Luke 12:15-21 New American Standard Bible
15 But He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one is affluent does his life consist of his possessions.” 16 And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. 17 And he began thinking to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will store all my grain and my goods there. 19 And I will say to [a] myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years to come; relax, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night [b]your soul is demanded of you; and as for all that you have prepared, who will own it now?’ 21 Such is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich in relation to God.”
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
The Value of Our Soul
Foolishness and Wickedness of People.
14 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have committed detestable acts;
There is no one who does good.
Psalm 38:5New American Standard Bible
5 My [a]wounds grow foul and fester
Because of my foolishness.
Psalm 85:8 New American Standard Bible
8 [a]I will hear what God the Lord will say;
For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
And may they not turn back to [b]foolishness.
A certain ungodly tavern-keeper who liked music decided to attend one of John Wesley’s meetings to hear the singing.
He had resolved however, not to listen to the sermon.
He sat with his head down and fingers in his ears.
But when God wants to speak to a man’s soul, He has His ways.
A fly flew on the man’s nose and when he attempted to drive it away, he heard nine words that changed his life.
He heard Mr. Wesley say,
“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
From that moment the ungodly tavern-keeper had no rest in his soul.
He returned the next night, listened intently and was converted.
Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew,
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26
Matthew 16:24-26 The Message
24-26 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me, I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
The human soul is a priceless treasure; it is the real you.
In fact, the Bible teaches that your soul is more valuable than the whole world!
Yet, far too many people “sell their souls” for what surely are petty bargains, and temporary wealth.
We are far far more than just material beings and science and psychology has proposed; the Bible teaches that we are body, soul and spirit.
We also see that a great price was paid for the soul, but not in an earthly sense.
1 Peter 1:18-19 says,
“you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold,… but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
Jesus Christ allowed himself to die on a cross for your soul.
His death pays the penalty for the sins of those who believe on Him by faith.
But just as the man in this parable neglected and lost his soul.
It is possible for you to lose your soul forever.
I want to share with you 3 reasons why many people lose their soul in the end.
Three reasons why many people lost their souls:
I. WRONG PREPARATION (v. 16-18)
This man’s life was far too busy in pursuing the comforts of this life and not on pursuing God.
The farmer cares was about to BUILD BIGGER BARNS, but God brought in a new perspective.
The farmer won’t live to see them.
In fact, he won’t live to BUILD BIGGER BARNS. He made plans only for this life but not what comes after. God was not in his life. He did not consider God at all.
Jesus wants us to see things in the right perspective.
He told the young man who came to Him:
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (12:15)
12:24 “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.”
12:27 “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labour or spin…” and look how God clothes them.
You can lose your soul if you plan for yourself alone.
You were created to pursue a relationship with God; riches or sin can never satisfy your soul. (Mt. 6:33)
In the parable, God called this man a fool. He had amassed great wealth, but was poor toward God.
“Nothing is wrong in seeking great things. But it is wrong to seek great things for only yourself” – Oswald Sanders
Jesus reminds us of the need to remember God – the Source of all our blessings.
God wants us to invest in things that has eternal value.
We must invest our life – time, talent, knowledge – in the work of His Kingdom.
Lay up “treasures in heaven..” (cf.12:33).
Live life in the light of eternity and we shall be greatly blessed.
All that the farmer has – will not go to him, and will not go with him.
Life without God is meaningless.
Man finds true fulfilment in this world – we want to have “plenty of good things laid up for many years” and then we can “take life easy; eat, drink and be merry” (v.19)
Jesus says true fulfillment can only come through a relationship with our God.
“Security in life does not lie with barns but with God.”
II. WRONG INTENTION (v. 19)
The chairman of the community charity called on a notorious miser.
“Sir,” said the fund-raiser, “our records show that despite your wealth, you’ve never once given to our drive.”
“Do your records show that I have an elderly mother who was left penniless when my father died?” fumed the tightwad.
“Do your records show that I have a disabled brother who is unable to work?
Do your records show I have a widowed sister with four small children who can barely make ends meet?”
“No, sir,” replied the embarrassed volunteer.
“Our records don’t show those things.”
“Well,” said the miser. “I don’t give to any of them, so why should I give anything to you?”
This man’s heart was filled with pride and self-reliance – He was a self-made man read (verse 19)
There are 2 sins of a man that are bred in the bone: one is self-dependence and the other is self-exultation—Spurgeon
I Timothy 6:17-18
“Tell those who are rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone, but their pride and trust should be in the living God who always richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them” (Living)
“All day long the wicked covets, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.” Proverbs 21:26 (RSV)
The real issue here is not your possession (rich or poor), the issue here is your focus—self?
The command is general=“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:16 (RSV)
The problems today is perhaps, probably, most certainly, definitely…the church is poor because Christians do not give to the Lord???
Illustration: A pastor stood before his church and said,
“I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the church has all the money it needs… The bad news is that it’s all still locked inside your wallets.”
Remember this:
“At the close of life, the question will not be how much have you got, but how much have you given. Not how much have you won, but how much have you done. Not how much have you saved, but how much have you sacrificed. Not how much have you honored, but how much have you served.”
Mark 10:35-45 New American Standard Bible
35 [a]James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, *came up to [b]Jesus, saying to Him, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37 They said to Him, “[c] Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. 40 But to sit on My right or on My left is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41 Hearing this, the other ten began to feel indignant with [d]James and John. 42 Calling them to Himself, Jesus *said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them; and their [e]people in high position exercise authority over them. 43 But it is not this way among you; rather, whoever wants to become [f]prominent among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wants to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His [g] life as a ransom for many.”
III. WRONG VISION (v. 20)
This man had made good vision assuming that he would be around to enjoy his wealth – not knowing that that night would be his last. (James 4:13-14)
The pastor was invited to dinner in the home of a very wealthy man in Texas.
After the meal, the host led him to a place where they could get a good view of the surrounding area.
Pointing to the oil wells, he boasted, “Twenty-five years ago I had nothing. Now, as far as you can see, it’s all mine.”
Looking in the opposite direction at his sprawling fields of grain, he said, “That’s all mine.”
Turning east toward huge herds of cattle, he bragged, “They’re all mine.” Then pointing to the west and a beautiful forest, he exclaimed, “That too is all mine.”
He paused, expecting the pastor to compliment him on his great success.
The pastor, placing one hand on the man’s shoulder and pointing heavenward with the other, simply said, “How much do you possess in that direction?”
The man stared blankly for a moment, then hung his head and confessed, “I never thought of that.”
Most of us don’t realize we are just one breath away, one heartbeat away, or one accident away from eternity.
No one is ever prepared for that moment until they have made peace with God…
“We are always complaining that our days are few” – Seneca the Younger
Mark 8:36 – “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
Mark 8:34-37 New American Standard Bible
34 And He summoned the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever wants to save his [a]life will lose it, but whoever loses his [b]life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 For what could a person give in exchange for his soul?
What if you just heard those words: “Today, you will die.”
Are you ready for that?
Proverbs 9:1-6 New American Standard Bible
Wisdom’s Invitation
9 Wisdom has built her house,
She has carved out her seven pillars;
2 She has [a]prepared her food, she has mixed her wine;
She has also set her table;
3 She has sent out her attendants, she calls out
From the tops of the heights of the city:
4 “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!”
To him who lacks [b]understanding she says,
5 “Come, eat of my food
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 [c]Abandon your foolishness and live,
And proceed in the way of understanding.”
Are you ready to give an account for the way you’ve raised or are raising your family?
Are you ready to give an account for what you’re doing with your talent and abilities?
Are you ready to give an account for the way you’re spending your time and energy?
Are you ready to give an account for what you’ve done with the money and wealth that God has blessed you with?
Are you ready to give an account for the way you’re using your body and managing your appetites?
Some day, there’s going to be a knock at your life’s door.
Death will be waiting outside.
The music will suddenly stop.
The frantic whirling of the dancers will cease.
And you and I must answer the door.
Soon thereafter, what we did with the gift of life will be required of us.
Heb. 9:27 “ It is appointed for a man to die once but after this the judgment.”
Hebrews 9:27-28 New American Standard Bible
27 and just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
A popular musician-songwriter of the early seventies was Jim Croce.
One of his most famous recordings was ‘Time in a Bottle,’ a love song about his desire to save time in a bottle in order to spend it later with someone he loved.
The eerie thing about that piece was that by the time it hit the airwaves, Jim Croce was dead.
When God enters, this farmer realized that there was ONE THING he did not prepare.
He made good plan to store his crop, made good plan to save up for the future, he made plan to enjoy himself.
In fact, he has done many things good but he did not prepare for his own soul.
Death was not in his planning book.
A person does not know when his or her time is coming.
You can avoid being one of those people who lost their souls by:
· Admitting to God you are a sinner (Rom. 3:10 & 23)
· Believing that Jesus died for your sins (1 Peter 3:18)
· Fully Committing your life to Him as Savior and Lord (Acts 4:8-12)
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit …
Praying …
Proverbs 3:1-12 The Message
Don’t Assume You Know It All
3 1-2 Good friend, don’t forget all I’ve taught you;
take to heart my commands.
They’ll help you live a long, long time,
a long life lived full and well.
3-4 Don’t lose your grip on Love and Loyalty.
Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart.
Earn a reputation for living well
in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people.
5-12 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over.
But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It’s the child he loves that God corrects;
a father’s delight is behind all this.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 