Things? Is Life About Things?

THINGS, IS LIFE ABOUT THINGS?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com This is at least a two part lesson…

TEXT:

Luke 12:15 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.

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS LINE: I WOULD BE HAPPY IF _________________________________________?

If I just had this “THING?” or maybe that “THING” I would be happy?

HELP ME? LET US DEFINE: THING/THINGS… a material object, --- I AM NOT SURE I CAN DEFINE “THING?”

Things: WE DESERVE IT! WE DESERVE MORE! WE NEED IT TODAY. WE SUFFER FROM THE PAIN OF DEBT…

We face the danger of “THINGS” becoming more important than “RELATIONSHIPS.”

The little boy was crying so hard kneeling at the altar: He said: Preacher, pray that Mom would love me as much as she loves the dog? Wow!

Another child said to me: Pastor could you make mom get off her phone and computer. Wow!

A husband told me: When he got home he had to call his wife on the phone, in the other room to ask her something? Wow!

THINGS? We bury our minds in Netflix, sports, and hobbies and miss the REALITY THAT SATISFACTION IS FOUND IN RELATIONSHIPS and not MONEY or “THINGS.”

I read where a restaurant was offering a 10% discount if a family would leave their phones in a rack at the counter so they could spent quality time together.

Reba Macintyre sang a song: THE GREATEST MAN I NEVER KNEW. The song is so sad. After singing a while Reba confesses the greatest man she NEVER KNEW was her FATHER? She was always so busy?

THINGS? There is a family driving around in a big Cadillac Escalade that thinks life is about his “THINGS.” He has made it to the top, 4,000 SQUARE FEET HOME, private school, IS LIFE ABOUT THINGS?

THINGS? IS IT TRUE THAT HE THAT DIES WITH THE BIGGEST AND BEST TOYS AND POSSESSIONS IS THE BEST PERSON?

WATCH YOUR EYES, WATCH YOUR HANDS AND WATCH YOUR FEET… WATCH OUT AND GUARD YOUR HEART…

LIFE DOES NOT CONSIST IN THE ABUNDANCE OF THE “THINGS” WE POSSESS.

Luke 12:15 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.

Luke 12:15 (NLT) Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

Luke 12:15 (MSG) Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot."

Life is never defined in our abundance nor in the lack of “THINGS.”

THINGS? THE “ME GENERATION?” THE NUMBER ONE THING I HEAR IS ME, MYSELF, AND I. I JUST WANT TO BE HAPPY, LIFE IS ABOUT ME!

The Baby Boomers are called the “ME GENERATION.” Due to the NARCISSISM many walk in anger, bitterness and loud opinions. NARCISSISM: excessive or erotic interest in one’s self. No accountability, no remorse, no repentance. Narcissism expresses itself in ABUSE. WE TEND TO WALK AROUND IN BITTERNESS, ANGER, HURT, PAIN, FEAR… We must recognize HURT people HURT PEOPLE. This narcissism is nothing new to the BABY BOOMER GENERATION. This selfishness attitudes and spirits have been around many generations! I DESERVE MORE!

There was a CERTAIN RICH MAN…

Luke 12:16 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.

***1. He thought within HIMSELF, he never considered God or God’s plan. 2. What shall I do?

3. I have no room… 4. Bestow MY fruits… 5. He said…

6. This will I DO… 7. I will pull down 8. MY barns.

9. I will build greater… 10. I will bestow 11. MY fruits

12 MY goods 13. I will say to MY soul, take it easy, eat, drink and BE HAPPY

Things? NOW WHOSE SHALL THESE THINGS BE? His brother? Next brother married the widow?

Luke 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.