The Games People Play – Monopoly
Intro:
In 1923, nine of the worlds most successful financiers met at Chicago’s Edgewater Beach Hotel. Financially they held the world by the tail. Anything that money could buy was in their grasp. They were by all definitions rich. The members of this group were:
1) Charles Schwab, The president of the worlds largest steel company.
2) Samuel Insull, President of the Worlds largest electric Company.
3) Howard Hopson, President of the worlds largest Gas company.
4) Arthur Cutten, The great Wheat Speculator.
5) Richard Witney, President of the New York Stock Exchange.
6) Albert Fall, Secretary of the Interior in President Harding’s Cabinet.
7) Jesse Livermore, The greatest “Bear” on Wall Street.
8) Ivar Kreuger, Head of the world’s greatest Monopoly.
9) Leon Fraser, President of the bank of international settlements.
Financially this was the most impressive group of men ever gathered in one place. These men had it all. Fine homes, Fine cars, the best of everything. Everything they saw and desired belonged to them.
With the exception of one thing. You see in 1948, 25 years later the picture was quite different.
1) Mr. Schwab was forced into bankruptcy and died penniless
2) Mr. Insull died a fugitive from justice, penniless.
3) Mr. Hopson died in an asylum penniless.
4) Mr. Whitney had just been released from prison, penniless.
5) The rest of the group had all committed Suicide, Penniless.
The one thing these men didn’t have and could not buy was peace with themselves and with God.
I do not believe that riches or possessions are wrong. Some of God’s greatest servants were rich.
1) Abraham
2) Job
3) David
I believe that the problem comes when we allow the wealth to define our lives.
I. Let us consider these New Testament situations
A. Lk 12:13-21 The rich fool
1. Jesus did not condemn him for having possessions
2. He was condemned for his attitude towards his possessions
a) He became self centered
1) 11 times in verses 16-19 he uses the words “I, or My”
2) He owned everything and God owned nothing.
b) He became covetous
1) What he had wasn’t good enough
2) He needed bigger barns to store more stuff
c) He became self sufficient
1) He looked no further than himself
2) He believed that he provided all of his needs.
3) He believed that his wealth guaranteed him a life of leisure.
B. Lk 16:19-22 The rich man ... and Lazarus
Jesus said, "There was a rich man who always dressed in the finest clothes and lived in luxury every day. And a very poor man named Lazarus, whose body was covered with sores, was laid at the rich man’s gate. He wanted to eat only the small pieces of food that fell from the rich man’s table. And the dogs would come and lick his sores. Later, Lazarus died, and the angels carried him to the arms of Abraham. The rich man died, too, and was buried.
1. Once again Jesus did not condemn him for having possessions
2. He was condemned because he failed to use his wealth to God’s glory.
a) He could have shared his food,
b) His medicine
c) Or his money
3. But he chose to horde it.
C. Lk 18:18-23 The rich young ruler
A certain leader asked Jesus, "Good Teacher, what must I do to have life forever?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? Only God is good. You know the commands: ’You must not be guilty of adultery. You must not murder anyone. You must not steal. You must not tell lies about your neighbor. Honor your father and mother.’" But the leader said, "I have obeyed all these commands since I was a boy." When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "There is still one more thing you need to do. Sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me." But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was very rich.
1. Jesus did not condemn him for having possessions
2. but a very real look at how possessions can keep us from true relationship with the Father.
II. Our attitude should be like...
A. 2 Tim 1:16-18 The generous spirit of Onesiphorus
May the Lord show mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, who has often helped me and was not ashamed that I was in prison. When he came to Rome, he looked eagerly for me until he found me. May the Lord allow him to find mercy from the Lord on that day. You know how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.
1. so caring, so generous it was remembered!
2. the text indicates this is not just a "one time" thing ... his was an abiding spirit of
generosity
B. Acts 9:36 - 39 Dorcas - "full of good works"
In the city of Joppa there was a follower named Tabitha (whose Greek name was Dorcas). She was always doing good deeds and kind acts. While Peter was in Lydda, Tabitha became sick and died. Her body was washed and put in a room upstairs. Since Lydda is near Joppa and the followers in Joppa heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two messengers to Peter. They begged him, "Hurry, please come to us!" So Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room where all the widows stood around Peter, crying. They showed him the shirts and coats Tabitha had made when she was still alive.
1. I have no doubt that she was rich
2. but she certainly used her possessions for others
D. Rom 16:1,2 Phebe -
I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a helper in the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to accept her in the Lord in the way God’s people should. Help her with anything she needs, because she has helped me and many other people also.
1. a key word here is "servant" - that’s her spirit
2. that is the essence of our life in Christ – serve
III. Our greatest Possession
1) The greatest possession that we can have is faith in God.
a) Cars will break down
b) Homes will need to be refurbished
c) Money can be lost
d) And jewelry and fine clothes can be stolen
e) Matthew 6:19-21
"Don’t store treasures for yourselves here on earth where moths and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them. But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will be where your treasure is.
2) The man who has faith in God is truly prepared for life.
a) We understand that this world and it’s possessions are temporary
b) But our home in heaven will last forever.
c) Are you prepared?
d) Are you trusting in things that will lead to destruction?
e) Or do you have the assurance of God himself as your possession?
Invitation
