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How Much Is Enough? Series
Contributed by Tom Shepard on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: This sermon looks at the negative attitude of being stingy and God's cure for it.
Look at what is going on in this story. This man was a very good farmer. He made the farm an extremely productive farm. In fact he is producing so much grain that his silo will not hold it all. The barn was not big enough for all the hay. So what does he do - he does the right thing. He does the logical thing. He thinks through the problem. He figures it out. He says, "I can tear down the old barn and build a bigger one. Bigger is always better isn't it? Than when I have all my grain stored up and all my goods put away - I can sit back and take it easy. What a wonderful life this is."
It all seems reasonable doesn't it? It all seems rational doesn't it? But is it?
Folks let me say upfront - this parable is not talking about saving for retirement. This parable is not talking about being thrifty with your money. It's not talking about being wise with your money. It’s talking about self-centered accumulation of goods. It is about being stingy. It is about being selfish. The parable is about a man who was looking out - only for his own wants and needs. He did not care about the needs of others. He did not care about the things of God. Look at verse twenty again:
"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?" Luke 12:20 (NASB)
Do you hear what God is saying? He says, "You're a fool! You're an idiot! How stupid can you be? Don't you see your going to die tonight? Don't you understand that your life has reached the end of the road? Now it is time for you to face judgment. And what do you think is going to happen with all those crops you have gathered. You're not taking them with you - you know. You could have used them for My kingdom and for My glory - but look at where we are now. This night is the end of the line."
As we consider this we ought to ask, "What is at the center of my life? What do I live for? Am I using the things that I have for my own selfishness or am I using them to help others and to please God?" Listen to what Jesus has said.
"You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.” Matthew 6:24 (MSG)
Did you know that God loves a cheerful giver? The Bible tells us this over in 2 Corinthians. It says:
“God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NKJV)
Why do you think God loves a cheerful giver? Have you ever thought about it? Why do you think that verse is in the Bible?
Because giving is a basic characteristic of God. He gives and gives and gives. He sends the sunshine and the rain. He places the rainbow in the sky. He has created the mountains and the valleys. He has given us the grace and mercy. He has shown us love and kindness. And greatest of all He gave us His son Jesus. Look at what John 3:16 says:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NASB)