A MONEY PROBLEM: What you store up for yourself gets left behind.
- Luke 12:20-21a.
- The end of verse 20 notes the rich fool can’t take it with him. That very night his death is coming and then someone else will get what he’s built up. Everything that he has is left on this earth.
- It’s an important truth: what we build up for ourselves gets left behind us when we leave this world.
- Verse 20 speaks of storing up things for ourselves. That’s also the idea of building up money and possessions for ourselves.
- We store up for ourselves: more stuff, more reserves, more money, more possessions.
A BETTER INVESTMENT: We can be “rich toward God” and get an abundant, long-term return on our investment.
- Luke 12:21.
- This does not mean that you have a literal bank account in heaven with every dollar you’ve invested in the Kingdom of God, plus accumulated interest.
- That would kind of be pointless, since in eternity Christ will provide everything we need.
- It reminds me of the old joke (with really bad theology, but that’s another story) about the rich guy who loved his money, so he told his family to bury him with a briefcase full of gold bars. When he got to heaven, he opened it up to show St. Peter and Peter replied, “Why did you bring pavement?”
- No, having actual money would about as useful as bringing a kiddie pool of salt water with you when you go to the beach.
- In fact, there is an abundant return on investment that is available, but it’s a return of things that are far more meaningful.
- One analogy would be spending your money on a trip that gave you and your family an incredible experience. You would come back saying, “That was money well spent!” You don’t have money to show for your investment, but you’ve got something even more worthwhile.
- What does rich mean?
- It means to have an abundance.
- Have a vision for your life that is beyond this life.
- Am I putting all my money in my house? Am I putting all my money
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE:
- This is not an all-inclusive list, but does share three of the most important “returns on investment.”
1. THE PLEASURE OF PEOPLE'S PRESENCE IN ETERNITY.
- Matthew 28:18-20; Hebrews 12:1.
- One of the greatest things is the thought of people being in eternity because of the money we invested in the Kingdom.
- Missionaries sent. Vacation Bible Schools held. Sermons preached. All those take money. As we invest in the Kingdom and there is harvest, we are part of that harvest.
- To arrive in eternity and have someone say, “I’m here because that missionary your church funded told me about Jesus” or “I became a Christian because of that VBS you gave to” or “I never understood the truth until your pastor shared it with me. Thank you for helping pay his salary.”
- It sounds crude to say, but money is essential to the gospel being shared. It was even essential for Jesus’ ministry (Luke 8:3).
- What a glorious moment: to cross over into eternity and to have (after Jesus and your loved ones) a large crowd of people there to thank you for investing in the Kingdom.
- Schindler’s List: people scene, the list is life, final scene. [Put at end?]
2. EARNED AUTHORITY IN JESUS' EARTHLY KINGDOM.
- Luke 19:11-27 (especially vv. 16-19); Revelation 21:1, 4; Revelation 21:24; Revelation 22:2-3.
- Most people’s vision of eternity is spending forever in heaven. That’s not Biblical.
- Instead, the final two chapters of the Bible point us toward a new earth and a New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1, 4). Those chapters also give tantalizing but undeveloped clues about “nations” and “kings of the earth” (Revelation 21:24; Revelation 22:2). It also speaks of us ruling with Christ (Revelation 22:3).
- This speaks of a world the way ruled the way it should be. Here too, just as Jesus did in leaving His mission in the hands of the church, Jesus is delegating to us authority and power. We will rule with Christ – what a thought.
- The parable in Luke 19 tells us that our faithfulness in what’s entrusted to us on the earth is a test of what authority we will be given in the world to come. Our stewardship there is larger than just our money, but it does include our money.
- The faithfulness and fruitfulness we’ve shown with our money (among other things) will determine the level of authority and responsibility that we’re given in that Kingdom.
- This is one of the “returns on investment” that we receive from Christ.
- We tend to think of work as an intrinsic evil, but work existed before the Fall. The Fall did not bring work, it merely made it harder.
- Work is part of the way God has made us. Often the problem today is that we’re doing things that are unfulfilling or tedious. But if we were given a job that fit perfectly with our gifts and abilities, that would be a joyous work.
- Think of it: to serve with Christ as your Boss.
- Further, think of having Him reward you because of your faithfulness with the money that passed through your hands with a big responsibility.
3. THE JOY OF RECEIVING JESUS' PRAISE.
- Matthew 25:21, 23; Luke 19:17; 1 Corinthians 3:15; Revelation 21:4.
- In Matthew 25:21 and 23, we have the phrase “well done, good and faithful servant.” A similar phrase appears in Luke 19:17 (“well done, my good servant”).
- This is a big deal.
- Imagine that you’re standing in front of Christ at the Final Judgment. He reviews your life and then stands up from His throne. He slowly walks forward until He stands before you. He places His hands on your shoulder and a proud smile slowly comes across His face. He leans in slightly and looks you squarely in the eye as He says, “Well done, my good and faithful servant!” Wow.
- Talk about a return on investment.
- Some will say things like, “It doesn’t matter to me if I’m rewarded – just being there is enough!”
- In 1 Corinthians 3:15, it speaks of being saved as through fire. In other words, your soul is saved, but your life has borne no fruit that goes with you.
- Money would be one area where someone might not bear fruit for Christ. We spend our money selfishly and have nothing to show for all the money that’s passed through our hands.
- Imagine standing before Christ at Final Judgment. Again, He stands and walks to you. He puts a hand on your shoulder and then says, “In the course of your 80 years on the planet, two million dollars passed through your hands. [That’s $50,000 a year over 40 years of working.] You bought TVs. You bought ATVs. You didn’t just spend what you had – you actually went deep in debt to more stuff. And all of that is burned away – gone like ash in the wind. But for my Kingdom and my priorities, all you could spare was a five-dollar bill occasionally tossed in the offering plate. Two million dollars and you invested almost nothing in what I said mattered to me. My child, I am ashamed of you and your foolishness. You have failed Me in your money.”
- Do you really think in that moment that you’ll just be happy to be there? No – you will be ashamed and weeping at your foolishness.
- In Matthew 25, in addition to saying “well done,” the master also says, “Come and enter into your master’s joy.” Imagine that: entering into Jesus’ joy!
- I imagine that sometimes like through the cold dark night for an hour, only to finally come upon your warm cabin. You’re chilled to the bone. But there is a light in the window and a fire in the hearth. You step into that warmth and are enveloped by that wonderful feeling.
- Maybe entering into the joy of Jesus is like that.
SOLID FINANCIAL ADVICE: Invest long-term.
- When we’re in eternity and people see what our money investments have borne, may people look at us and say, “Wow. He invested well.”
- Compare to Warren Buffett’s renowned investing prowess.
- We say “he invested well” when we see someone with material prosperity. What about someone with soul prosperity.
- Invest long-term. . . for eternity.
- Schindler’s List: final scene?
