Real Wealth

John Henry Jowett - The real measure of our wealth is how much we would be worth if we lost all our money.

-1st beware in this discourse among the tens of thousands of people was to beware of the leaven of the pharisees, the second beware is in v. 15 - beware of covetousness

Luke 12:15 (ESV)

How are we to purse real wealth?

Recognize that Wealth is Given by God

Luke 12:13–14 (ESV)

Luke 12:17–18 (ESV)

-my - ἐγώ = ego

-The issue is not money, it is not possessions, it is the attitude we have towards them

-Do your possessions possess you?

1 Timothy 6:9–10 (ESV)

-When you love money it has become your god, your idol

-Now notice, Jesus was teaching about the Trinity, He was teaching the importance of the Gospel, the most important message ever proclaimed, and a guy in the crowd asked Jesus to tell his brother to share the family inheritance, clearly this man idolized wealth

-Notice Jesus’ response: who made me judge over your money? In another way Jesus was saying: your worldly goods, your possessions, is not of my concern

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (ESV).

-The issue is not money, but the attitude towards it, does not mean that everyone who is wealthy is greedy. We find faithful wealthy individuals in Scripture, Lydia in Acts 16 is a prime example, Joseph of Armithea

-abound = to be in excess

-life - lifestyle, the way you live your life

Do Not Worship Material Possessions

-the guy in the parable, the first Biblical storage unit

Luke 12:18–19 (ESV)

-He said to himself, not to his family, not to his friends, he is by himself, he was so in love with his stuff that he had not time for anyone else

Matthew 6:24 (ESV)

Invest in Eternity

Luke 12:20–21 (ESV)

-you fool = how foolish to focus only on yourself, to ignore God

Ecclesiastes 2:18–19 (ESV)

-Your stuff does not go with you to eternity

-What are you doing with the wealth that God has given you?

-Jesus said you are a fool if you have not prepared for eternity - faith in Him, and used the resources God has given you to the glory of God

Luke 12:33–34 (ESV)

-Are you rich towards God?

2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)

George Moore, a nineteenth century merchant, wrote these words in his pocketbook:

“What I spent I had:

What I saved I lost:

What I gave I have.”

-What are you giving to God? In terms of tithing through all the ministries of our church, in terms of the poor you encounter, missionaries you support, the pregnancy crisis center, your time and resources so others may hear the gospel?

Real wealth is eternal