Take it to the Limit - Money
January 20, 2008
Luke 15:11-31, p. 1624
For the next 3 weeks, we are going to be working through a sermon series I’ve titled, "Take it to the Limit." It is a series of messages focused on confronting our culture’s false notion that to live
That to really become alive.
That to experience life we have to push the limits -
Financially
Physically
Morally
Emotionally
Your friends and my friends, you and I are continually given messages by our culture that to live life according to a set of principles.
That to think twice about doing certain things
That to say "no" to some fun
Risky and potentially highly exhilarating stuff is foolish.
Our culture is continually feeding us messages like "don’t hold back."
“Use that credit card - charge right up to your limit."
"It’s just one night."
Our culture tells parents,
"Johnny and Sally will fall behind if they aren’t involved in soccer, ballet, piano and Children’s Church by the age of 7"
Our culture says - "what’s the big deal - it’s just a movie - check it our - it won’t affect you."
Our culture rather than pulling us back - rather than saying, "I think that would be unwise." tends to send messages like "Go for it."
"You’ll enjoy it."
"Do it while you can." Are we tracking?
Some of you are thinking that only happened when I was younger - that peer pressure stuff I remember dealing with that in high school but now - no, I’m my own person. I make my own decisions. I’m in charge. Culture doesn’t influence me.
Anyone have a friend who had an affair?
Culture says - no big deal - test the limits.
Anyone here dare admit to having a midlife crisis - a season when you were unsure if what you had done and were now doing wasn’t really pleasing.
Anyone here struggle to remain God-aligned and thinking about as Paul says - what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and instead choose to let
Your eyes stray
Your heart to be divided
Your life filled with filth
No matter your age, we are influenced by this underground and dare I say ungodly message,
"Come as close as you can"
"Extend yourself as far as you can"
"It’s not going to be that bad"
"Don’t hold back - Take it to the limit"
Because if you don’t you’ll miss out
And this morning I want to say "hogwash."
Say that "hogwash." It’s just not true.
I think of Jesus out in the desert being tempted by Satan. Satan is tempting Jesus to test the limits.
3 times Satan pushes Jesus.
3 times Satan takes Jesus to the edge.
3 times Satan lays something beautiful, tempting, exhilarating before him.
It’s yours - eat of it.
Pursue it.
Take it.
Just do it and 3 times Jesus says. "No"
Jesus’ life - Jesus ministry begins in a place before the enemy who desired to push Jesus past the boundaries of His God. And did Jesus’ obedience harm him? -No Jesus - from the very beginning lived a well boundaried life.
Let’s go to the beginning of everything - Genesis.
In Genesis 1 and 2, we see God forming, creating, and getting certain systems and boundaries in place.
Time gets divided into days.
Life forms become distinct - plants and animals.
Planets and stars are made.
Each have their place. There is water and land - boundaried and fenced in.
God himself puts boundaries on himself. He works for 6 days - but then stops.
He will not be a machine.
He will not be a doer only.
He will pause on the 7th day to rest.
To be.
God boundaries time.
He doesn’t push it.
Max it out.
He creates a rhythm.
In chapter 2, we see that he does this for Adam and Eve.
In chapter 2:16, God says, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will die."
God sets a boundary. Well of course he does, you say. "God ruins everything. We can’t have any fun."
And I say, "Does he? Is he that way?"
How many trees were in the garden? Many
How many were Adam and Eve allowed to eat from?
How many trees couldn’t they eat from? One
Is God a killjoy or desiring Adam and Eve to enjoy life. A well boundaried life.
"You are free to eat."
Friends, this is our God.
You see the longer I am a Jesus follower. In those times/moments/occasions when I come to a boundary.
A limit
A place of temptation and choose to be faithful to God and his way - what I have found is not regret.
Is not dissatisfaction
But peace, a satisfaction I feel God’s pleasure.
I’ve never regretted faithfulness.
I’m learning to see and am learning to believe and trust in David’s words in Psalm 15;6a that Jan read earlier and that are printed on your bulletin top.
"The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places."
Would you say or read that with me - Psalm 16:6
"The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places."
Friends - God’s boundary lines.
God’s limits do not restrict or inhibit life.
God’s boundary markers don’t cause us to:
Miss out
Or fall behind.
God’s boundaries - God’s limits. God’s desires for us:
Emotionally
Martially
Relationally
Morally
Financially
Are there not to restrict us
Not to cause us to suffer.
No, they have been given - shared - revealed so that you and I can have life and have it in an abundance.
God’s boundary lines fall in pleasant places.
But far too often we turn
We test
We fall to the lies of culture and are tempted to stray.
I think of the Prodigal Son that Luke tells us about in Luke 15:11, p. 1624.
Let’s work through this quickly this morning and then make some applications.
As I’ve thought about this text, it has a lot to say about boundaries.
Luke 13:11 and 12, read:
What is the younger son doing?
To do, to ask what the younger son asked was to test the limits.
Was to push the boundaries. Yes?
You and I’ve heard that when the younger one asks for his portion of his dad’s stuff, what he is saying is Dad - hurry up and die. I want my inheritance.
I don’t suggest this. It’s risky.
But what does the dad do. How did the father respond?
He gave both boys their share.
Verse 13, read.
If in verses 11 and 12, the younger son tested and pushed the limits of the Jewish household in verse 13.
He breaks through those limits.
He busts through the family boundaries.
He gets together all his stuff
All his father’s stuff and leaves.
He leaves all that he has known.
He leaves his family.
His home.
Their traditions.
He leaves not for the next town but for a "distant country."
He leaves the family behind, way behind and what does he do?
Squandered or wasted.
Or spent frivolously
All the wealth his father had earned through discipline and devotedness.
The younger son through undisciplined actions and through lack of devotion wastes it all in wild living.
Notice what befell him. Notice what he wasn’t prepared for. Verse 14 (read) - severe famine so he verse 15, 16 (read).
Think he’s glad to be away from home?
Think he’s pleased with his undisciplined
Unfaithful behaviors?
Verse 17 - "When he came to his senses."
When he woke up.
When he realized how stupid he had been.
When he realized his tremendous mistake.
He remembered home.
His father
And the ways of his father.
The blessings of such a life.
And so he makes a plan and practices his confession -verse 18, 19, 10.
He knows he’s in the doghouse.
He’s sincere in his desire.
He realizes his mistake.
Will his dad receive him back? He doesn’t know.
Verse 20b - "But while he was still a long way off
His father saw him
Was filled with compassion for him.
Ran to his son.
Threw his arms around him and kissed him."
Notice - the boy hadn’t gotten back into the yard.
The boy hadn’t said a word - but when he tries (verse 21) the Father will have none of it. Let’s throw a party. -verse 22
Best robe.
Ring on finger
Sandals
Fattened calf.
Feast and celebrate.
Much to the dismay of the boy’s older/responsible-well boundaried brother. Verse 28-32.
Let me make 5 points about boundaries and money.
1. Money can divide families.
Money can split up, cause tension and strife within families. Right now some of you are still angry and upset that your little brother seemed to get more of your parents stuff than you. There is tension between the 2 of you. Money can do this.
2. Culture, the world tempts us to leave behind who we are and what we’ve been taught. When the boy gets his inheritance, it burns a hole in his pocket.
He’s heard about that distant place and the pleasures there. Now with his money he has the power and means to participate in those things. He becomes someone he isn’t. He changes. Culture tempts us this way.
Money will do this.
When we have more money, more choices, options, temptations come our way. Those who have more have to be quite responsible. Rather than wasting it, they must use it not selfishly but strategically, not only a personal passions but on godly purposes. They must fight cultures message to spend it.
3. When we waste money, squander it. Living only in the now, trying to meet those sudden urges and needs we may not have $ when we truly need it. Verse 13 told us the boy squandered the money. He lacked discipline.
Friends it is wise to have a little money in savings for when those surprises happen.
4. When we live well boundaried lives financially. When we are careful, loyal, obedient and pious like the older brother, we can be unthankful for what we have.
The older brother is sour, he’s angry; he’s a bit jealous of his younger brother.
He has failed to be thankful for all that he does have.
He hasn’t given thanks.
He isn’t grateful.
This is the boundary I personally struggle most with.
I begin to say things like.
If Deb and I stopped tithing.
If Deb and I weren’t so rigid in our budget, then we could have some fun.
Then we could live. . . .
When I think these thoughts and when I begrudge the obedient, faithful financial life, I fail to be thankful for all that we have been given.
5. When we cross boundaries financially, morally, relationally our God always welcomes us back.
Financial sins are not unpardonable.
The boy is lavishly forgiven.
The boy realizes even after sinning is Father’s boundaries are in pleasant places.
The boy realizes, like some have to that to live according to our cultures motto - Take it to the limit doesn’t bring life but heartache.
And he makes the right decision - he turns toward home.
He makes a good decision.
Friends, money can drive us to lots of things. In 1 Timothy 6:10 Paul writes, "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil."
Money gave the boy the ability to act unwisely.
It controlled him.
Let is not control you.
In your bulletin, I’ve put stuff that has been helpful to me regarding God’s boundary markers for us financially. As you look over these, the more time you spend thinking about these, you’ll see that God’s words about money. His boundaries fall in pleasant places.
Pray-
For those who have little, for those suffering due to lack of means, Lord may you supply what they need. May they see your faithfulness in meeting their needs. Move those who have more to be sensitive towards them.
For those who have much, help these to live boundaried lives, not hoarding and not wasting. May such people find not their security and self-worth in finances but in being a child of yours. Amen.
The title is taken from a series of messages preached by Andy Stanley.
