RICH TOWARD GOD

LUKE 12:13-34


      Patrick M. Morley wrote, “[Men] see that they are more financially successful than their parents, but they suspect that they may not be better off.” Men do not enjoy the possessions they accumulate. Endnote


      Life does not consist in having more (16 of 38 of Christ’s parables deal with money). Men ask, “Will I have enough? Will it be enough? How much is enough?”


  I. Setting (12:13-15)


      A. Problem (13-14; Dt. 21:17)


      A certain man asked Jesus to be the judge or mediator over the division of the family inheritance–to settle a family dispute. Robertson called this a “family fuss.” Endnote


      Warren W. Wiersbe commented, “Jesus could have settled the family dispute with great wisdom and skill, but He refused to do so. There are many people who want Jesus to solve their problems but not to change their hearts. Jesus knew that this family feud over money was only a symptom of a greater problem of covetousness.” Endnote


1 Tim. 6:9-10 [NIV]. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.


      B. Principle (15; life is not to have more)


Lk. 12:33 [NLT]. Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no holes in them. Your treasure will be safe-no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.


2 Pet. 2:15 [NIV]. They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.


 II. Story (12:16-21)


      A. Prosperity (16; bearing well)


Lk. 18:25 [NLT]. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!


      James M. Boice wrote, “Jesus undoubtedly meant that the man’s prosperity was from God, who made the ground and prospered the harvest.”

“The man misused his wealth by failing to see that it had come to him from God.” Endnote


      B. Possessions (17-18; dialoging within himself how to keep instead of how to give; how to hoard and hold in one place)


      Alexander Maclaren said that “accumulated wealth breeds anxiety instead of satisfaction.” Matthew Henry commented, “When he saw an extraordinary crop upon his ground, instead of thanking God for it, or rejoicing in the opportunity it would give him of doing the more good, he afflicts himself with this thought. What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits! He speaks as one at a loss, and full or perplexity. What shall I do now? The poorest beggar in the country, that did not know where to get a meal’s meat, could not have said a more anxious word.” Endnote


Prov. 18:11 [GNB]. Rich people, however, imagine that their wealth protects them like high, strong walls around a city.


      What a man does with money tells the condition of his heart. John Wesley lived by the rule: save all you can and give all you can.


      C. Pleasure (19)


          1. Psychology (soulish–1 Cor. 2:14)


Mk. 8:36. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?


Phil. 3:19 [NLT]. Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and all they think about is this life here on earth.


          2. Presumption (wrong sense of value, many goods–many years)


      The rich man used eleven personal pronouns to describe his situation. Yet, the rich man forgot God.

 

Dt. 8:14 [NIV]. then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.


Job 31:24-25 [NIV]. If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, `You are my security,' if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained,


Ecc. 5:10 [NIV]. Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.


1 Jn. 2:16 [LB]. for all these worldly things, these evil desires-the craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you, and the pride that comes from wealth and importance-these are not from God. They are from this evil world itself.


          3. Philosophy (Epicurean)


Lk. 17:28 [NIV]. It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building.


1 Cor. 15:32b [NIV]. If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."


      D. Preparation (20)


          1. Lunacy


Jer. 17:11 [GNB]. The person who gets money dishonestly is like a bird that hatches eggs it didn't lay. In the prime of life he will lose his riches, and in the end he is nothing but a fool.

 

Dan. 5:26b-27 [ESV]. God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end. . . you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting;

 

          2. Life


              a. Appointment (this night)


      What will occupy attention in the last moment of life? The last words of P. T. Barnum were, “How were the receipts today in Madison Square Garden?” Endnote God shattered the rich fool’s security in one night.


              b. Account


      Jeremias said, “Life is a loan, God gave it, and declares that its return will be demanded that very night.” Endnote


      Ron Blue wrote, “If you own your own home, take a walk around your property to get a feel for the reality of this principle. Reflect on how long that dirt has been there and how long it will continue to be there; then ask yourself if you really own it or whether you merely possess it. You may have the title to it, but that title reflects your right to possess it temporarily, not forever. Only God literally owns it forever.” Endnote


Prov. 27:1 [ESV]. Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.


Jas. 4:14 [CEV]. What do you know about tomorrow? How can you be so sure about your life? It is nothing more than mist that appears for only a little while before it disappears.


          3. Lost (all labors lost)


      David Smith noted, “A disputed will and a lost soul!” Endnote Wiersbe said, “Unfortunately, he responded to these blessings the wrong way and died leaving everything behind for his family to fight over.” Endnote


      Boice said, “The one thing that might possibly get through to such a man was the thought of someone else enjoying what he had spent his life to gain.” Endnote Someone else will enjoy what it took so long to accumulate.


      William Barclay told, “There is a story of a conversation between a young and ambitious lad and an older man who knew life. Said the young man, ‘I will learn my trade.’ ‘And then?’ said the older man. ‘I will set up in business.’ ‘And then?’ ‘I will make my fortune.’ ‘And then?’ ‘I suppose that I shall grow old and retire and live on my money.’ ‘And then?’ ‘Well, I suppose that some day I will die.’ ‘And then?’ came the last stabbing question.” Endnote


Prov. 23:5 [MSG]. Riches disappear in the blink of an eye; wealth sprouts wings and flies off into the wild blue yonder.


Ecc. 2:21 [LB]. For though I spend my life searching for wisdom, knowledge, and skill, I must leave all of it to someone who hasn't done a day's work in his life; he inherits all my efforts, free of charge.


Mt. 6:19 [NIV]. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.


1 Tim. 6:17 [NIV]. Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.


      E. Poverty (21)


          1. Wants (treasures on earth)


Prov. 30:8 [CEV]. Make me absolutely honest and don't let me be too poor or too rich. Give me just what I need.


          2. Wealth (eternal poverty)


Heb. 11:26 [GNB]. He reckoned that to suffer scorn for the Messiah was worth far more than all the treasures of Egypt, for he kept his eyes on the future reward.


Rev. 3:17 [NIV]. You say, `I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.


III. Sermon (12:22-35)


      A. Faithful God (22-28; so much better–Mt. 10:31)


Phil. 4:6 [CEV]. Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.


      Jesus took illustrations from sparrows (Mt. 10:31) and lilies to teach the faithfulness of God (Ps. 34:9-10, 37:25) and the futility of worry.


Prov. 12:25 [CEV]. Worry is a heavy burden, but a kind word always brings cheer.


          1. Appetite (Jn. 4:8)


          2. Attire (Mk. 6:9)


          3. Addition (Mt. 6:27)


Ecc. 5:20 [GNB]. Since God has allowed us to be happy, we will not worry too much about how short life is.


          4. Adorn (Mt. 25:36)


Ecc. 2:22-23 [GNB]. You work and worry your way through life, and what do you have to show for it? As long as you live, everything you do brings nothing but worry and heartache. Even at night your mind can’t rest. It is all useless.


1 Pet. 5:7 [CEV]. God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.


      Jesus taught disciples not to worry over having enough but learn to live by faith (Mt. 14:31).


      B. Father’s goodness (29-31)


          1. Ask (Mt. 6:8)


          2. Agitate (Mt. 6:33)


Phil. 4:19 [NIV]. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.


      Unbelievers constantly worry over worldly concerns and neglect the pursuit of God. Disciples should delight in the Lord and trust Him meet the desires of the heart.


      C. Freely give (32-34)


          1. Grace (Eph. 1:5)


          2. Goods (Lk. 18:22)


Acts 4:32 [NIV]. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.


          3. Giving (Lk. 6:38)


      Material things will either disintegrate or be disowned. Only treasures stored in heaven will endure.


1 Pet. 1:4 [NIV]. And into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you,


      Howard Hughes spent his last days in a ten-story condominium in the Bahamas. Patrick M. Morley described that place, “The sparse, austere furnishings made it look more like a rustic mountain cabin. Worn, threadbare, olive-green plaid cushions rested in cut-rate priced wooden couch frames. The bathroom fixtures looked like a cheap motel.” He concluded, “His wealth and power and fame were unmatched by any other man of his time. Yet, this final hideaway, where he sequestered himself from reality, was a stark reminder that money is a mortal god.” Endnote


          4. Gold (Mt. 6:21)


Heb. 10:34 [NIV]. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.


      Jesus’ Lordship extends over all earthly treasures. The only lasting treasure will be in heaven.