Rich toward God
Proverbs 27-28
INTRODUCTION:
On Resurrection Sunday our thoughts turn to heavenly themes. We can sing about Jesus reigning in heaven as the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords. The image of the Lamb upon the Throne pictures everything Jesus did for us. He gave his life as the sacrificial Lamb, then He rose again and ascended to Heaven.
Jesus Christ conquered death, not just for Himself, but for each and every one of us! On Easter Sunday, we remember His amazing promise, “Because I live you too shall live.” John 14:19
Thinking about Heavenly Themes is more than just a good thing for us to do on Easter. Focusing on Eternity is actually essential for every Christian. In fact, Jesus taught that it is foolish … even dangerous … not to think beyond our earthly life. Jesus made a radical statement in Luke 12 He said, "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. Luke 12:4
Don’t be afraid of someone who might kill you? That’s got to be easier said than done. But His death and resurrection gave these words clout! Jesus faced death head on … willingly. And then He rose again so that we would have no doubt. Death has been conquered. We no longer need to fear death.
But Jesus is not telling us we can breeze our way through life without a care in the world. Listen to His next words… I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Luke 12:5
In other words. Put your mind on eternity. Later, in Luke chapter 12, Jesus told a parable about someone who did NOT give any thought to eternity. Jesus told the Parable of the Rich Fool in response to a question:
Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:13-15
This man obviously assumed Jesus cared about money matters. But he was wrong. Jesus wasn’t about to get entangled in the messy squabble between two brothers. Jesus blasted through this smoke screen to show the real issue: GREED --- greed between two brothers who cared more for money than for each other. Then Jesus launched straight into a little story:
He told about a rich farmer who had a really good harvest one year. The farmer thought, Wow, this is great! I don’t even have room to store all this grain in my barns! What to do, what to do…. I know! I’ll build BIGGER barns! Then I can take life easy. I can eat, drink and be merry! Maybe I’ll take a Caribbean Cruise. Maybe I’ll buy a summerhouse in the Hamptons. Maybe I’ll…
Then God’s voice rudely interrupted his self-congratulations: God said to him, ’You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ Luke 12:20
And in case they didn’t get the point, Jesus gave this clincher: This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:21
What does it mean to be rich toward God? Well the parable made one thing clear. If you want to be rich toward God, you’re going to put GOD ABOVE GOLD.
1. God above Gold
What matters to you? God or gold? This week in our PUEBLO groups we’re reading Proverbs 27 and 28. The Proverbs remind us that earthly riches aren’t going to do us one bit of good when we enter eternity. Here are a few examples:
Riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. Proverbs 27:24
Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse. Proverbs 28:6
A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 28:20
Here we see the proverbial picture of a fool. Only a fool would work for temporary riches and neglect to be rich toward God. After all, 70 or so years of earth time is nothing in comparison to eternity. A truly wise person plans for the future … not just for old age and retirement. For every one of us, a future beyond our time on this earth looms before us.
That’s what Resurrection is all about. Death is not an end, but a beginning. And since we are confident of life beyond the here and now, we ought to be thinking ahead. Here’s how I look at it: Why be a Christian at all if you’re going to be a half-hearted, poverty-stricken one. If you’re going to be a Christian, be a rich one!
So how can you be rich toward God? It’s simple: Put God FIRST. (Now, I said it was simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. This takes effort and determination.) Let’s take some Eternal Inventory to see how your Heavenly 401K is looking. Answer these questions as honestly as you can.
Are you putting God…
· …First in your time (For example, do you pray first thing in the morning every day? Do you set aside regular time for Bible study?)
· …First with your money (What is the first check you write after you get your pay check? Is it for deposit in your Heavenly account… or does it go to some earthly creditor?)
· …First with your abilities (Do you use your talents and abilities to help others and to spread the Gospel?)
· …First in your Heart (Have you developed a habit of worship? Do you often take time to enjoy, appreciate, and adore Jesus Christ?)
We can’t just say God is our top priority and leave it at that. If God is really First in your life, it will show up in your day timer and in your checkbook register. People around us need to see us living out the “God above gold” lifestyle. The farmer in the parable failed to put God above Gold. He also failed to put PEOPLE ABOVE PLEASURE.
2. People above Pleasure
When the rich farmer thought: Wow, this is great! I don’t even have room to store all this grain in my barns! He didn’t go on to decide: I know! I’ll invite the poor and needy to come and take what they need to feed their hungry children. It never crossed the mind of this rich fool that he could use his excess riches to help others.
Becoming rich toward God means putting God first, others second, and self last. Consider these Proverbs about the importance of putting People above our Pleasures:
He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. Proverbs 28:8
He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. Proverbs 28:27
An important part of tithing under the Old Testament Law included alms giving to the poor. We have a tendency to think that after we have tithed to the church, anything we have left over is all ours. I was interested to learn that Jews living under Levitical Law were instructed to give a second tithe to the poor and needy among them.
Becoming rich toward God involves investing our wealth in compassion towards those less fortunate than ourselves. Generosity toward others is another part of becoming rich towards God. If we’re serious about being rich toward God, we also need to put ETERNITY ABOVE EASE.
3. Eternity above Ease
Proverbs 27:1 says Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
The Rich Farmer in our Text was full of plans for his future. He would take his ease. He would eat drink and be merry! And Jesus called him a Fool. Now, if you think about it, this Farmer was not all bad. He was evidently a hard worker. And we know that God commands us to work hard, to manage our money with wisdom, to provide for our families and our futures. So what was the problem with this hard working Farmer?
Jesus makes it clear. All his hard work had one … and only one … ultimate goal. He wanted to work hard and plan ahead so that he could lie around and do absolutely nothing. I believe that is the part that disgusted Jesus the most. The goal of working hard so you can quit working and “take your ease” doesn’t sit well with God.
I wonder sometimes, if our planning for retirement isn’t somewhat off base. It makes sense to save up for those days when you will be too old and sickly to work … but to retire just so you can sit around and play all day flies in the face of everything the Bible teaches. I believe God intends us to do His work here on earth right up until the minute He calls us into eternity.
Now, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with retiring from a career job. Retirement can free you up to focus your energies on work you always wanted to do but didn’t have time for while you were earning a living for your family. For example, I admire Sonja Russell who … after teaching school for years … took on a part-time position here at the church. We are blessed to have so many retired people here at Castle Hills who generously donate their time and talents for God’s kingdom.
According to this parable, any able bodied person who sits around doing nothing productive is nothing but foolish. That kind of person will never become rich toward God. I remember reading an Obituary that is meant to make you stop and think:
· He brushed his teeth twice a day
· The doctors examined him twice a year
· He ate low-carb, low-fat every day
· He gave up his tonsils, his adenoids, his gall bladder … and traded in a few worn-out glands
· He golfed …but never more than 18 holes (moderation in all things)
· He got 8 hours of sleep every night
· He slept with the windows open to get plenty of fresh air
· He carried an umbrella in case of rain
· He didn’t smoke, drink, or chew .. or run around with those who do
· He drove the speed limit
· He jogged and did weight training 5 days a week
· He was set to live to be a hundred years old.
He is survived by
· 18 specialists,
· 3 surgeons
· 4 health institutes,
· 6 gyms
· and numerous manufacturers of health foods and vitamins
So many people are like that man. They think about their health, they enjoy the pleasures of life, but they forget that they are not going to live forever. No matter how well we take care of ourselves, someday every one of us will die. THEN WHAT?
In eternity it is the health of the spirit that matters, not the shape of the body. Donald Trump will be no better off than a homeless man when they both enter eternity --- because it’s our investments in Heaven that pay off, not our bank accounts on earth.
CONCLUSION:
I still remember a phrase I heard in my College days: Only one life, ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.
How is your Heavenly Portfolio looking today? Are you putting
· God above Gold?
· People above Pleasure?
· And Eternity above Ease?
Are you like the Foolish Farmer in Jesus’ parable, or are you growing rich toward God?
