Introduction:
• A wise old man put up a sign on a vacant piece of property he owned that read, “I will give this lot to anyone who is really satisfied.”A wealthy man read it as he rode by and said to himself, “Since this old man is going to give this piece of land away, I might as well have it as anyone else. I am rich and have all I need, so I am well able to qualify.” He went up to the old man’s door and, when the man appeared, he explained why he had come.“And are you really satisfied?” asked the owner of the lot.“I surely am,” was the wealthy mans reply. “I have all I need, and I am well satisfied.”“Friend,” said the wise old man, “if you are satisfied, then what do you want with my lot?” The question revealed the pride and covetousness that was hidden in the man’s heart.
• May I ask you, are you satisfied today? What are the things that you long for in life that you perceive will satisfy your soul? Is it a vacation, retirement, pay raise or a larger 401K, savings account, orange account, a new job, a new house, a new boat, a new car, a bigger garage, an RV, ATV, Wide screen TV, … What is it that you seek?
Proposition:
Jesus said “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Vs. 15
Interrogative Statement:
Greed, as Jesus defines it, does not only include the rich and powerful but as we will see, it is the common desire of most to accumulate stuff.
Sermon Preview:
Today, I want to take a moment to look at the parable of the “Rich Fool” to test our own hearts, for each of us to catch a glance at what is in our own hearts. If you have your Bibles please open them to Luke 12:13-21.
Transition:
This may be a difficult message for some of you, it certainly was for me, but remember, Jesus said “. “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
I. BACKGROUND TO THE PARABLE: (2 Brothers vs. 13-15)
V 13. – THE INTERRUPTION (The request of a hard heart)
Having just finished rebuking the Pharisees (chapter 11:37-53) and with many thousands gathering around Him(12:1), Christ begins to teach the disciples of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.
It is at this moment that he is interrupted by a “brother” who say’s the following… “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
“tell me” shows the heart of the brothers and the level with which this argument has deteriorated.
• It’s probable that the younger brother did not agree with the traditional giving of a double portion to his older brother. It’s also probably that the older brother did not care about the younger brothers frustration.
__________________________________________________________________________
V 14a. – THE RESPONSE (Settle This Yourselves)
“Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”
Jesus sets an example of how to deal with situations where hearts are not in the right place, you give the principle not the answer.
• They were asking Christ to judge between two people with hardened hearts, They were asking Christ to divide up the wealth between two hardened hearts
• Christ did make a judgment, it was to reject both of their selfish hearts and instead give a lesson that if headed will allow them to settle the dispute themselves.
________________________________________________________________________________
V14b. – THE WARNING (Reject Greed)
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed”
• Jesus warns the two brothers about all kinds of greed with two separate statements:
o Watch Out! (Vision – To Look For) Be On Your Guard (Isolation – To protect against)
TRANSITION This parable is broken into two parts, the folly of the rich fool and the wisdom of God, let’s begin by looking at the folly of the fool.
II. T HE FOLLY OF THE FOOL – (v. 16-19)
EXPOSITION
Introductory Notes
1. The man is already wealthy
2. The man made his wealth off of the ground which produced good crops
3. This was only possible through God’s providential working
4. God poured out His abundant blessings yet…
The Rich Fool Never Saw Beyond Himself –(Do We)
(He thought) to (himself), what shall (I) do
(I) have no place to store (my) crops
This is what (I’ll) do
(I) will tear down my barns
(I) will store my grain and goods
(I’ll) say to myself, “you have plenty of good things laid up…”
(I) will take life easy, (I) will eat, (I) will drink and (I) will be merry (I’s inferred)
ILLUSTRATION
The Romans had a proverb which said that money was like sea-water; the more a man drank the thirstier he became. And so long as a man’s attitude is that of the rich fool his desire will always be to get more—and that is the reverse of the Christian way.
The Rich Fool Never Saw Beyond This World – (Do We Have An Eternal Perspective)
1. I will store up
2. I will take life easy
3. I will eat, drink and be merry
ILLUSTRATION
Get the right perspective. When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, "He’s so big we can never kill him." David looked at the same giant and thought, "He’s so big I can’t miss." It’s all perspective! Christ is calling us to have an eternal and not a worldly perspective.
APLICATION
The folly of the fool was to look for life in things, to not see beyond himself.
Do you see yourself in this foolish man?
TRANSITION
So we have seen the fools folly, now let’s look at …
THE LORDS WISDOM – (v. 20-21)
EXPOSITION
The wisdom of God always seems backward to us
He says the least will be the greatest
He calls the rich to weep and mourn in this life
He says he came for the sick and not the healthy
He said He did not come to bring peace but a sword
On the surface it does not seem to make sense but as we study what our Lord has said we find pure wisdom, wisdom that surpasses all understanding, wisdom that it is Holy, Good and Just. We also find Authority!
God’s Wisdom Has Authority
Firstly, notice the authority in God’s wisdom – We don’t get a vote
You Fool
Your Life will be demanded from you
Then who will get what you, prepared for yourself?
This is how it will be with anyone who…
ILLUSTRATION
I have heard of many people who knew they had a deadly illness, one that could be cured if caught in time and yet avoided the doctor in the hopes it would go away. We do this today with God’s wisdom WHEN WE DON’T LIKE IT, we seek after material possessions, with the hope that God’s voice calling us to selfless living will eventually silence itself. May I say, cursed are you if that day ever comes, where you can no longer hear God’s voice prodding you toward selfless living.
God’s wisdom calls for selflessness and an eternal perspective
v. 31 “But seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness and these things will be given to you as well.” Mt. 6:33 adds righteousness.
God ultimately calls us to a life of selfless living, one that sets others above self and seeks to store up riches in Heaven rather than Earth.
ILLUSTRATION
Know it or not, you pray for the kingdom of God to come to the earth every week in the Lord’s prayer, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done…” When you say this prayer, you are telling God you desire to obey the rule of His kingdom, do you mean it?
APLICATION
The Lords wisdom is authoritative and it is eternal. His call is for us to seek first the Kingdom of God. The truth is that the satisfaction we desire in this life is found in submission to God’s call to humility. Are “WE” submitted? Do we put others needs above our own?
Are you looking for satisfaction in this life?
Is your pursuit that of the rich fool who never saw beyond himself or this world
Or Is your pursuit rooted in God’s eternal and selfless wisdom that calls us to a life of sacrifice and a pursuit of divinely inspired Holy Living and obedience to His will.
Ultimately, Jesus sums up His teaching on the pursuit of material wealth with this phrase “ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
In short, where your treasure is will determine where your heart is and that has eternal significance.
CONCLUSION
This sermon is not about money, it’s not about material wealth, it is not about planning for the future. This sermon is about the condition of your heart. There is nothing inherently wrong with money, but is it your treasure?
May I be so bold as to say, the reverberations of Hell resound with the echo of those who in this life knew but three words: Me, Mine and NOW. Yet Christ say’s what you do unto the least you do unto me.
WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE?
• Is it in the material, the fleeting, the failing, self gratifying desires of your flesh OR
• is it rooted in the eternal love that is Christ, the one who is humble in Spirit, who washed the feet of the disciples, the one who gave everything that you may live.
• WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE? Is it found in Christ? In Christ alone! Is He the pearl of great worth that you would lose everything to obtain? Is He the shepherd who’s voice you know by heart?
• Brothers and Sisters, If you long for a satisfied life, It is He alone that can give it, the King of Kings, Prince of Peace, Mighty God and lover of your soul? He gives it to us as we submit to his call, to have mercy, live a selfless and humble life and seek the Kingdom of God.
• as the apostle John once said Christ’s love compels me… Does His love compel you to this lifestyle?
Maybe your uncertain where your heart lies, where your treasure is to be found. If so I invite you to turn to the very last words in the last book of Scripture for this simple test. Ask yourself, can I pray this prayer and with the whole of my heart mean it: REV 22:20 “Come Lord Jesus Come.”
Are you ready to stand before Him even today? And if not my friend, then ask yourself again where is my treasure……. Amen!
Close In Prayer
