131020 Whose Wealth Is It?

From time to time we need to visit what the Scriptures teach us about wealth and material blessings. As I was working on my message this week I kept being drawn back to the words of Jesus when he said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Those words had nothing to do with the message I was preparing so I had to stop and think. Thinking is not always easy with all the other stuff going on around me. But I feel sure God was leading me to change the message. So, here it is!

Our text for today is, Luke 12:13-21, A large crowd had gathered around Jesus. Listen while I read. Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” ¹⁴ But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵ And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” ¹⁶ And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, ¹⁷ and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ ²¹ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

We might not consider this story to apply to us because Jesus is talking about a rich man and by our standards none of us are really rich. Bear with me. I believe I will show you how this passage applies to us. At the request of the man in the crowd Jesus replied…

Guard against covetousness. I am sure that the man believed that he was concerned with justice not covetousness. He just wanted what was right! He wanted his share of the family wealth. In response to his request Jesus pointed towards…

The tenth commandment. Found in Exodus 20:17, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

The last of the Ten Commandments may also be considered to be the least of them. After all, admiring someone’s wealth whether it be in the form of a spouse, an employee or his, or her, “stuff” is just that — admiring — isn’t it? God says, “No, admiration quickly turns to desire and demand.” The man who wanted his share of the inheritance was coveting what his brother had the right to. He was asking for a ruling in his favor in order to consume it on his own desires. He certainly wasn’t placing his faith in God. Because…

Covetousness is idolatry. Let’s read from Paul’s letter to the Colossians found in chapter three verses five through ten, Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ On account of these the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸ But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Here Paul gives us a list of character traits that’s pretty much common to mankind. Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness. And then he notes that covetousness is idolatry. We are to put all these things to death. In other words we are to take an active part in changing our outlook on life. And in the midst of this is the statement that covetousness is idolatry!

We live in a materialistic world that circulates around wealth and possessions. If a person doesn’t have wealth and possessions we are encouraged to admire those who have such and desire the same for ourselves. You see…

Our world is filled with covetousness. Wherever we look we see advertisements for material things designed to make us covet them. Gambling, through the state lotteries, has become very common and is based entirely on a desire to have wealth that was not earned. A desire to be rich is a very dangerous thing. Paul wrote to Timothy words that really apply to every age. Listen while I read, 1 Timothy 6:6-10, But godliness with contentment is great gain, ⁷ for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Money itself is not evil. It’s not even a necessary evil. Morally, money is neutral and is simply a way of our exchanging labor for material goods. It’s the love of money that is the root of all kinds of evil. The world we live in is filled with the love of money. Everywhere we look there is the drug culture, robbery, bribery, prostitution, violence, corrupt politicians and greedy businessmen. In order to illustrate the problem Jesus told the story of…

A good farmer with wrong values. We know this man was a good farmer because his land produced an abundant crop year after year. Abundant crops are not an accident. They are caused by a combination of good soil, hard work and common sense. I am sure that Jesus did not have to look far to find a farmer whose story provided a very good illustration.

Luke calls this story a “parable” and for a lot of people that means it’s not necessarily true. One definition of a biblical parable is, an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. While that definition is correct, yet no way implies that the events didn’t really happen. Jesus, as the Son of God, had access to knowledge about everyone and everything. So when you read a parable in the Bible I hope you will always know that it’s true because Jesus does not lie!

Throughout human history people have confused material blessings with spiritual approval. I can assure you that…
Material blessings do not guarantee God’s approval. Let’s look at, Psalm 73:2-3, But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. ³ For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

The psalmist looked around himself and saw that there were many people who enjoyed wealth, health and apparent happiness. Yet, they did not honor God with their lives and it began to draw him away from his faith in God. As he said, he almost stumbled and his steps nearly slipped. He saw the arrogant and wicked people who seemed to enjoy abundant prosperity.

The same kind of observation can be made today. How is it that the wealth of this world seems often to flow to the wicked of the world? It just doesn’t seem fair! We just can’t see the big picture. The psalmist came to see that…

God settles his accounts in his own time. Listen while I read, Psalm 73:16-24. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, ¹⁷ until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. ¹⁸ Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. ¹⁹ How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! ²⁰ Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. ²¹ When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, ²² I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. ²³ Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. ²⁴ You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.

In the midst of his confusion and concern over the unfair system of the world the psalmist went to church! He went into the sanctuary of God and there he saw something he had not seen before. “I discerned their end” he said. While the arrogant and the wicked seem to prosper the truth is their feet are in a slippery place. God will make them fall in his own time and in his own way.

There is a story about two farmers who had similar farms side by side. One of the farmers was a very godly man who loved the Lord. The other farmer was an unbeliever and was very arrogant in his unbelief.

One year, when they took their crops to market, there was a clear difference between the two crops. The Christian farmer had the smallest crop even though everything had been about the same for his farm as the farm of the unbeliever.

The unbeliever couldn’t wait to rub it in. Looking at the disparity between the crops he said to the Christian farmer, “You know what this means don’t you?” To which the Christian farmer promptly replied, “Yes, God doesn’t settle his accounts in September.” Like the psalmist he had been in the sanctuary of God.

The psalmist realized that he was wrong in his admiration of the wicked. In fact, he said that he was like an animal rather than like a man who trusted God. In his time of worship he came to see that God held him by the hand. He then understood that God guided him by his counsel and he rejoiced in that. A little further in the Psalm he said, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” He understood that God would provide all his needs. He knew that God had a purpose in the things of this life and that he would provide for him. He might fail but God never would and we need to remember that also.

You see…

Our resources are gifts to be shared. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians commending them for their giving he wanted them to understand that God had a purpose in supplying them with their needs. Listen while I read, 2 Corinthians 9:10-11, He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

Notice that it is God who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food. The world’s way of thinking doesn’t see that at all. We think that we provide the resources that we use. In Paul’s first letter to Timothy he instructs the rich to not set their hopes on their riches but instead to set their hopes upon God. You see it is God who richly provides us with everything that we need. Without him none of us would have anything to enjoy. It causes the rain to fall on the good and the bad equally. We need to remember that it is His wealth not ours! It is God who has enriched us in every way.

Enriched in every way! Wow, that’s a pretty comprehensive thought! And if we stopped with just that phrase we might think that we’ve been enriched so that we can enjoy prosperity. But that’s nowhere near what Paul is saying. We are enriched in every way so that we can be generous in every way. Not so we can have more and more wealth but so we can share with others.

The context of this passage is the taking of an offering to relieve the suffering of Christians during a time of famine. Since they had given abundantly they can expect God to reward them abundantly so that they could give even more.

God rewards those who give cheerfully. His reward is in direct proportion to their giving. This giving is in the context of the fellowship of believers. He’s not writing to individual Christians thanking them for giving here, there and the other place. He is thanking them and assuring them of God’s support for giving to and through their church. I believe the Bible teaches that our first level of giving should always be to the local congregation to support the local ministry and the local church’s outreach to the world.

The Old Testament tells us that the tithe is the Lord’s. And, that we are to bring the tithe into the storehouse. Immediately someone will argue that this is not necessary anymore because we live under grace not law. Well, Jesus said, while talking about the Pharisees’ tithing the herbs in their garden while ignoring the weightier matters of love and justice, that they should have done both. They should have been concerned with love and justice but at the same time they should have tithed even the littlest things in their garden.

If that’s the way we would have lived under the law, shouldn’t we give even more under grace?

I remember when we first began the church here in Stamford when a new member came to me one day asking why I gave to the offering. She believed that the offering all went to me personally. I had the privilege of explaining to her that this was the Lord’s offering and only that part of it the church designated as salary went to me. But, in so far as giving is concerned, I have the same responsibilities as every other member of the church. I can honestly tell you that Cherlyn and I do not tithe. We do, and have always, given more than 10% of our income to the church. We give very little to causes that are not directly related to the church. I don’t tell you this in order to bring you under some kind of bondage. I tell you this to encourage you.

God rewards a cheerful giver and will meet every need of our lives if we give first and then let him guide us in the use of the rest of our money.

We need to recognize that…

Real treasures are eternal.

Let’s look at what Jesus had to say in Matthew chapter 6.

Earthly treasures are temporary. Listen while I read the words of Jesus found in Matthew 6:19-20, Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

All of our material things are temporary. Why bother to lay up treasures on earth beyond our day-to-day need? Jesus was very specific. Moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. Whatever we have in the way of material things is not going to last very long.

Instead, we are to lay up treasures in heaven. When we do that whatever we have will always be secure. How do we go about laying up treasures in heaven? We certainly can’t send a check to heaven. Instead we give through the local church so that our resources can be used to win men, women, boys and girls to Jesus Christ. Those that have gone on before become our treasures in heaven.

Investing in this world is a foolish waste of money. I don’t mean by this that we should not provide adequate housing, nourishment and transportation while we’re on this earth. I mean that we should limit our investment in material things so that we can give more, through the church, to eternal things.

What you treasure reveals what you love. Read on in Matthew 6:21, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Is your heart focused on the world and material things? If it is that’s where your investment will be made. Such an investment, as I said before, is a foolish waste of money. This world is temporary and ultimately will be destroyed. Expending our treasure on worldly things is like the person whose house has been condemned spending on new carpet and paint. It’s just a waste! But it is evidence of where the heart is focused. What we invest in is ultimately what we love. Those who love the Lord invest in the things of God. Those who love the world invest in the things of the world.

One problem is that people in America often do not think of themselves as having wealth. However when we’re compared to the rest of the world we are wealthy beyond imagination. Even the poorest of us have a better standard of living than the middle class in most countries much less than the poorer classes.

Jesus goes on to say…

You cannot serve two masters. Matthew 6:24, No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

What is the evidence that we’re serving money rather than God? Jesus goes on to say, immediately after this verse, that we are not to be anxious about life. Instead we are to look at the birds of the air how the Father feeds them. Then he adds, “Are you not of more value than they?” Tragically, some people have such a poor self-image that they do not believe they are more valuable than a bird. Folks, remember, we are made in the image of God!

We are to be faithful in managing our resources in such a way that it is obvious we serve God and not money.

When Paul wrote that God would supply all our needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus he was writing in the context of the Philippians having given abundantly to meet his needs. God is under no obligation to supply us if we are not going to manage well what he has already entrusted us with. After all, whose wealth is it that we manage? It is God’s wealth and we are simply stewards of it. We return a tithe to God through the church as part of the evidence that we serve God not money.

After the conquest of the land of Israel, Joshua called the people together and repeated to them the covenant story of their deliverance from Egypt. He then challenged them to put away the gods of the past and serve the Lord. He said to them, “… choose this day whom you will serve.” And he concluded by saying, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” We need to make the same kind of challenge with regard to the material things God has blessed us with. Will we worship the things that we have and covet the things of others? Or, will we commit ourselves to trust God for all our needs and worship and honor him with the wealth he has given us? That’s really a choice we make on a day-to-day basis. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. What will you and your house do?

All scripture quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.