Treasure
Luke 12:20, “But God said unto him, Thou fool, cthis night †dthy soul shall be required of thee: then ewhose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that flayeth up treasure for himself, and gis not rich toward God.” [1]
I. Store
A. Prepare
B. Possess
II. Supply
A. Protection
B. Pride
III. Surrender
A. Property
B. Person
Introduction: Last week we considered the things that are important to us. It was a message to evaluate the priorities that each of us hold dear. The things that we cherish are the things that we give attention to and the other things are simply placeholders in our attention.
The message last week was followed in the evening service with a church conference. The budget was discussed. We learned that we are using the general funds to pay the bills for our buildings while the general funds are dwindling away. Why is that? What is the true business of God’s church? What should the general fund in a church be used for if not ministry?
On many of the pews and places in here we find the names of those who once graced this place. Now they are gone, but what is left is the storehouse that we now use to meet in. That is important. This message should cause us to evaluate what we are doing here.
When this message first started coming I resisted. It seems that God insisted to develop these words. In every church that we have served and sat there has been this same argument that goes until a calamity happens. I would rather leave here than to see any more calamities in a church but this message will not leave me. It is also personal because as a human being and a Christian myself this message touches me.
My business partner once said that it was a sin to wait until you have enough before you learn to experience life. Rachael and I both came from families that had wealth on the outside but not directly for our families. Our parents made sure that we had what we needed but we didn’t live in extravagance. We saw others in our families that seemed to have plenty. So I saved instead of going in debt for things that my kids thought they just had to have. If nobody learns from my mistakes then why has God allowed me to mess up so much and so long?
Today we will hear as Jesus spoke a parable. To say that it really happened; that there was a man who tore down his barn or not is missing the point. A parable is an earthly example with a heavenly meaning. That is this old preacher’s definition of a parable. Some people say, and I believe, that Jesus spoke often in similes and metaphors. A simile is a type of speech where one thing represents something else that is similar. A metaphor is a symbol of something that is used to describe an idea and may have no similarity to the thing being described.
The purpose of this particular parable is not to persuade people away from building projects. This message is simply to build on what we considered last week. It is time to evaluate where we are in God’s kingdom and decide if we are headed in His direction. Are we concentrating on what is important to us or what is treasure to God. What are we to do with that?
To come into a time of worship with preconceived notions which you are not willing to reevaluate is to close your mind and your soul to the Holy Spirit’s leading. He will only change your mind if you are willing to receive.
Remember these two truths. 1) If you decide to hold onto that which God has given you for His kingdom it will be taken away from you. 2) If you decide to misuse that which God has given you for His kingdom’s work it will be taken away from you. That is not a threat; that is a promise found in our focal text.
Scripture: The focal scripture today is Luke 12:20-21. Please stand if you’re able.
Prayer: Let us pray. Be seated.
Message: Save it for a rainy day. That is something that we have been taught as children. There is nothing wrong with that. If you know that your tires will be worn out six months from now, start saving for them now. If you know that you are going to retire one day, start saving for that now. These are things that you can plan on.
If you are afraid that there might be a problem that God will not provide a way out of that is a sin. If you are thinking that you would be better than your neighbor in the future by having a bigger nest egg that is a sin. It is not a sin to prepare for the future but to attempt to outthink God and His provision will prevent you from doing what God wants you to do today.
What did Jesus say about calling someone a fool? Matthew 5:22, “But I say unto you, That bwhosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, ||Raca, shall be in danger of cthe council: but whosoever shall say, Thou dfool, shall be in danger of ehell fire.” [2]
Jesus here in our focal text called this man a fool. It must be pretty serious! What did the man do or say? Let’s go back and read from verse sixteen, “16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he xthought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to ybestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my zbarns, and build greater; and there will I ybestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, aSoul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and bbe merry.” [3]
The man was already rich. He had enough to fill up his barns. He wasn’t content. He wanted to insure his laziness in the future. Jesus said that was foolish. It is one thing to prepare and store up for the future. It is an altogether different thing to plan on possessing enough so that you can do nothing later on. God always has more for us to do; even in heaven!
To imagine that you yourself can provide and supply for your own future so that you won’t need even God is to slap God in His face. He will not tolerate that. You will lose in the end! God is our protection for now and the future. He has and will supply our needs so that we can go on without wanting. IF YOU TRUST HIM! What is faith? FORESAKING ALL I TRUST HIM! What is it when you think you can do it all yourself; pride! PERSONAL RELIANCE IS DEATH ETERNALLY.
So then what are we to do? Wait upon the Lord. But that is for another message maybe two weeks away God willing. Next time we will discuss one of the “Don’t Worry” lessons if God wills. One is in Matthew 6 the other is in Luke 12. Invite someone!
The last bullet in today’s outline is surrender; one way or the other that will be your part. God provides when you surrender. The rich guy learned that he would die that same night that he made his big plans. He would surrender his person. Jesus went on the say that not only would he give up his life but everything that he thought that he had done to take care of himself; his property. Well that would all go to someone else. There’s the old adage; you can’t take it with you.
Finally Jesus included us. That is where the parable ends. So it is for anybody who thinks laying up treasure for the unknown will bring contentment. You cannot plan for everything so you had better learn to use what God has given you now. Don’t let your fear of the future prevent you from doing that which is in front of you or someone else will have it later on.
This recent health scare has been a lesson for me and for my family. If you love your pastor and consider me as someone important to you and your life then I pray it has meant something to us all. Life can be taken away so quickly.
Just when I thought God was done teaching me a lesson! Jerry, do you know how much I treasure you. I cherish each and every one of you but God scared me because Jerry is like a rock. We depend on each other and I pray that we treasure each other.
Prayer: Let us pray
Invitation: The invitation this morning is that as a church we reevaluate our priorities financially. We have had people here to come and go. Some have confided that they didn’t know what to do as a church member. If someone were to offer an idea or challenge established thing they were told if they didn’t like the way things were they could do the job themselves. So people feel unnecessary and the leave.
I get it! When I was in public work someone was always evaluating my work. Often it was someone who didn’t even know what I did. God puts people in front of us to make us better.
If I have done anything to make someone leave this church I would like to get the opportunity to apologize and learn how to be a better Christian. If you know of such a person and can arrange it, I would love an opportunity to make things right in their eyes. If I clam up and shut my ears then I will not learn and His ministry through me will suffer.
Today I am taking some pastoral privilege in asking you as a congregation to use what God has given you for these buildings and use the general funds of this church for the business of the church. This church is here to win souls and bring them together for Jesus.
If we pay light bills and water bills and insurance bills with ministry money God will take our business away. If we store up the building fund for the future when something might happen then we are not trusting that God will provide as He always has and always will. You have choices to make and God is waiting. It should be the other way around. Consider as we sing…
c Jer. 17:11. James 4:14.
† Gr. do they require thy soul. As Job 18:18. & 34:20. Matt. 24:26. ch. 6:38. & 16:4. & 17:21, 23. ver. 48, &c.
d Job 27:8. Ps. 52:7.
e See Ps. 39:6.
f Matt. 6:19, 20.
g So ch. 6:24. ver. 33. 1 Tim. 6:18, 19. James 2:5.
[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Lk 12:20–21). (2009). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
b 1 John 3:15.
|| [That is, Vain fellow, 2 Sam. 6:20]. See Judg. 9:4. Comp. James 2:20.
c ch. 10:17. & 26:59. Mark 13:9. & 14:55. & 15:1. Luke 22:66. John 11:47. Acts 4:15 & 5:21, 27, 34, 41. & 6:12, 15. & 22:30. & 23:1, 6, 15, 20, 28. & 24:20. So 2 Macc. 14:5 (Gk.).
d Comp. ch. 7:26 (Gk.). & 23:17, 19. & 25:2, 3, 8 (Gk.).
e ver. 29, 30. ch. 10:28. & 18:9. & 23:15, 33. Mark 9:43, 45, 47. Luke 12:5. James 3:6.
[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Mt 5:22). (2009). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
x See ch. 3:15 marg.
y See ch. 11:23.
z ver 24. See ch. 3:17.
y See ch. 11:23.
a Comp. Eccles. 11:9. 1 Cor. 15:32. James 5:5. See Eccles. 2:24.
b See ch. 15:23.
[3] The Holy Bible: King James Version (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Lk 12:16–19). (2009). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
