Transformed: Financial Health Series

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). An Inappropriate Interruption (vs 13).

(2). An Unexpected Answer (vs 14).

(3). An Intelligent Insight (vs 17-20):

• (3a). In planning for himself, he forgot his neighbour (vs 17-19)

• (3b). In considering his goods, he forgot the giver (vs 20).

• (3c). In providing for his body, he forgot his soul (vs 18-20)

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

This week I read a little prayer that someone prayed…

“Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray my house, my home to keep.

I pray my stocks are on the rise,

and that my analyst is wise.

That all the wine I sip is white,

and that my hot tub’s watertight.

The steak I eat will not be tough,

that all my sushi’s fresh enough.

I pray my mobile phone still works,

that my career won’t lose its perks.

My microwave won’t radiate,

my caravan won’t depreciate.

I pray my health club doesn’t close,

and that my money market grows.

If I go broke before I wake,

I pray my Lexus they won’t take.”

• This funny little tongue-in-cheek prayer:

• Represents someone’s idea of what’s important in their life.

• To many people money is high on their list of priorities;

• Because the more you have the more ‘stuff’ you can acquire and enjoy!

Ill:

• Over 32 million people in the UK play the National Lottery each week;

• And buy an average of three tickets each time,

• Despite the chances of winning being just one in 14 million.

• People are buying into the dream, that money will not only change their lives;

• But will change it for the better.

• Now whereas money is important;

• It is limited in what it can do.

Ill:

• “Money can buy a bed but not sleep;

• Money can buy books but not brains;

• Money can buy a clock but not time

• Money can buy food but not appetite;

• Money can buy finery but not beauty;

• Money can buy a house but not a home;

• Money can buy medicine but not health;

• Money can buy position but not respect

• Money can buy blood but not life

• Money can buy sex but not love

• Money can buy insurance but not safety

• Money can buy food but not appetite

• Money can buy luxuries but not culture;

• Money can buy amusements but not happiness;

• Money can buy a cross but not a saviour;

• Money can buy a passport to everywhere but not to heaven”.

• TRANSITION: Money is important;

• It is limited in what it can do.

• Now this uncomfortable little passage from Luke’s gospel:

• Gives us some good advice regarding financial health.

• Forces us to look at our lives and ask ourselves that question;

• “What is really important in life?”

Our Bible passage this morning tells the story of a man who has plenty;

• In fact more than plenty;

• Everything in his garden is rosy!

• We would say, he is enjoying what we call ‘the good life!’

Need to pause here:

• Because some of you are thinking; ‘lucky old him”.

• You may feel that this story does not apply to you this morning.

• Because after all, you may have a pile of bills at home that need paying;

• And a monthly wage that is in desperate need of an increase!

• Now all that might all be true;

• But this story can very much apply to you and me because we are actually very rich.

• We live in a country, with one of the highest living standards in the entire world.

• The life we enjoy is far above and beyond most of the rest of the world;

• They can only imagine what we so often take for granted!

Quote:

(a).

• If you have had an education and know how to read,

• Then you are more blessed that over two billion people in the world;

• That cannot read anything at all.

(b).

• If you woke up this morning with more health than illness,

• You are more blessed than the million people who won’t survive the week.

(c).

• If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back,

• A roof over your head and a place to sleep,

• You are richer than 75% of this world.

(d).

• If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change lying in a dish,

• You are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.

(e).

• And if you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment,

• Arrest, torture, or death,

• You are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.