What do you value most?
Introduction
As people grow older they start to think about their inheritance
2 Cor 12:14
It is a loving responsibility
1 Tim 5
This week looking at v13-21
The parable of the rich fool
Warnings about the love of money, covetousness, living for self, not living for God
The bible places spiritual blessings above material gain
v34
1 Tim 6:17
To be rich is not inherently bad
Give to those who have need
v31
Prioritise God and spiritual matters first
Let God provide for your material needs
Example from Scripture
Be not anxious
Examples of those in need
Searching questions:
Do your thoughts run after material things rather than God?
Do you enjoy material things more than God?
Do you enjoy a holiday more than a prayer meeting?
What is your attitude to loss?
If you came into a fortune how would you use it?
This passage should make us think about these questions
Further questions:
Would you resent your parents going into a care home and using up the inheritance?
If churches disclosed tithes – would you be ashamed?
Giving should be free and voluntary – from the heart
Do we have a light hold on money?
“You cannot serve God and mammon”
Overview:
The Context
The Content
The Challenge
The Context
Jesus has been teaching the disciples about persecution
Encouragement in v6
Fear God not man
A person from the crowd interrupts
This person has not been listening to what Jesus has said
Have you been like that when you come to church?
He has a personal concern over the family inheritance
He feels there is only one course – go to Jesus for advice
Jesus’ reply:
v14 – Is it a bit harsh?
Jesus did not come to sort out financial/family matters – there were people for that
His task was to preach the Gospel of good news
Yet Jesus could see this man’s heart and could see he had a problem with covetousness
v15
An interruption by a man that is consumed with personal matters
This was not the only thing/teaching gave that day
An encouragement to read the Bible in chunks
The Content
Very straight forward
Some say this passage deals directly with retirement
It certainly gives us food for thought as we plan for the future
This man is planning for the future
He has an excess – v17-19
How many times does ‘I’ or ‘my’ appear?
He is not concerned with others – he is selfish
A materialist and hedonist
God’s rebuke
v20-21
The day of judgment – renders material possessions pointless
A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things he posses
That God would help us to love Him and to love others
The Challenge
We have had lots of challenges
What do you value most in life?
Have things become more important than people?
Have you trampled over people?
Have things become more important than God?
Example of squabble over an inheritance
How do you spend your money?
Do you indulge yourself?
Do we freely give?
Prov 21:26, Ecc 5:10
What would people from poorer nations say about us?
What is your attitude to wealth creation?
Preaching of Bishop Latimer
1 Tim 6:7-10
Paul gave examples of those who walked away from the faith
Do you act as though you can control your own destiny?
Example
Our life is not our own
Some have tried to preserve their lives
Closing Remarks
In the end – what matters is your response to the Lord Jesus
Is He Lord of your life?
Explanation of Jesus Christ
Have you bowed to Him?
Have you trusted in Him?
Jesus welcomes all to Him
Trust in Jesus for your salvation