Worshiping Wealth Luke 12:13-21

Welcome to all you Saints. Believe it or not, right? The Lord has said that those who know him are Saints. So welcome to everyone that's here today. Today is Thanksgiving week. I hope you have a blessed time where You have a time of Thanksgiving with the family or friends.

We look forward to that time. I know we always have a house full and always eat too much. But we thankful that the Lord provides us much For announcements unless if you have your bulletins. As you look at your bulletin the next Bible study meets this Wednesday, November the 22nd at 530 and they're going through the book of Ruth and everyone is welcome and The biblical counseling course that we have is.

There is none for the month of November. The next one starts will be December the 9th at 9 in the morning and Then if you look at that and think about that then just following that at 10 o 'clock on Saturday the 9th we have the lady's Christmas tea on the 9th of December so you put that in your calendars and Ladies I know you'll enjoy your time.

So, let's go to the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father we come to you this morning thanking you for the privilege that we have to come together and to hear your word and To praise you in song. We pray that it might be a blessed time of refreshing for each one of us.

We would pray that you would be with pastor as it brings your word. Pray that you would speak through him the things you've laid on his heart and we would thank you for that Lord. We would do pray for the Han family as they grieve this week and think of Jimmy and we thank you Lord even it in old age he came to know you Lord and we thank you for that and We thank you that we can have a time of refreshing and blessing even as we think of his he is with you at this time.

Now we pray these things in Jesus name. Amen.

Stand together with me if you would as we think of Thanksgiving and count your blessings. Morning everyone again.

The Lukewarm Church and Christ’s Rebuke

I'm reading from Revelation Chapter 3 verses 14 through 18. I'll be reading out of the new and international version to the church in Laodicea. To the angel of the church in Laodicea right. These are the words of the Amen the faithful and true witness the ruler of God's Creation.

I Know your deeds that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one of the other. So because you are lukewarm Neither hot nor cold I'm about to spit you out of my mouth. You say I am rich.

I have acquired wealth and Do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched pitiful poor blind and naked. I Counsel you to buy from me the gold refined in the fire so you can become rich and white clothes to wear.

So you can cover your shameless nakedness and salve to put on your eyes so you can see. May the Lord add his blessing to the reading of these words.

Warning Against Covetousness in Luke 12

Please turn with me to Luke chapter 12. Luke chapter 12 verses 13 through 21. Luke chapter 12 verses 13 through 21. Then one from the crowd said to him teacher Tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.

But he said to him man who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you. And he said to them take heed and beware of covetousness. For one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.

Then he spoke a parable to them saying. The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully and he thawed within himself. Saying what shall I do since I have no room to store my crops? So he said I will do this.

I will pull down my barns and build greater and there I will store all my crops and my goods and I will say to my soul soul. You have many goods laid out for many years. Take your ease eat drink and be merry.

But God said to him fool this night. Your soul will be required of you. Then whose will those things be which you have provided? So is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God? This is the word of the Lord.

Let us pray. Father we are thankful that you are the true source of all riches and blessing. And we're thankful that the most precious treasure is not even physical. That it is your son whom you have given for our lives.

Thank you that he is our treasure. Who is in heaven? Father we pray that you would remove every competing false gods. Treasures in our lives that are preventing us from truly valuing and enjoying Christ.

In Jesus name Amen. Now when we took take a look at Luke chapter 12 a huge Chunk of Luke chapter 12 consists of Jesus instructing his disciples how they ought to live. How. How do the disciples of Christ need to live in? this world while the previous passage in Luke Warned his disciples of the persecution That's coming and exhorted them to trust God through it.

Here Jesus warns them of an excessive attachment to wealth. This is because when life gets hard when life becomes Difficult for Christians. It is tempting to find security in materials instead of God.

Life gets hard people are persecuting you life gets hard. Family abandons you because you're a Christian. But you cannot find material security in the things you own. Now first this text is not against wealth right after all if God So chooses to bless a Christian family with wealth That is his choice.

Many faithful and faithful men and women have been blessed with a lot of wealth and power in history and remained Godly holy and faithful right. Abraham Joseph and David are a few of the examples. Now the warning in this passage is not against wealth.

It's rather warning against the devotion to wealth warning against the love of money warning against the worship of money, which is driven by covetousness and greed and. This message is particularly important in our culture.

Because our culture has a subtle way of allowing for greed. Now when people think about greed they think of the wealthy billionaires and millionaires and oh. They don't seem to be sharing. They're always on their private jets and yachts.

However, we we do have to discern. Where else is there greed? Let's think about what politicians and media say. They pit the have-nots against the haves. The 1 versus the 99 The wealthy versus the poor.

The middle class versus the upper class. It does not matter that the poorest in our country are better off than the richest in history. It does not matter that many can afford luxuries that kings of last century dreamt of.

The focus is That your neighbor has something more than you. That's the key. You may have more than what you had in the past. But it doesn't matter if your neighbor has more than you. Greed is what robs us of the joy That God brings in our lives God's blessings greed and covetousness.

Say it's never enough you're never satisfied and ultimately this overt focus on what you lack compared to your neighbor leads to the acceptance of satanic ideologies like communism and socialism. No wonder why these ideas are so popular in our country.

They stem from and are driven by covetousness. The message is that the wealthy gained their wealth wrongfully so that. The workers need to seize the means of production. Right. That's the very source of wealth the workers need to get that and often through violent means.

Fueled by envy. Right. He has something that I want and it belongs to me. I deserve it. In Essence communism is government said sanction stealing and at the core of it all is covetousness. Someone else someone else has more than you and that is unjust.

It is no longer God who blesses his people with wealth but the government who decides. Who the blessed are at the cost of the few who will lose all they have. And. For Christians, we must remember that any ideology that promises blessing justice or paradise on earth without Jesus Christ is ultimately from Satan himself.

Sadly this entitled view has seeped into the church. Pastors and teachers preach for socialist programs. The poor deserve more the wealthy need to give more. This deserve language is loaded with entitlement and envy.

I'm not saying the wealthy Do not need to give more. But it is from the generosity of their heart if they so choose to give more. I'm not saying the church does not care for the poor. I know this church does but it is never forced nor coerced and Nor is it driven by envy just because someone has more than the other.

And when these pastors and teachers promote these unjust wealth distribution programs in the guise of charity and generosity they don't quite show that. These programs are forced and coerced their wealth distribution.

Driven by envy and covetousness. And for Christians, we must stand firm. Even against popular ideologies if They're driven by sin not God the main point of our message is That we do not devote our lives to pursuing possessions.

Because it prevents us from devoting our lives to God. We do not devote our lives to pursuing possessions because it prevents us from devoting our lives to God first as disciples of Jesus our primary devotion is not the pursuit of possessions.

As Disciples of Jesus our primary devotion is not the pursuit of possessions. Similar to the previous interactions Luke does not give us much detail in which this interaction occurs with this unknown, man then one from the crowd said to him and Heard this certain man during a certain time at an unknown location.

This lack of information shows us that The important matter the truly important matter in this passage is the lesson itself. It's what Jesus will say. The unknown man brings up a problem for Jesus to solve.

Teacher. Tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. This man wants Jesus to handle an inheritance case. This may be odd because we live in a secular culture in which legal experts Are the ones answering these questions, right?

However, this was not unique in ancient Israel. This is because the law the first five books of the Old Testament Had regulations on inheritance, right. After all God was the one who brought the Israelites to the promised land, which is God's land and he was the one who divided the land among the tribes and the families and In the end the goal was not to just possess the land but to pass it on to the next generation.

And then the generation after that and so on right the goal For God to bring the Israelites back to the promised land was so that they would keep the land Faithfully and pass it on. So the law the first five books of the Old Testament have Regulations on inheritance.

Who is going to inherit. How much. What if it's this case that case? Hence Inheritance was not a purely secular matter like it is today, but rather a theological matter. That's why it was common for rabbis like the teachers the religious teachers To get involved it shows that this man believed that Jesus was trustworthy.

He knew the law well. So he brings the case to Jesus. Ironically Jesus Although the lawgiver of the Old Testament himself Refuses to take the case. But he said to a man who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you.

Now this is not to say that Jesus does not involve himself in personal matters, right? Jesus is a personal being whom you can go to with anything you're going through. Rather Jesus earthly mission is not to settle personal disputes but to reconcile the world to God through his death and resurrection.

Jesus ministry Had a greater goal. Now because Luke does not comment on the case we do not know who's at fault. What was what was the problem instead of opening the case? Jesus reprimands the man's focus on the inheritance itself.

Take heed and beware of covetousness for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. Some translations Render it as greed. Some have covetousness. The common thread is that both covetousness and greed are Passionate desires for something that does not rightfully belong to you.

Right covetousness and greed are passionate desires for something that do not rightfully Belong to you. It is never enough to satisfy the greedy. It is an entitled belief that what you have is Not what you have is not sufficient and that you are Owed more you're entitled to more or in another way what God has given you is not enough.

This is why Paul warns against covetousness in Colossians 3 verse 5. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth fornication uncleanness passion and evil desire and covetousness. Which is idolatry.

To passionately desire something that God has not given you. Yet believe that you're entitled to it is None other than idolatry. You're worshiping a false god and This is because what you're saying is God made an error and I could have done better.

Ultimately, whatever you're lusting after which you do not have is God's fault and at this point you are bowing down to a different God a Different God who can provide what you think you deserve? The point here is this man was so focused on the potential inheritance That he actually neglected more important parts of life for one.

He was focusing on the inheritance Rather than his relationship with his own brother. The potential for wealth came before the love for his own brother. Instead of a ruling Jesus gives him a lesson on the danger of focusing on possessions.

Life's purpose is not about having the greatest number of things or the most expensive items. At the end first if you think that covetousness and greed Do not apply to you because you don't have much.

You'd be wrong. The wealthy do not have monopoly over the sin of greed and covetousness. The poor can be just as greedy and just as covetous. We have to look at the heart. Whatever that constantly fills your mind when you are idle.

Whatever you're fantasizing about that you don't have. That's covetousness. It may be your dream house. Oh. What I would do with that backyard. The type of garden I would have. We decorate the living room this way.

Now I'm not against good planning. But when that becomes an obsession. When that becomes something that you believe you deserve to have one day. That's covetousness. In fact doesn't have to be a house doesn't have to be even physical.

It could be If I get promoted to this job or attain a certain status at The church. If my retirement reaches to this level if my dividend rate can Sustain my monthly spending. Only if I have a spouse.

If I have that one friend who can truly understand I'd be satisfied. Only if I have this I Would be secure. It is to look at a creative thing and deifying it as its creator. To look at the creation and say That will satisfy me to the uttermost.

That's idolatry. That's covetousness. Now as I've said greed is not good planning greed. Also, it's just not any desire. You may want a new car. You may want a new house. It is when this intense longing for something or someone Completely occupies your heart and becomes the primary motivation for your life.

Oh. If I had this I would be set. I Wouldn't need anything more. And when that becomes the reason why you get out of your bed. This is the reason why I go to work. This is the reason why I why I do what I do.

If the reason is not primarily God You're worshiping something else now. Why is it dangerous to primarily pursue possessions? Our devotion to material security is an absolute obstacle to our devotion to God.

Our devotion to material security is an absolute obstacle to our devotion to God. To illustrate his lesson on possessions. Ah, Jesus tells a parable the ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.

It starts with the background an Unknown rich man is blessed by a fruitful harvest season. Notice the subject of the verse here one may think it's the rich man. No, no. No, it's the ground in Verse 16 the ground is the one that's been blessed where the harvest was plentiful.

I Remember in Israel the land is the inheritance from God. Whenever the yield is plentiful it is considered a blessing from God in The end the source of blessing is ultimately God. And what's important here is in verse 16 the man doesn't look that bad.

The man didn't cheat to get the wealth. He didn't defraud anyone. He didn't take anyone's land. It was the land that he was stewarded with. The wealth came to him. Now the dilemma here is that because of the exceeding harvest, which he couldn't have predicted.

He has to reconfigure everything. And he thought within himself saying what shall I do since I have no room to store my crops. Up to this point the man is not doing anything wrong. He has been blessed by God.

And He did not do anything wrong to come into this wealth. And his main problem is that there's so much. What do you do about that? Right. There's nothing wrong here up to this point. You can't say this man is greedy.

He's just been really tremendously blessed. And he just wasn't expecting it. That's why there's no room however, the next two verses. Show us his true devotion. Sometimes what they say in their heart Gives us away what they're worshipping.

It's the very words you say in your mind. That gives us a clue who you're truly devoted to. So he said I Will do this. I will pull down my barns and build greater and there I will store all my crops and my goods and I will say to my soul soul.

You have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease eat drink and be merry. His speech Flows from his true priority in his heart. Notice all the first person pronouns here. I will I will do this.

I will build my barns my crops my goods and my soul. At least eight times directly referring to himself and even more when he talks to his own soul all of a sudden a clear blessing from God that we have established in the previous two verses are centered around the rich man and Himself notice it is all about my crops and my goods.

The reader knows Luke knows Jesus knows it was not his crops nor his goods. This man found material security in his possessions. His soul found the uttermost. Satisfaction and comfort in the things that God had graciously given him just previously.

This man Worshipped the gifts of God while neglecting the giver. This man's highest devotion was to things rather than God. His main source of comfort was stored in his barns not enthroned in heaven. He worships the creation rather than the Creator.

Now, how does God respond to this man? But God said to him fool this night your soul will be required of you. Then whose will those things be which you have provided? What an ironic answer to all the mice God refers to you.

The word fool here does. Does not note does not denote ignorance. That's important. Foolishness in the Bible is Not the lack of knowledge. It's not ignorance rather Fools in ancient Israel were those who lacked wisdom and did not have anything to do with God.

Wisdom is not knowledge right. Someone who can just give you facts May not be really wise. Wisdom is Knowing and living According to how God would have you live. Wisdom is being able to discern and delighting in and choosing God's best for you and also all of humanity.

Wisdom requires God in your life. Wisdom always Considers God and his plan and his views and his will first and foremost. Hence when we when we do look at a foolishness in the Bible It actually shows moral corruption rather than just stupidity.

For example, psalm 14 1 the fool says in his heart. There is no God. They're corrupt and do abominable deeds. It's it's it's not oh like I can't quite see the evidence for God. No, no, no, that's not it.

It's that I'm going to live as if there's no God. I'm gonna live. However, I want. Right it that's moral corruption. Despite the abundant blessing from God. This rich man took all the credit and found his satisfaction and comfort elsewhere.

The ironic end to this parable is that the years of comfort that this man looked forward to Ends that night. His heart could plan all that he desired. But God has the last say. God has the prerogative to call any soul back at any time.

Nothing in this rich man's barns could have redeemed his soul which did not even belong to him in the first place. God did not want any of his wealth. No, I'm gonna no amount of wealth could buy back even a day from God.

The last irony of God's intervention is of course the first dilemma that this rich man had regarding his wealth is still up in the air as He will not enjoy any of it. That question of what will I do with all this wealth.

The parable doesn't say we don't know. That question that problem which led him to build and plan for bigger barns to find more comfort. That's that's unresolved and he won't even know who will get it.

And verse 21 ends with the punchline of the parable. So is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. There's a contrast here regarding how you can approach your wealth. It is stored up as treasure for yourself.

Or is it toward God. This is not to say that God is some needy person who needs your wealth, right? He's begging for it on the street. That's not true. He doesn't need you. He owns everything. But it's about the relationship.

Do you consider him? When you spend. Do you consider his plan his will. Do you consider his people. The parable is not against those who plan out his wealth. The parable is against those who have received tremendous blessings from God and Have total disregard for God for those who find their utmost security in their wealth.

They will find no eternal security in God. The zealous pursuit of material security is an absolute obstruction to eternal security. What that means is when you depend on your wealth. You can't depend on God.

Why would you depend on God? When you depend on yourself, but that's that's kind of like where our heart lies. We want to depend on ourselves. Before we depend on God. We want to rule our lives Before we submit to the rule of God.

The question however is Now that we know that that's our Tendency as humans sinners we want to depend on ourselves for security comfort. How do we avoid that? How do we avoid treasuring of things instead of devoting to God?

Christ as the True Treasure

The answer of course is that you must View Jesus truly as he is. You must see Jesus as the most valuable treasure in your life. You must daily remind yourself what you have because of Christ is not what you have because of yourself.

Because of Christ's death for you on the cross you have forgiveness of sin. A Complete pardon. No lingering punishment. No leftover wrath. Not only that in Christ. You're declared righteous. This is more than just a pardon.

You're clothed with the righteousness of Christ. That you didn't earn yourself. It's not your righteousness. It's someone else's that's credited to you. Not only that. Your identity changes. You're not some random righteous guy on the street.

Clothed in Christ's righteousness. You're adopted into his family. Your identity is no longer dependent on you and what you do what you say how you say it. So many things to consider if your identity depends on what you do and what you say.

But it's dependent on what God has done. You're his beloved child that is your primary identity. You may be a mom. You may be a dad. You may be a student. You may be retired. You may be a veteran. You may be still working.

But your primary identity is a beloved child of God. That can't be taken away from you. Talk about security there. Not only that. When you believe in Christ, you're given the Holy Spirit. Who is the guarantor and the seal of your salvation?

He stays with you until the very end. In the end when you trust Christ instead of yourself or your wealth. Really the ultimate treasure is you get Christ. You get Jesus. Instead of all the things that you might want in the created realm.

You trust Jesus you get the Creator Himself. He is Your most precious treasure. Gaining the whole world is nothing compared to what you have in Christ and Christ Himself. Only when you know this. Greed is not a problem.

You can have the world. I'm Perfectly satisfied with my Savior. That's what you can tell your soul when you're tempted. To covet. You can have that car. I Don't need that car. I don't need that job. I don't need that relationship.

I Get Christ. You don't fight greed by lying to yourself. That's not actually good. A New car is good. A new house sounds good to me. You fight covetousness. By looking at what you already have that is infinitely better.

Your highest treasure stored up in heaven. Jesus Himself. That eternal security. I will end with this second verse of the hymn as a as the deer. Which illustrates this so well, I want you more than gold or silver.

Only you can satisfy. You alone are the real joy giver and The apple of my eye, let us pray father. Help us to daily remind ourselves. The true value. The true value of the treasure that is Jesus and everything that comes with Jesus.

Help us do not lust over. Envy what we don't have. But help us to focus on what we do have. Who is so much better Than everything that we don't have. Help us to treasure Jesus every day. Help us to look forward to Him.

Help us to long to spend time with Him. In scripture and prayer in Jesus name Amen.