“Your Treasure”
3/20/2011 – Nampa, ID
Luke 12:15-21 THEME: COVETOUSNESS WILL NOT SATISFY THE PASSIONS OF THE FLESH
“15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
“15 Y díjoles: Mirad, y guardaos de toda avaricia; porque la vida del hombre no consiste en la abundancia de los bienes que posee. 16 Y refirióles una parábola, diciendo: La heredad de un hombre rico había llevado mucho; 17 Y él pensaba dentro de sí, diciendo: ¿qué haré, porque no tengo donde juntar mis frutos? 18 Y dijo: Esto haré: derribaré mis alfolíes, y los edificaré mayores, y allí juntaré todos mis frutos y mis bienes; 19 Y diré á mi alma: Alma, muchos bienes tienes almacenados para muchos años; repósate, come, bebe, huélgate. 20 Y díjole Dios: Necio, esta noche vuelven á pedir tu alma; y lo que has prevenido, ¿de quién será? 21 Así es el que hace para sí tesoro, y no es rico en Dios.”
MONEY:
Money can be hazardous to your health.
Two medical researchers at the University of Louisville have been looking into the question and have found that "13%" of the coins and 42% of the paper money carry disease-producing organisms." Small denomination coins and bills are more dangerous because of their rapid turnover.
http://www.pleaseconvinceme.com/index/God_Wants_Us_to_Submit_Our_Financial_Priorities(Sermonillustrations.com)
Money is the leading cause of disagreements in marriages.
Here's a weighty one: Money (or the lack thereof) is the biggest stress inducer in the lives of Americans. We worry more about money than our marriages, or our health. http://weirdfactshere.blogspot.com/2007/10/41-money-weird-facts-that-will-blow-you.html
INTRODUCTION: JESUS AND MONEY
• Jesus talked a great deal about money.
• Sixteen of the thirty-eight parables were concerned with how to handle money and possessions.
• In the Gospels, an amazing one out of 10 verses (288 in all) deals directly with the subject of money.
• The Bible offers more than 2,000 verses on money and possessions.
(Howard Dayton, Jr., James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 372.)
In the Parable of the Rich Fool, Jesus gives us a lesson on the failures of selfish over indulgence.
This man was concerned only with what he could gain in this world.
SIX TIMES HE PROCLAIMS HIS SELFISHNESS:
1. What shall “I” do…
2. “I” have no room…
3. “I” will do this…
4. “I” will pull down my barns…
5. There “I” will store all my crops…
6. “I” will say to my soul…
What a contrast from “BLESS THE LORD oh my soul…” to “Bless MY soul oh my Lord!”
But Jesus declared this kind of thinking to be foolishness, warning us of the dangers of this kind of sinful attitude toward money and possessions.
I. THE ACCUMULATION OF POSSESSIONS WILL NOT PROVIDE WORLDLY HAPPINESS.
(Luke 12:15-16)
“15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully.”
“15 Y díjoles: Mirad, y guardaos de toda avaricia; porque la vida del hombre no consiste en la abundancia de los bienes que posee. 16 Y refirióles una parábola, diciendo: La heredad de un hombre rico había llevado mucho.”
A. My Happiness DOES NOT Depend Upon What I Have. (Philippians 4:10-13)
“10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
“10 Mas en gran manera me gocé en el Señor de que ya al fin ha reflorecido vuestro cuidado de mí; de lo cual aun estabais solícitos, pero os faltaba la oportunidad. 11 No lo digo en razón de indigencia, pues he aprendido á contentarme con lo que tengo. 12 Sé estar humillado, y sé tener abundancia: en todo y por todo estoy enseñado, así para hartura como para hambre, así para tener abundancia como para padecer necesidad. 13 Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece.”
1. God wants us to enjoy a full, complete, and balanced life; and He has made provisions through His Word for us to be fulfilled in that way.
(John 10:10)
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
“El ladrón no viene sino para hurtar, y matar, y destruir: yo he venido para que tengan vida, y para que la tengan en abundancia.”
2. He has promised to supply our every need.
(Philippians 4:19)
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
“Mi Dios, pues, suplirá todo lo que os falta conforme á sus riquezas en gloria en Cristo Jesús.”
3. He has promised to give us the desires of our hearts. (Psalm 37:4)
Note: This does not mean He will give us everything we want, but that He will gives us a new set of desires.
B. Covetousness Will Always Lead To Despair. (1 TIMOTHY 6:8-12)
“8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
“8 Así que, teniendo sustento y con qué cubrirnos, seamos contentos con esto. 9 Porque los que quieren enriquecerse, caen en tentación y lazo, y en muchas codicias locas y dañosas, que hunden á los hombres en perdición y muerte. 10 Porque el amor del dinero es la raíz de todos los males: el cual codiciando algunos, se descaminaron de la fe, y fueron traspasados de muchos dolores. 11 Mas tú, oh hombre de Dios, huye de estas cosas, y sigue la justicia, la piedad, la fe, la caridad, la paciencia, la mansedumbre. 12 Pelea la buena batalla de la fe, echa mano de la vida eterna, á la cual asimismo eres llamado, habiendo hecho buena profesión delante de muchos testigos.”
In I Talk Back to the Devil, A.W. Tozer reminds us:
"Money often comes between men and God. Someone has said that you can take two small ten-cent pieces, just two dimes, and shut out the view of a panoramic landscape. Go to the mountains and just hold two coins closely in front of your eyes--the mountains are still there, but you cannot see them at all because there is a dime shutting off the vision in each eye."
It doesn't take large quantities of money to come between us and God; just a little, placed in the wrong position, will effectively obscure our view.
Cedric Gowler. (Sermonillustrations.com)
Illustration: Too Much Is Too Much
Many a man when he begins to accumulate wealth commences at the same moment to ruin his soul, and the more he acquires, the more closely he blocks up his liberality, which is, so to speak, the very mouth of spiritual life.
Instead of doing more for God he does less.
The more he saves the more he wants, and the more he wants of this world the less he cares for the world to come. (Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Quotable Spurgeon, (Wheaton: Harold Shaw Publishers, Inc, 1990).
Last week our Pastor challenged us to Fast, as I was fasting one day my flesh began to ask me for food (not an uncommon request) and I imagined a Large Slice of Pizza. The next thing I know there’s a man coming in with boxes of Pizza, $5 a box not a slice! I SAID “NO!”
“BLESS THE LORD OH MY SOUL!” Not “Bless my soul oh my LORD!”
1. God wants us to keep our priorities clear: “Seek first the kingdom of God.”
2. When we put Him first, our needs will be met. (Matthew 6:33)
DO I HAVE A WITNESS?
Illustration: When Desire Becomes Coveting
WHEN DOES PROPER DESIRE BECOME COVETING?
I think we can put the answer down simply: desire becomes sin when it fails to include the love of God or men.
Further, I think there are two practical tests as to when we are coveting against God or men: First, I am to love God enough to be contented; second, I am to love men enough not to envy. (Francis Schaeffer, Leadership, Vol. 9, no. 2.)
II. THE ABSENCE OF POVERTY WILL NOT PROVIDE EARTHLY CONTENTMENT.
(Luke 12:17-19)
“17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.”
“17 Y él pensaba dentro de sí, diciendo: ¿qué haré, porque no tengo donde juntar mis frutos? 18 Y dijo: Esto haré: derribaré mis alfolíes, y los edificaré mayores, y allí juntaré todos mis frutos y mis bienes; 19 Y diré á mi alma: Alma, muchos bienes tienes almacenados para muchos años; repósate, come, bebe, huélgate.”
Note: COVETOUSNESS – a craving, a desire for more.
A. COVETOUSNESS IS A DISSATISFACTION WITH WHAT IS ENOUGH.
1. Covetousness leads us to believe that our happiness comes from things rather than God.
2. It feeds our appetite and passion for pleasure through the accumulation of stuff.
B. Covetousness Magnifies The Cravings For Material Things And Leads Us To Indulge In The Desires Of The Flesh.
Note: Our urge to acquire things is due less to the passion to possess them than to the vanity of feeling superior to those who envy our possession of them.
(Paul Eldridge, James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 455.)
C. UNRESTRAINED COVETOUSNESS Not Only Drives Us To Accumulate More, It Compels Us To Desire What Belongs To Others.
Illustration: That’s A Good Sign
In Parker and Hart’s "The Wizard of Id" comic strip, one monk is putting up a sign on the bulletin board in front of the church while another monk watches. The sign reads "Thou Shalt Not Covet" and the visiting monk says, "Boy, I wish we had a signboard like that at our church." (Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997).)
III. THE ABUNDANCE OF PROSPERITY WILL NOT PROVIDE HEAVENLY FAVOR.
(Luke 12:20-21)
“20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
“20 Y díjole Dios: Necio, esta noche vuelven á pedir tu alma; y lo que has prevenido, ¿de quién será? 21 Así es el que hace para sí tesoro, y no es rico en Dios.”
FOOL - APHRON (AF’-RONE); from NT:1 (as a negative particle) and NT:5424;
properly, mindless, i.e. stupid, (by implication) ignorant, (specially) egotistic, (practically) rash, or (morally) unbelieving. (Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
A. Wealth Is Not A Permanent Possession.
1. Someone else gets what we have when we die.
2. Every penny we hoard is left behind.
B. Worldly Possessions Do Not Impress God. (Matthew 6:19-21)
“19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
“19 No os hagáis tesoros en la tierra, donde la polilla y el orín corrompe, y donde ladronas minan y hurtan; 20 Mas haceos tesoros en el cielo, donde ni polilla ni orín corrompe, y donde ladrones no minan ni hurtan: 21 Porque donde estuviere vuestro tesoro, allí estará vuestro corazón.”
Conclusion
SOME THINGS WE SHOULD POINT OUT:
1. It is not wrong for a person to desire to have a better quality of life.
2. It is not wrong to want a better job that pays more money.
3. It is not wrong to enjoy the better things in life.
4. It is not wrong to be rich.
But all of these things are wrong for the believer when they become the driving force of their lives. THE ISSUE IS PRIORITY.
We worship what we consider to be most important. But Jesus warned that we cannot serve God and money.
WHAT IS THE PRIORITY OF YOUR LIFE?
Mark 8:34-38
34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
“34 Y llamando á la gente con sus discípulos, les dijo: Cualquiera que quisiere venir en pos de mí, niéguese á sí mismo, y tome su cruz, y sígame. 35 Porque el que quisiere salvar su vida, la perderá; y el que perdiere su vida por causa de mí y del evangelio, la salvará. 36 Porque ¿qué aprovechará al hombre, si granjeare todo el mundo, y pierde su alma? 37 ¿O qué recompensa dará el hombre por su alma? 38 Porque el que se avergonzare de mí y de mis palabras en esta generación adulterina y pecadora, el Hijo del hombre se avergonzará también de él, cuando vendrá en la gloria de su Padre con los santos ángeles.”
Col 3:17
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
“Y todo lo que hacéis, sea de palabra, ó de hecho, hacedlo todo en el nombre del Señor Jesús, dando gracias á Dios Padre por él.”
Rom 14:8
“For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.”
“Que si vivimos, para el Señor vivimos; y si morimos, para el Señor morimos. Así que, ó que vivamos, ó que muramos, del Señor somos.”
Adapted from: The Man With Six I?s by Richard Goble
