Scripture Reference

Luke 12: 13-21

Sermon Notes

Three principles stand out from this story:

1. It’s not about the money, it’s about the motivation.
   1. Jesus recognizes that the heart of the brother’s problem was not inheritance law, but greed.
   2. The rich man isn’t a fool because he saves and invests, but because of his obsession with accumulating  more stuff just to gratify himself.
2. When we die, our stuff isn’t going with us.
   1. We will all die some day (unless Christ returns first) and when we do, everything we accumulate will be left behind.
   2. While we can’t take it with us, we can store some ahead (Luke 12:33). This is a golden age for making a major Kingdom impact with even relatively modest funds.
3. God is rich toward us, we must be rich toward Him.
   1. God is rich toward us materially
      • This man’s crops grew by God’s provision of soil, rain, sun, and growth.
      • Likewise, almost all of us are comparatively wealthy by historical global standards.
      • There is almost always something to be grateful for materially.
   2. God is rich to us in grace and mercy.
      • Our salvation through Jesus Christ is the most precious gift we  have received.
      • That generosity through sacrifice is what we celebrate at the Lord’s Supper.
   3. Are we rich toward God, individually and as a church? Are we holding onto things we should instead be sharing, using, or giving away?