HoHum:
There have been times when we have gone to a high school football/basketball game and the kids asked for some money to buy candy. I gave them $5 and they returned with some candy. I ask for a piece and their answer is “no.”
Here is what they don’t realize. First – I could take the candy away and eat it all my self. Because I am bigger and stronger I could do that. Second – I gave them the money in the first place, I paid for the candy so really it is mine. Third – I could have bought so much candy that they couldn’t have possibly eaten all of it. Now look at this from God’s view when He blesses us. 1st – He has the power to take it all away if/when He wants. 2nd – He gives us everything. 3rd – He can supply endlessly. This goes for our finances, health, just about everything
WBTU:
A common problem in all societies is greed or covetousness. Many are never satisfied with what they have, and always looking to have more in the way of money or things. We, as Christians, must be careful, for it is easy for us to fall into this sin.
Jesus tells us a parable about greed here. This is the only place in the gospels where this is told. The parable was actually prompted by a request that our Lord received. Our Lord was talking about the false teachings of the Pharisees, about not fearing men, but fearing God. He gave a teaching called the blaspheme of the HS. He had just taught about the help of the HS during persecution. Now this. It doesn’t fit. It seems that Jesus was interrupted.
Vs. 13- The man’s request was that Jesus speak to his brother about properly dividing an inheritance. The eldest son was to be the executor of his parents estate. The eldest son was to get the largest portion of the estate and divide the rest with his brothers. Evidently this man was not the eldest son and he felt like his brother gave him a bad deal.
Whether the man had a case or not, we do not know. Rabbis were asked to act as judges between people on certain occasions, so such a request was probably not uncommon.
Vs. 14- Jesus refused to do this. This was not the time or the person to ask to resolve these kinds of issues. Jesus Christ did not come to be an earthly judge deciding inheritance issues.
Vs. 15- Like he often does Jesus Christ had an understanding of what this man’s problem really was. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”” 1 Samuel 16:7, NIV. This man was greedy or covetous.
Vs. 15- Real life is not based on what we have in the way of money or possessions. “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10, NIV. Jesus knows about life, we better listen to him.
Our Lord goes on to tell the story of a rich, but foolish farmer.
Thesis: Let’s talk about some principles on life and money from this parable
For instances:
Prosperity comes from God. Vs. 16
It was the land of this rich man that was responsible for the man’s wealth. God had given this man a very good piece of property.
We were made to work. In the Garden of Eden, Adam had work to do. A lazy man should not expect a giveaway. “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”” 2 Thessalonians 3:10, NIV.
God has no problem with men and women striving to do their best with the gifts, talents, and careers they have been given. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,” Colossians 3:23, NIV.
But no matter how hard we work, we must realize and accept something which the man in this parable did not. It is God who keeps us healthy so we can work. It is God who allows us to be productive. It is God who gives us knowledge and wisdom to be successful.
It is God who has allowed us to have whatever we have been blessed with. It is God who allows circumstances to be such that we prosper. “But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” Deuteronomy 8:18, NIV.
God can be left out. Vs. 17-18
This man was thankless. Because of this he left out two important things:
Left out those less fortunate. When blessed with abundance, we should share some of it. “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” 1 John 3:17, NIV.
Left out God. He left God out of his plans. In vs. 17-19 he uses the word “I” 6 times. Personal pronouns are used 10 times by this man. My crops, my barns, my grain, my goods.
No recognition of God’s ownership of these things, and thus no room for including God.
“You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”” Deuteronomy 8:17, NIV. then vs. 18
Leisure, in itself, is not a good goal- vs. 19
Leisure and nothing but leisure is not a good goal for a Christian. Continue leisure leads to overindulgence. Continual leisure ignores the will of God.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20, NIV.
Now there is nothing wrong with retirement. Nothing wrong with taking it easy once in a while. But it is wrong to have leisure as the ultimate goal of life.
People who retire and have nothing to do usually don’t last long.
God has final say on all our plans- vs. 20
Why is this man a fool? Not that this man was an atheist but “For the director of music. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Psalms 14:1, NIV. He lived like there was no God. He probably was an upstanding citizen, maybe even at church every week.
God has total control of how long we have to live. For this man to presume he could do anything apart from God was ridiculous. “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:13, 14, NIV.
This is a good reminder for us. We do not know how long we have. If we plan on living for ourselves now and the Lord later, need to think twice. Living for the Lord better be a priority, for we never know when our time is up. “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,” Hebrews 9:27, NIV.
We can’t take it with us- Vs. 21
For all of this man’s planning, his treasures are now going to be in the hands of someone else.
“And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.” Ecclesiastes 2:19, NIV.
Malcolm Forbes was one of the wealthiest people to have lived. The billionaire publisher was the one who came up with the oft-quoted phrase, "He who dies with the most toys wins." I didn't know Malcolm Forbes so I won't offer an evaluation of him but the truth is that those who die with the most toys are just dead. Even though we are seeing and hearing of people putting things in caskets, it won’t work!
Being rich towards God is of the utmost importance- vs. 21
This man could have been rich toward God, but wasn’t. How can we be rich towards God?
1. Be saved- John Tillotson said, "He who provides for this life, but takes no care for eternity, is wise for a moment, but a fool forever." “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Luke 9:25, NIV.
2. Win souls- “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3, NIV.
3. Be faithful- “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7, 8, NIV.
4. Invest in God’s work- Luke 12:32-34- We are to remember that we are the heirs of the heavenly kingdom, and that our treasures are there. I once was an outcast stranger on earth, A sinner by choice, an alien by birth, But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down, An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown. Chorus: I’m a child of the King, A child of the King: With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King. A tent or a cottage, why should I care? They’re building a palace for me over there; Though exiled from home, yet still may I sing: All glory to God, I’m a child of the King. Chorus
