What You Got Ain't Nothin'

What You Got Ain’t Nothin’

Griffith Baptist Church – 3/22/09

P.M. Service

Text: Psalm 49

Key verse: Psalms 49:16-17 - 16Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; 17For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

Premise: To many trust in their wealth to get them through in life, but it will never be enough to get them through in the next. It is all about righteousness, not riches.

The Introduction

1. Introduction – 49:1-4

2. False Salvation of Riches – 49:5-9

3. False Security of Riches – 49:10-13

4. False Supremacy of Riches – 49:14-15

5. False Support of Riches – 49:16-20

There is a cartoon showing a lawyer reading the last will and testament of his client to a room full of greedy relatives. The caption reads: “I, John Jones, being of sound mind and body, spent it all!”

The subject of wealth is a touchy one sometimes

Whenever you discuss finances or wealth building people get real touch, and for good reason

Money touches and impacts us in so many ways and in economies like the one we are experiencing, we can feel it’s reach more and more.

But, there are far to many, even Christians, who love their money more than they love their God.

The reality is that, next to God and our total trust in Him, power, wealth possessions and so forth are nothing.

We need a perspective that keeps God in proper focus. In the end, it all comes down to Him anyway.

Galatians 6:3 - For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Body

1. The Nothing of Power – 5

A. In the Prison Fellowship newsletter, Jubilee, Charles Colson told of a young boy who became excessively fearful during the great New York blackout of 1977. When his parents questioned their son, he confessed that at the exact moment the lights went out, he had kicked a power line pole. As darkness engulfed the city, he thought he was to blame and would be punished. Charles Colson He thought he had more power than what He really had. What an apt illustration of those who have power.

B. There are those who use power and the power of wealth to intimidate:

i. They abuse what they have to lord it over those that have less or little

ii. They expect and often receive better treatment because of their wealth – James 2:1-7 - 1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

C. We need to be careful with the use of power and also our response to it.

i. Colossians 3:22-24 - 22Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

ii. We should live a life of humility

iii. We should live a life of meekness

iv. We should live a life of self-control

v. (see Fruit if the Spirit – Gal. 5:22-23)

2. The Nothing of Prosperity – 6-9

A. I heard about a rich man who was determined to take his wealth with him. He told his wife to get all his money together, put it in a sack, and then hang the sack from the rafters in the attic. He said, "When my spirit is caught up to heaven, I’ll grab the sack on my way." Well he eventually died, and the woman raced to the attic, only to find the money still there. She said, "I knew I should’ve put the sack in the basement." (Russell 88).

B. There is no amount of wealth that can ever buy God: