*This section of Luke talks about Discipleship
- Standing up for God by standing up for godliness...even under persecution
- Avoid dependence on anything that rivals God
- Discipleship is fearing (reverencing) God and putting God’s values and instructions first.
- We are accountable to God
Greed: An excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth
*Greed is a great impediment to spiritual growth!
(I suspect that this was the case, because Christ takes occasion from it to warn against covetousness, pleonexia—a desire of having more, more than God in his providence has allotted us. It was not a lawful desire of getting his own, but a sinful desire of getting more than his own.)
“Greed never rests from the acquiring of more” Ancient historian, Plutarch
Why is greed problematic?
- It make you marketable. Sellable. Manipulable. Usable. Vulnerable. Buyable.
- Being Sellable. Manipulable. Usable. Vulnerable. Buyable makes us self-sufficient (pride) ...which means that we operate in a sphere where God is our enemy...an outsider...a combatant.
- We leave God with no other choice
My crops. My farm. My grain. My goods. My barn. Myself!
Eat. Drink. Be Merry. (Mantra or theme-song of hedonism. [fasting will uncover this addiction to pleasure, comfort and self-determination])
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he·don·ism (h
n.
1. Pursuit of or devotion to pleasure, especially to the pleasures of the senses.
2. Philosophy The ethical doctrine holding that only what is pleasant or has pleasant consequences is intrinsically good.
3. Psychology The doctrine holding that behavior is motivated by the desire for pleasure and the avoidance of pain.
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Hoarding.
Why does God call this man a fool?
- He goes from rich and famous to dead, poor and departed!
What does it mean that our lives are required of us?
- The fool undervalued God and valued his own capabilities.
The man was rich in the world and poor concerning God.
➣Greed isn’t wealth. Greed is our attitude towards wealth and possessions.
°We become short-sighted. Now is all there is without God and after life.
°Absence of God leaves us only dependent upon right now. Desperate.
°Life can’t be reduced to here and now: The now can’t satisfy. We can’t “afford” to become our own God.
- Stress over life
- Worry
- Comparison
Society in 1st century church:
- He held back grain
- He is keeping prices very high (this serves him...not good for the poor)
“Life is more than food and wealth” ~ Jesus
This life is where/how we break into eternity...
*‘God to Israel: “you’re rich, overfed and unconcerned” (Ezek 16:49-50)
➣This passage in Luke 12 isn’t about money; it is about priorities.
“Thou Fool!” ~ (audible head-slap) You don’t get it. You’re not acting like me. You’re not concerned for the hurting among you. The gospel would address their issues if it would first manifest in our lives.
The man’s actions clashed with the very values of Heaven and of God.
Name your wealth!
Why is this sermon necessary?
- This parable captures the attitudes of society
- This attitude is not checked at the door at our conversion
- Hence, it has been spiritualized
- The Church is to model a level discipleship and care that confronts this prevalent attitude.
Key points from passage:
- Reverence God more than popularity & self-indulgences. MAKE GOOD CHOICES.
- Jesus can tell a lot about you by what subjects you broach with Him when you have an audience with him.
- Fools focus on themselves and are not rich towards God via their treatment of others
- Seek His Kingdom...the place where He guides, defines, equips & values. Don’t fear lack
- Sell your possessions and serve the poor. (See yourself as resourced!!)
- Make purses in Heaven
Questions:
- Who owns you?
Challenge:
- Name your wealth
- Change your dialogue with Jesus
- Ask for new eyes which a result of a changed heart.
- FOL, let’s work with God is getting the attention of the hurting by serving their needs.
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