Luke 12: 13 – 21 / The Abundance of Possessions
Intro: “I’ll buy you a diamond ring my friend if it makes you feel alright. I’ll get you anything my friend if it makes you feel alright. ‘Cause I don’t care too much for money, money can’t buy me love.
“I’ll give you all I got to give if you say you love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I’ll give to you. I don’t care too much for money, money can’t buy me love.
“Say you don’t need no diamond ring and I’ll be satisfied. Tell me that you want the kind of thing that money just can’t buy. I don’t care too much for money, money can’t buy me love.” (Verses to “Can’t Buy Me Love by the Beetles.)
I. Hosea 11: 1 – 11 and Luke 12: 13 – 21 have more in common than obvious on first reading.
A. Hosea 11: 2 – “The more I called them, the more they went from me.” The Israelite people ignored God’s call and thought only of themselves.
B. Luke 12: 20 – “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you.” The rich man ignored God’s involvement in his great good fortune.
C. The man in the parable wasn’t a fool because he was rich. He had gotten what he had honestly- through the productiveness of his land. He was a fool because, like the Israelites, he had forgotten what was really important.
II. A pastor was invited to dinner at the home of a very wealthy man. After the meal, the host led the pastor to a place where they had a great view of the surrounding area. With a sweeping gesture from West to East, the man boasted, “25 years ago I had nothing. Now, as far as you can seek, it’s all mine.” The pastor, placing one hand on the man’s shoulder pointed heavenward with the other and asked, “How much do you in that direction?”
A. The man was called foolish for building bigger barns. He was planning to store more of his wealth than he needed. --- What if after building bigger barns the next year’s harvest was smaller?
B. The man gave no thought to the God who had made the large harvest possible. All he thought about was I, Me and Mine.
C. 3 men perished in the summer heat of Death Valley. Deputies found their bodies 7, 14 and 17 miles from their abandoned car. They had headed toward a ranch house they had passed 30 miles back. But just a mile in the other direction was a grove of trees and a spring of water!
III. Some people make some big mistakes in life:
A. In planning for themselves, they forget others.
B. In considering their material goodies, they forget the Giver.
C. In providing for their bodies, they forget their soul.
Conclusion: VS. 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.
Rich toward God means:
Using one’s resources for the benefit of one’s neighbor in need (The Samaritan – 10: 25 – 37)
Intentionally listening to the Word of Jesus (Mary – 10: 38 – 42)
Trusting that God will provide for the needs of life (11: 1 – 13, 12: 22 – 31)
Selling possessions and giving as a means of establishing a lasting treasure in heaven. (12: 32 – 34)
ARE YOU READY TODAY FOR GOD TO SAY TO YOU, “THIS VERY NIGHT YOUR LIFE IS BEING DEMANDED OF YOU”?
