baptism will not be in cool water, but I will suffer a terrible agony until I have paid the price for all. ⁵¹ Did you think that I came to bring peace? No, I have come to split the herd and reveal people's true hearts. ⁵² Now families will be torn apart because of me. ⁵³ Fathers will be against sons and mothers will be against their daughters. Children will rebel against their parents and in-laws will all hate each other—all on account of some riding for me and others choosing not to."

⁵⁴ Then Jesus turned to the crowd of people and said, "When you see the clouds building, you know there is rain coming. And you are right. ⁵⁵ When the south wind starts howling, you know it's gonna be hot. And it will be. ⁵⁶ So how can you be so foolish as to not see what is happening right here in front of you? You can see the signs and make accurate predictions, but in this instance, you are all as blind as bats. ⁵⁷ Why can't you see what is right in front of you? ⁵⁸ I mean, if someone is trying to take you to court because you did something wrong, wouldn't it be better to try to make amends before the court hearing? If you don't, you will be found guilty and thrown in jail. ⁵⁹ When that happens, you won't get out until all restitution has been paid in full."