Your Treasure

“Your Treasure”

3/20/2011 – Nampa, ID

Luke 12:15-21 THEME: COVETOUSNESS WILL NOT SATISFY THE PASSIONS OF THE FLESH

“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. 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.”

“15 Y díjoles: Mirad, y guardaos de toda avaricia; porque la vida del hombre no consiste en la abundancia de los bienes que posee. 16 Y refirióles una parábola, diciendo: La heredad de un hombre rico había llevado mucho; 17 Y él pensaba dentro de sí, diciendo: ¿qué haré, porque no tengo donde juntar mis frutos? 18 Y dijo: Esto haré: derribaré mis alfolíes, y los edificaré mayores, y allí juntaré todos mis frutos y mis bienes; 19 Y diré á mi alma: Alma, muchos bienes tienes almacenados para muchos años; repósate, come, bebe, huélgate. 20 Y díjole Dios: Necio, esta noche vuelven á pedir tu alma; y lo que has prevenido, ¿de quién será? 21 Así es el que hace para sí tesoro, y no es rico en Dios.”

MONEY:

 Money can be hazardous to your health.

Two medical researchers at the University of Louisville have been looking into the question and have found that "13%" of the coins and 42% of the paper money carry disease-producing organisms." Small denomination coins and bills are more dangerous because of their rapid turnover.

http://www.pleaseconvinceme.com/index/God_Wants_Us_to_Submit_Our_Financial_Priorities(Sermonillustrations.com)

 Money is the leading cause of disagreements in marriages.

 Here's a weighty one: Money (or the lack thereof) is the biggest stress inducer in the lives of Americans. We worry more about money than our marriages, or our health. http://weirdfactshere.blogspot.com/2007/10/41-money-weird-facts-that-will-blow-you.html

INTRODUCTION: JESUS AND MONEY

• Jesus talked a great deal about money.

• Sixteen of the thirty-eight parables were concerned with how to handle money and possessions.

• In the Gospels, an amazing one out of 10 verses (288 in all) deals directly with the subject of money.

• The Bible offers more than 2,000 verses on money and possessions.

(Howard Dayton, Jr., James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 372.)

In the Parable of the Rich Fool, Jesus gives us a lesson on the failures of selfish over indulgence.

This man was concerned only with what he could gain in this world.

SIX TIMES HE PROCLAIMS HIS SELFISHNESS:

1. What shall “I” do…

2. “I” have no room…

3. “I” will do this…

4. “I” will pull down my barns…

5. There “I” will store all my crops…

6. “I” will say to my soul…

What a contrast from “BLESS THE LORD oh my soul…” to “Bless MY soul oh my Lord!”

But Jesus declared this kind of thinking to be foolishness, warning us of the dangers of this kind of sinful attitude toward money and possessions.

I. THE ACCUMULATION OF POSSESSIONS WILL NOT PROVIDE WORLDLY HAPPINESS.

(Luke 12:15-16)

“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. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully.”

“15 Y díjoles: Mirad, y guardaos de toda avaricia; porque la vida del hombre no consiste en la abundancia de los bienes que posee. 16 Y refirióles una parábola, diciendo: La heredad de un hombre rico había llevado mucho.”

A. My Happiness DOES NOT Depend Upon What I Have. (Philippians 4:10-13)

“10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”