Introduction
Speaking about pursuing wealth and success. To most success means to have abundance and not have to worry about the future.. The danger can be how we go about these things. What we don’t pursue when we pursue wealth. When things become more important than the things of God it becomes an obstacle to true life. Jesus gives a warning about covetousness.
covetousness
In this mans covetousness pursuit he lost everything.
V13 – This man is showing a high degree of respect because he is asking Jesus to judge. He believes Jesus has authority. Then Jesus warns him about covetousness. V14 – Ministers and the church aren’t to judge in legal matters our focus needs to be the gospel. We are to lay up treasures in heaven. To call him “man” is significant here. It’s generic and distant. The text keeps him separate from the disciples whom he calls His friends. V15 – He said to everyone take heed and be careful. Be watchful and the second means to guard with your life. “for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” – we must beware of all covetousness. It can creep in at any time. This is contrary to the world which teaches accumulating possessions is the path to happiness.
V16 True life isn’t measured by material things. V20 God calls him a fool. The parable doesn’t say this man was a thief or dishonest in anyway but rather that he was a hard worker. Why does God call him a fool?
Greed: you know its greed if you live entirely for this life and that’s what this man was living for. He is not including God in His life. “Eat drink and be merry” – living without God. Rejecting God. 1 Corinthians 15:32 (NKJV) If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage [is it] to me? If [the] dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
V17 – When you are building treasure entirely for yourself
The man is euphoric over his success v17. He is boasting in himself. He is proud. He is idolatrous. Paul calls those who are covetousness idolators. The man is not thanking God and not living by faith.
1 Corinthians 4:7 (NKJV) For who makes you differ [from another?] And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive [it,] why do you boast as if you had not received [it?]
V21 Be rich toward God – that’s life. Have we been made for the stomach or just pleasure? No we have been made to have relationship with the living God. Life and riches in God is faith and obedience toward God. In all we do giving Him glory and thanks and praise this is life.
The man didn’t ask about eternal life he asked about getting an earthly inheritance. Do not pursue this find your riches in Christ pursue life.
Luke 12:13-34 (NKJV) 13 Then one from 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 an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” 16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 “And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 “So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, [and] be merry.” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So [is] he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” 22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 “Life is more than food, and the body [is more] than clothing. 24 “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 “And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 “If you then are not able to do [the] least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 “If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more [will He clothe] you, O [you] of little faith? 29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 “For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. 32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 “Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.