SERMON BRIEF
Date Written: February 2003
Date Preached: February 5, 2003
Church: BBC (PM) Wednesday
FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS
Series: What the Bible Says…
Title: About Stewardship
Text: Luke 12:13-34
Introduction:
There is possibly nothing more sensitive to each one of us than to speak about our finances. Many of us are willing to speak about just about anything in the world, but NOT the money in our lives.
Especially when someone begins to question us about our money and/or our possessions… we can become very defensive. But when we look at the teachings of Jesus we find that many of His parables were teachings about stewardship of our possessions.
Jesus knows the joy that does await the believer who obtains a level of commitment where they completely surrender all they have to God… including the stewardship of all their possessions. Read Passage here!
In our passage tonight, we find one of Jesus’ most clear teachings on stewardship. Jesus begins by using a parable to illustrate a truth that He desired to implant in their hearts.
This particular story was based around 2 brothers and an incident that arose between them. When we look at the story it seems to indicate that the father of these 2 brothers had died.
Evidently there was one brother who was NOT happy with how the estate of their father had been allocated. He called on Jesus to intervene and “FORCE” his brother to share the wealth equally with him.
But I want us to take note of what v.16 brings to light… “…He said unto THEM…” Now there is no doubt that all the followers of Jesus were listening to Jesus, but in staying with the story… that is NOT who the Bible is indicating that Jesus is speaking to. Jesus is speaking to both of the brothers.
The 1st thing Jesus said was that these 2 brothers must, “…take heed,and beware of covetousness, for a man’s life consists not in the abundance of things he possesses…”
Then after He had said that we know He had the attention of the feuding brothers. It was then that Jesus begins to relate a story about the rich man. Tradition has it that this rich man was an unbeliever, someone who worshiped possessions.
But I am sure that there are many Christians or people who proclaim Christianity that are spiritually immature, and very materialistic that could fit this mold as well.
In looking at tonight’s passage I can see that we can learn 3 simple yet very powerful lessons as it pertains to stewardship for the believer.
The 1st lesson we should learn from this passage tonight is the danger of a false sense of security in our possessions.
In this passage we find a man who has become very successful in what he does. He was a farmer whose crops were plentiful. He possibly lived in a very large home and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle.
He had a bumper crop and with that success came the false sense that b/c of his financial gain that the pressure was off and all was well in his life. Looking at what this man was looking at, I can see that happening in many lives of believers today… we rationalize that it is so GOOD to be rich.
However, we find Jesus saying that one of the most difficult things in life is for a rich man to keep his riches and God in the proper perspective.
In Matt 13:22 Jesus spoke of the ‘deceitfulness of riches’ Wealth can and will ultimately give us a false sense of security. It can mislead us and make us think that we are more important than we really are.
We then begin to look to our wealth for answers instead of going to God. Our riches become much more important than our relationship with God.
So the conclusion we can come to on this particular point is that when we rely on ANYTHING other than God for a sense of security… we are going to fail.
The 2nd lesson that I can see that we must learn from this passage is that in this parable from Jesus we can find the folly of planning without consulting God.
Smack dab in the middle of his pride and false sense of security, this farmer who had pushed God aside, made some rather lofty plans.
In spite of how wealthy this man was, he was prudent and very practical minded. He was insuring against all contingencies he could think of. His plans did not just include the present, but the distant future as well.
This drove him to seek after more and more. To hoard more and more for himself. So we find him making these elaborate plans to enjoy the wealth he had ‘worked’ so hard to earn.
But what this farmer failed to recognize is that a sovereign God might just have other plans for him. In short, this man did not seek after the counsel of God in regards to his decisions.
He consulted himself and himself alone. Sometimes in our own human nature we do the same thing. We try to master our own destiny and/or our own circumstances. we begin to pray for OUR will to be done and not the will of God that makes this decision so vital.
In doing this we relegate God to a mere Genie from the magic lamp or a waiter there simply to take our order. But that is NOT who God is and He simply refuses to accept that role.
So we see God replying to this farmer by saying, “…You fool…” This man had not considered God and His master plan for all humanity.
The 3rd and final lesson that we can learn from tonight’s passage is that of the tragedy of the soul that is enslaved. We find that the night this man’s soul was required by God… that he was not so rich after all. In fact what we can see is that he was trapped in what he believed to be security in his riches… but actually they were bonds.
Jesus said, “…this is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God…” God searches the heart and knows where our loyalties lie. It is not a bad things to save for the future, but when we eliminate God from our picture… as believer’s we are going to suffer.
From the world’s perspective we can know that they believed this man to be very successful and blessed in his life. But when viewed from God’s perspective and the perspective of eternity… his life was a pitiful waste and b/c of that it was demanded of him to forfeit his life.
Jesus did not leave the parable hanging… after He had finished the parable He turned to His disciples and we find Him giving them a deeper interpretation of the parable.
Jesus spoke of the folly in worrying about material things. He reminded them of the ravens that NEVER go hungry and the lilies of the field that were adorned with great beauty.
Ravens are very small creatures in contrast to humanity, and lilies are beautiful one day and then dead the next. We find Jesus asking His disciples, “How much more will God feed and clothe you? You have such small faith!”
Jesus could see in the eyes of the disciples confusion. For if this man was blessed with riches and wealth, surely he was blessed from God!
One did not have wealth and be wicked… or so it was thought by most people of the 1st century. Jesus was trying to enlighten the disciples to the fact that earthly possessions meant nothing to God and the fact that someone possessed material wealth, did not mean they were blessed by God.
Jesus really reveals the path of a true believer when He says, “…Seek ye 1st the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…” (Luke 12:31,32,34)
So tonight we have learned 3 specific lessons on stewardship that we need to put into play in our lives as believers.
First we have seen how the material possessions of this world can and will lead us down a path of false security. The material possessions of this world are simply tools we are to use for the kingdom of God. For them to be anything more, leads us away from God.
The 2nd lesson we learned tonight is that it is foolish for us to plan without seeking the guidance of God.
Our plans and desires are not necessarily bad things, but when we begin to put our plans and desires ahead of serving God then God is not pleased. God is going to discipline any of His children who disobey Him by ignoring His guidance or simply not seeking that guidance.
Finally tonight we have seen how Jesus points out that the person consumed with material possessions is a soul that is enslaved by those very possessions.
When we allow the material possessions of our lives to rule the way we think and act, then we are enslaved to them. God does not desire this for us… His desire is that we follow Him and serve Him, for He will not evaporate and disappear like material possession will… God is going to always be there for us.
Where are you in your life? Is your stewardship like Jesus taught about? Are you imprisoned by your material possessions? Do you believe that your material wealth gives you some sense of security? Do you not know that your material possessions are going to disappear?
Are you trying to plan your life without God’s input? Are you being presumptuous and telling God what you are going to do? We can see what that got this man in the parable, believers must always seek God’s guidance… but not just seek it, we must follow it!
Tonight I challenge you to begin from this night on and place your security NOT in your possessions but in Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior.
I challenge you to seek God’s guidance in your plans, don’t be so presumptuous as to think you can TELL God what you are going to do. God has your best at heart.
Finally I challenge you to set yourself free… free from the bondage of material enslavement. Free to do the will of God and further the Kingdom of God. Free to serve God the way He desires you to serve Him.
