The Rich Fool

I'm moving on to the next section this week. And I I believe I'm I can say this with all confidence. We're going to finish this one section in one week surprise surprise, but we're going to do it and we can pick up a number 13 today and we're going to be down from 13 to 21 in the text today and I want to talk to you about what the Lord Jesus described in the story about the rich fool. The rich fool was beginning and verse number 13 and read down to verse 21 scripture says in one of the companies said unto him Master speak to my brother that he divided the inheritance with me. And he said unto him man who made me a judge or a divider over you. And he referring to the Lord. Jesus said unto them referring back to who he's really been talking to throughout this conversation verse 12 disciples before he says my friend so not particularly are these words addressed to the man that asked him this these words are addressed to those that are near him that have been listening. He says to them take heed and beware of covetousness. For a man's life consists of not in the abundance of the things which he possesses. And he spake a parable unto them that then there's the same group that he just said that to saying the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plantifully. And he thought within himself saying what shall I do? Because I have no room where to bestow my fruits. He said this will I do I will pull down my Barns and build greater and there will I stole all my fruits and good. and I will say to my soul soul as much Goods laid up for many years take 90s eat drink and be merry

but God said unto him. that fool This Night by Soul shall be required of thee then who shall those things be which style has provided So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God? I want you to just as we start this getting into this in just a moment, but just the kind of Mark where we're going to go if you don't if you mark things in your Bible what I want, I want you to just Mark is that that phrase in verse 20 where God says Thou fool? And Mark that and then come down to verse 21 where the Lord says so is he okay? Thou fool, so is he so in other words? Who is the fool here verse 21 tells us he that lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. Now you hear that word fool in and you know it in a worldly sense. This is kind of culturally since it's just thrown around and you know, somebody is just silly you're not really paying attention. They kind of get labeled with that religious circles. Maybe that words. Kind of tied to being an unbeliever. Someone that doesn't believe on the Lord hear. The Lord is using this word in the sentence of without understanding without reasoning not able to comprehend. Like using using all your natural resources and wasting them on the wrong priority. That's really what the Lord is getting at when he says this. Now this story may be familiar with you and we are confronted with a man in this Parable who's got a terrible case of the eyes and them eyes has got terrible case of it and he basically views his life not based on. What does God want me to do? How does God want me to live my life, but he basically build his life from his own perspective and he has lived his life laying up treasure for himself. Okay. If you read this or you hear that you think all this is about like condemning having possessions or wealth and all that. You're completely wrong. This is it has nothing to do with condemning having possessions or wealth or any of that kind of stuff is not at all what Jesus talk about here. What Jesus is condemning is the person that lives for themselves without consideration of God? That person who lives as though this life is everything. This is all in all and there's nothing else to it. And does not live looking for the world to come that person from Jesus perspective in this Parable is the full. So let's understand, how we got here. And what's what's happening. If you remember for the first section, I will go put this together. There are two important things to kind of understand. Remember I told you Jesus is talking to those that are familiar with and they've got some kind of connection to him. They got some kind of familiarity that they're they're on the same page. Some of these are believer some of these may not be Believers but these are people that are still listening to what he's saying pray. They're intrigued and then they kind of all over that Spectrum their first number one, Jesus gave that warning. He says at the end of our should beware, right? You see that Fraser thingiverse 26b Way to another without a warning there that warning was about spiritually apocracy toward God. Okay, if pockrus you nor God as we studied that Is rejecting the revelation of God. Okay. So through his word God says what is true, but if we do not acknowledge what he has said is true. We are rejecting the spirit hit in his Revelation and that is the true essence of hypocrisy toward God to reject what Goddess said to build a god of your own konstrukt to God that you worship to take the god of the culture where everything can be true to basically make God subjective to you. Okay, that is hypocrisy is what Jesus was explaining while our texts today contains another warning. This warning is the warning of covetousness and now Jesus is warning his people those that are interested in those that are that are there making your mind up. He says you need to be worried about a materialistic foolishness toward God. That's the warning here of materialistic foolishness toward God. Now he uses this word and verse 15 and the word is covetousness. Now, that's not necessarily where that gets thrown around a lot in modern context, but the word covet is and we think of covered in the sense of life. You know, how may I see that over there? That person has me. I wouldn't mind having that to write it. It's it it kind of carries that connotation. But if you just get into the idea of biblically speaking, how is the word covet or covetousness? Use it is used to describe the the grand or the greatest desire for something that rivals or replaces God Supremacy in life. Okay. Anybody can commit the sin of coveting if they allow anything in this earth to rival the supremacy of God in their lives? Okay. So this ain't like, you know, you drove past somebody's house and saw they had like the coolest truck you've ever seen. But that's not primarily here. Okay, that what this is talk about it. This isn't seeing somebody at another stage of life or things look like they're a little slower and easier to manage and all that either, I just wished I want that and you kind of work or that this isn't as narrow as some of those particular definitions of what it would mean to covet. This is in a broad sense living your life as though you're focused primarily on what's Happening Here on this level without the concern of what's happening with God. Okay. Now this ultimately because the root idea of that we're covetousness is really greed. Okay, and are you may live your life and I'm not a greedy person. I mean we see examples on TV all the time people that are greedy. I mean they give their whole life to pursuing things that are just pointless. I mean ass really greedy. I mean, they never have enough they always want more. I don't know if I really greedy. Well we can all deal with this and I'll try to prove to you in the morning with it that's in our hearts just virus in nature. But but we all can have and get in this place where we have this kind of thirst for more to satisfy this. Okay, I guess if you're really trying to boil it down it would be Looking for satisfaction in places that are other than the Lord. Okay, but we can get this kind of greedy thirst for more of the things. We like or more Comforts or or more possessions materials time. We can get in all of those type of Pursuits where we give ourselves to pursue things of this world without truly focusing on the things that God wants us focused on now we think of kind of like the the the kind of Massive examples of things that are just like grotesque and that's all. Yeah. I should definitely not want that but there is something in me that I do sense that I can be drawn toward that but biblically speaking there's a there's a really good example of this and it's in Joshua chapter 7 4 times sake I'm not going to walk you through this cuz you really need to you really need to read the entire chapter and we don't have the time today to unpack an entire chapter. But let me just kind of give you the The Abridged version of what happens in Joshua chapter 7 Israel is now in the promised land. So so God has brought them across Jordan. They are taking possession of the land that God promised hundreds of years before they're entering the promised land and God tells them you're going to go up you going to take these cities and I'm going to be with you. Okay, so they come to a city called Ai and as they are going up they realize hey, we don't really need the whole Army. We can just take a small portion of the army and and there's such a small City we can go in and we can take this. Okay, so they start up they have God's blessing behind them. They have everything going on and in doing so they go off and the people of AR repel them and 36. I think it's 36 Israelis die in this battle. And the nation has heard all these things from God saying. God you said you're going to give us this why why would you allow this to happen? And God says that one of you has done what I told you not to do. And that's why there's no blessing for this. So it will what was this about God gave them very clear instructions do not go into these places as you take as you take over and and go in and take all their goods and all that kind of stuff. Okay, leave their stuff alone. I'm going to bless you. I'm going to take you but don't go in and start making Idols out of their possessions are goods are cattles there because God knows it's really easy for us to pick up things that we shouldn't actually want. So one of the people of Israel his name is Aiken and Aiken as he's going through one of the previous cities when he can he went through and he saw in the tent. No one else was looking to look how they had gold and silver they had all the stuff just in the tent. But God had told the nation don't take any of it. He can goes in and he's like, well nobody's looking I'll just come through this under my jacket and we'll just go on. So it goes back to his tent and he buries it all under his tent and God points out through a series of things that this is the man. This is the family and the man would not admit what he did you wouldn't do it until it was too late. And so finally Aiken gives his confession and he says when I saw their good things and how much they had in the money in the jewels and all the stuff. He says I covered it. I wanted it. What did he do in a very real sense. He prioritized and Earthly thing. Well Goods all kind of stuff above. God okay. So that was the send that send had a great consequence avakin any sin has a great consequence on us. Aiken his entire family died for their sin and someone says home and will God would require death for send listen to We All Live on the condemnation of our scent we come into this world condemn that that's that's I would not be doing. My job is as the guy who stayed up here. If I if I told you that everything's great. No, it's not we do not come into this world great becomes World broken and scarred by send being crushed under its weight. And if we do not come to Christ as our savior and Believe on him, we will spend eternity separated from God and he'll the only hope we can have is that God has been gracious toward all of our sins and the free gift of Jesus Christ to die in our place taking our send it so that you and I could be forgiven and Jesus died in our place bearing our punishment taking all our guilt all are covering the things of this world and all the sins that go with it. He did it all. What what age can shows us is the sin of coveting reduces life to the pursuit of more possessions. Well, power Comfort whatever you want to call it if it reduces all of that down about life to just simply about it being about God. Okay. It's it's rejecting Jesus admonitions to don't worry about this world and seek the kingdom of God first it is descend by which we make the most of living in this world and put down living toward God. And what happens the sin of covetousness makes us poor toward God when we must be rich. I want to say that you think a hole in a rich store guys, like you know, what it what is all about. We are at all made rich in Christ. Paul tells us that all the riches of Christ have been given to us and all man will Christ is God and that means I have God's bank account. I guess you could say it like that, but let me try to brought it out. The richness that pointed to hear is the position of standing before God the favor that's been given by those that have believed on Jesus Christ from God. They have received a record a right to spotless clear record before God that makes us rich that when God looks at us he says no longer sees our send you no longer sees our our failures and and the condemnation we were under but he sees forgiven in Christ Jesus. That's what it means to be rich toward God. So if we live like this world is everything. You're basically reduced reducing your life and living it as a fool. Courtney was Jesus a Jew. God hates covetousness hates it why because you were made for better.

It's like you can fill out with that. We're going to get to the self-help. That's now I'm just telling you were made for better. God made you for something far higher than wasting your life living in here living it for these priority 10:3 says for the wicked boast of his heart's desire and blesses coverages. But the Lord of Horrors of the Lord hates it look around the world. It's like hey Stephan who you got to get to where you want to be make this happen for stuff to happen. Do this do that. Make your life pursuing get the house. You need get the job. You need to get to comfort you need do all the things to make it happen yourself prioritize that I'll give God time later. I'll focus on him and another point of life, but this is all about kind of building the Kingdom right now. This is a acquiring what I need and accomplishing what I need for my life and for my family, so that works at and we're good. Do you prioritize that over making sure you're good with God that's where the sin comes in. It's all so natural and Fallen Humanity. In other words. It's born and everyone of us to some degree or another we all deal with this Colossians 3:5 says mortify there for the your members is referring to your body in the things that make up your sinful heart which are on the earth and talks about fornication uncleanness inordinate affection evil can keep his ass at concupiscence ago and covetousness. Okay. So what's the idea there? You're born with this. It's hardwired into your thinking and your heart because of your sin nature. We all deal with this thing and sometimes we spiritualize it pastors are terrible about it, man. Oh man. I look to see the church grow and love to see this happening and we can if we could had this and all that and we can make it all about the pursuit of like the buildings or the possessions or the numbers in the bank accounts and all that hate about that. You know, it's about it is about helping people see how to be rich toward God. That's what this is. All about is a church family. That's what our priority must be. How do we help people see that? This world ain't our home that there's far more to live for than what you see here. What is part of natural Humanity?

It's also a dominant trait in the end times culture as things start winding down. This trait is more and more prevalent pulse talk about this and 2nd Timothy 3:2. He says men shall be lovers of their own selves. I mean do we live in a day where people prioritize themselves of everything else now that doesn't happen anymore right now people are people are so giving and so kind and look at the world around us. If somebody needs to step on you to get where they need to they'll just do it right. I was in the line somewhere the other day. I forget I can read this and this dude was there's a turn lane and then there's a straight Lane. I'm in the turn lane in this guy's in the straight line in this dude jumps over in front of me. Just trying to get in the shopping center parking lot at my buddy. We're all going to be. Okay. Like I know Chick-fil-A is good, but we can breathe a little bit here all week and weekend. You know, but this is so much bigger than that. This is this is people so wrapped up in themselves that they live as though they are God. Posters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents all that never happens anywhere either, right? We always see children. Obey your parents are the people always live on it. These are the traits of happened on unthankful and holy all these things are part of an end times culture than we see it all around us do people prioritize living for the truth of God's word today on hole for a second people prioritize doing what makes them comfortable and happy even if it does mean that their Eternal Soul is hanging by a thread over hell. But it's also identified as the underlying sense of those that persecute Believers is a long commentary Peter gives in 2nd Peter 2 about this and in this commentary a three a number 14, he outlines that the underlying fall behind the persecution that happens to a toward those that live for God is we were looking at the previous part of this passage is covetousness there. They're so wrapped up in this world and living for God you living for God becomes a threat to them. So what do they do? They try to put you down they try to stop it. So what's the opposite virtue of being covetous it be containment contentment? Simply just being satisfied with God people that contentment in the sense of like, you know, it's why I'm happy with the things. I have we had we should be happy with what God giveth up to it. But the root of contentment is really just being happy with God where he has you what he has you doing you are content with what he's bringing to you and giving you so probably 15 16 better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble there with your the problem is if you have a lot Very simple you a lot more to take care of. And 4 in the morning your eyes open up and what is your mind run toward the things you got to take care of. What would you rather be doing at 4 in the morning? So you can write this is not condemning having a lot. Okay, it's when you make the pursuit of the stuff the priority. Contentment makes God the pursuit and is happy with that 476-8628 but godliness with contentment is great gain, yo1 you're prioritizing the Lord in your life works best when that happened. But two if we are content to live just a simple life before God know what ends up happening. You got more time for the real things like family. The things that you that you need like, I don't know you church family. Like I don't know caring for the things that really matter in life. Okay. Those are the things that matter the most but when our lives get more complicated because of our pursuit of all the things you got to work the extra hours to pay for him. You got to do the extra thing so you can make this happen. You can't go through the ball in the yard. You can't do this. You can't do that. Why because you're chasing other things now, sometimes we all go through these were even when you're you're doing this, right? You're following lure there Seasons where you just spent okay, and you're tired and you're digging in your ear. But if we're honest and just evaluate Our Lives much of the energy we exert to keep up with the pace of life. Is really needs to be evaluated on. Where my focus here? Hello, this is a terrible time of year Kevin. I was just told it was terrible time of year. You know, why because I bet every one of us over the next two months is going to say and I wish things would just slow down. I'll give you just one. It feels like it's just going through fast. We have so many things that we do we get so wrapped up and I've I've given filtration the past but you know you seen those things where you got a guy on stage is got all these plates spinning in the air and you you know the goal of things how many plates can he keep spinning while you know, before one of them falls down and breaks or seen that illustration or that video and so you and this guy he looks really good. He runs over here and he was there and she saw spin it it may be fun to watch it on the show, but it's terrible to live that way. You can't know why because ultimately something's going to fall. And so what do you have to distinguish? What are the plastic plates in your life the things that fall and okay and what is a glass plate cuz if a glass plate Falls like your marriage if your marriage Falls guess what and that breaks you got a big problem. Your relationship with your kids at Falls you had a big problem. Look if the job Phil I hate to break it to any of us. But if if if I croak tomorrow, you know what you guys should start doing fine in the bathroom. That's what happened. We none of us are end as indispensable as we make ourselves in our own minds when it comes to the main roles in life. You are indispensable Mom Dad son. Child, you know, those type of things. Those are the indispensable and don't get the priority but we start covering all the things in life and we become Our Own Worst Enemy and that's why I got hate to because we're just robbing ourselves of the priority of being with him. He knows what that that's what's best Let me get into text. I've been at this long enough. I'm getting to text and try to prove it to you. There is a conversation that happens with Jesus and this man and he gives him this warning down inverse number 15. He says take heed and beware before I go any further. Let me try to explain it to fittingly for veterans veterans Day weekend that is a military term was used by the military and he had the idea of guarding yourself. Can you have got to be perpetually on guard against the sin of covetousness now the emphatic in the tense of the Greek here shows that it is continual action. You can't just decide to do this today and that be good. You have to be on continual guard in this in your heart constantly it is it is a continual action because if you don't watch for this the creeping influence of greed for the things in this world, it will impact you what may not do anything to you today. Tomorrow might have a little bit you got to be vigilant. You got to protect yourself. Why do you know the main reason why Christians don't mature? The main reason why Christians don't let your Luke chapter 8 I'm not going to go there for Tamba. Jesus was telling the story about the four different types of soil. Okay, and in the four different types of soil, he says there's Rocky ground Stone of the Stony ground the ground on the road the good ground. And another type. Here's what happens with that Parable Jesus Paints the picture and said that one of the reasons Christians won't grow in the Lord is because they're choke out that that love for Lord that that young loved to keep walking with. The Lord is choked out by our cares for the things of this life and other words, you can get so wrapped up and everything else is going on that before long. You're not even giving attention to what the Lord wants is that ever happened about. I mean, I'll admit it there are times I get so wrapped up in what I'm thinking when I'm going on that even as a pastor of the church making a priority of nothing. Okay. I'm starting to get another message and all that but feeding my soul in my room. Bishop with the Lord look it is so easy to live are alive committing the sin of being covetousness coverages towards this world and all its things in the Stop and its Pursuit. That we almost just become numb. And we start substituting the temporary things and trying to draw from temporary things. What only the Eternal God can rightly give us it's counterfeit. It won't spend toward God and that's why Jesus said this man though. He is rich in worldly goods and has everything he needs he is a full because he is not rich toward God. Now, let me show you some marks of this look at a couple of these here. In Jesus conversation. I told you weeks ago that chapter 12 down through chapter 13 is really one continuous conversation. So, you know, we're reading what kind of jumping in on something that was just a flow conversation that was happening things to happen right on top of each other. And in this conversation. Jesus has just explained the mystery of the Trinity to these people right here. We studied that over those weeks where he's just expanded what it truly means to live for. To live before him work where God is it is what you are pursuing. Okay and understanding who the father is the son is and the Holy Spirit and this man is in the crowd and I want you to listen to the question it here's a question with everything. Jesus said of just Eternal importance. Look what he says speak to my brother that he divided the inheritance with me. okay, look you ever said something dumb and you're just like You know that probably shouldn't come out of my mouth. Okay, your banana. Look let's just that probably should not have come out. But it's another thing altogether when you've been around a situation and you've maybe heard somebody say something and they didn't even realize that what they just said was really dumb and they just kind of went on about life right there been there, too. This man has been listening to Jesus speak about the most Eternal truth that he absolutely must have and what is he concerned about? His inheritance right isn't heritage. And according to what we have in the passage, he never gets it. It's like it goes right over his head. Now the marks of this of covetousness are seen in this because it shows what we're longing for. This man's longing for something. He wants Jesus to stop teaching the gospel. And tell his brother to make a fair division of the goods of their father. What is it? This man's longing for something that won't satisfy him cuz you know what, Jesus could give a decree hear you absolutely could and guess what? They're still going to fight about it. Somebody still going to be upset about something. This man's, just cause him to fixate on this desire rather than being transformed by Jesus teaching. He's listening to the Son of God speak the truth and he's so fixated on this question write the sing this with our kids. We're trying to tell him like okay you need to do this. You need to focus on and they're so wrapped up in what they want to say that they're not listening to you. And you can tell it and you can tell this is probably going to end really poorly for this person for this child because they're so wrapped up in what they want to say. That the truth of what you're saying that they need to get it's right over their head all this man. So focused on his materialism that he's missing true spiritual help for his soul. And look you can even hide behind seemingly righteous causes there's biblical precedent to that the Old Testament gives as far as had divided the goods God. God did speak to that and so much I will this is a righteous cause he wants to make sure his brother doing the right thing. Now, this man's just cut the edges.

He's looking at the eternal. And paying it no attention. He's like we all can be sometimes where we're hearing something. Not really hearing something. But it's also seen in his expectation of Jesus, you know, you can get so wrapped up in this world that you expect Jesus to be something that he's not. You get your heart so wrapped up on a thing or a person whatever and you can just pray like Jesus is your genie in the bottle. Guess what? He's not our genie in the bottle. He's not the guy that we make him to be he is the god and we must bow to him.

He didn't come to be the judge here. He came to be the savior in Jesus when he says I'm not to be your Arbiter here. I'm not to be your judge. I'm not to divide these things among you that you're missing the whole purpose of what he came to do Jesus. Just explain to her state that whosoever shall confess me before men him shall the son of man confessed before the angels of God, but he didn't I asked me before man shall be denied before the angels of God. Do you not think that you just talking about far more important things in this text then dividing and inheritance? Man's missing it. But ultimately it created a numbness to the true meaning of life This man's looking at the one who came to forgive his sin and give him eternal life. And all he's concerned about are his temporal Earthly material Goods. I was just learning about. So Jesus tells a story. And the parable know what is a parable. Well, it said of her 16. He spake a parable into them a parable is just simply a story that's cast alongside of principle that can serve as an illustration. Okay. So what is the principle that Jesus is explaining verse 15 take heed and beware Beyond military guard against covetousness against greed against living for this life why for a man's life consists it? Okay. God has put a greater value on your life. Okay, then what the abundance of the things which he possesses God has decreed because he's The Sovereign King of the universe that your life is to amount to more than the stuff when you have okay that that's his prerogative. And that's what he's done and in doing so

He wants us to understand this principle. So he illustrates it verse 16 the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully and he thought within himself same what shall I do? Because I have no room where to bestow my fruits. He said this will I do I will pull down my Barns and build greater and there I will bestow my fruits and my goods I will say to my I will say to my soul soul. That was much good laid up for many years. Take Anis eat drink and be married, but God said unto him thou fool this nightlife all shall be required of thee then who shall those things be which now has provided Now anytime you come to a parable, right? This is a story and all the elements of the story are illustrative. So you need to go through and unpack the elements. Okay. So there's some things here that if we just walk through these elements quickly we can understand it. Do you just start talking about the ground and the ground here for this man is just the honest work of his life. Nothing is wrong with what happens with the ground here at the ground did what God blessed it to do the ground brought him a great and and tremendous blessing in life. All right, the rich man that we meet here is the man who live as a fool without an awareness and without preparing for eternity. Okay, but I want you to see his thought here watch this thought. He recognized God's blessings, but he didn't seek God's wisdom for its use K Watch what he does here. The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully that word plaintively. It means to just overflow. Okay, so I imagine it's like Christmas Time's coming. All right, and you've been doing your honest work all year and your employer gives you like a life-changing bonus. Okay. I'm not talking about, you know, like the token coffee cup or whatever I'm talking about. They unloaded the truck like life-changing like the type of good that came from your job where you were just like man, I don't have to do this job anymore, like like that kind OK and then they said and guess what you're going to get a huge raise to we're so happy for your we're going to multiply your salary by 10 put an extra zero on the back of it. For what? Will you did an honest job you did a great job and we want to reward you for it. Nothing's wrong at this point and all God's people said sign me up for that job, right? Give me a handful of here before that. Okay. Nothing's wrong at this point. But look what he says, we're 17, and he fought within itself. They're still nothing wrong. He's thinking what do I do if I have been blessed in this tremendous way. What do I do? What shall I do? He's thinking he's he's doing the right thing.

But he misses it. he says

this will I do? I will.

The problem that is presented is that this blessing came to this man that he didn't have enough room to hold it. So what does he decide to do? He creates a plan to solve the problem the problem being he's been blessed in such a way where he just can't withhold it like, you know, imagine the bank calls you and says you just got too much money in the account and and you can't be our customer anymore because you just got too much money in the bank and all of us would say that problem getting a phone call tomorrow morning. And that's not the problem how he begins to put a plan in place that betrayed his heart that showed what he was. Verse 18 this will I do and I want you to just Mark the personal nature these conversations. Okay. Look what he saying about himself this will I do? I will pull down my Barns and build greater. Okay, he doesn't say I'm going to go bill on another place of the property. I'm going to put up another barn. He says I'm going to take my existing one down and put another one up why because his ground was bringing up bringing the fruit. So well, he didn't want to chew up more space with buildings. So what are you do you just tear it down and place and put another one? Because if you could you can go higher without it costing the more land. Because I'm going to tear them down and I'm going to build greater. And what is he going to do there? Will I bestow all my fruit all the great crops that I brought in this year. I'm going to have enough room for it and then all the goods all the things that we need to get the job done plus, you know all the toys and all the other stuff that goes with it. I'm just going to I'm going to put all that stuff in place. So he's going to build bigger Barnes and then look what he says in verse 19 and I will say to my soul soul that has must good laid up for many years take 90s eat drink and be merry know if you read that look at it and say, oh my Jesus just condemning retirement. Jesus is not condemning retirement here. Okay, please understand that he is not condemning retirement. That is not what he's talking about. He's condemning this man's attitude because what thought doesn't come into his mind. God has blessed me and I'm grateful for how you block me. What can I do with what you've blessed me with two further your work to help somebody in need to care for my neighbor. What can I do with this? Because I have plenty know he decides I'm good now. So what did you do? He gets the rocking chair. He gets a sweet tea and he sits down and he says I'm just going to spend the rest of my days just eating and drinking and happy and the world will look at that and we won't even look at the man. That would be great. I'd love to have that kind of comfort.

Believers can have that and honor the Lord they actually can. But not if they make that the goal this man sin is he made this dog goal? And what does Jesus say to him? Thou fool why? God's word came to him and God spoke to this man and said tonight. There will be righteous judgment why because our souls are accountable to God. And we will all stand before him. Will we be clothed in the righteousness of Christ with cuz we have confessed our sins and Believe on Jesus as Savior? We will stand before God to give an account with what we have done with the things he put in our hands. Does your soul will be required you and he has a very probing question and then who shall those things be we shall have provided and you hold the old joke right never see the hours for the U-Haul behind it. You know why? Because as much as we can make our lives about our house and our things and all the stuff in this world. Nobody takes it with them. It's all temporary.

I mean none of it's going with us. And I really think if we get that thought in her mind, it would transform how we live in this life. That we would prioritize what Jesus identifies of being rich toward God. been restored. Where we come to the place where we live our lives not for the pursuit of anything here, but for the pursuit of one Christ Jesus and him crucified

I'm going to get to that will look at this and weeks to come but 22 down through really verse number 40. Jesus goes launches into another connected conversation off the same point and there's two main highlights in it because he used that phrase. So is he referring to the fool that lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. So the wise person then we'll be the person that does not lay up treasure for themselves. In other words. It's not that they're not saving for the future and it's not that they're not trying to plan for later in life and all that. It's that they're not so consumed with themselves that they live life in it on a different plane. They now become rich or gotten so you like okay what how do I become rich? faith in the gospel faith in the gospel is the way you can restore got faith in the gospel is this I came into this world as dinner broken and crushed under that wait, but Jesus Christ enter this world to redeem my soul. The Holy Spirit has ensured that I would hear that message and ask he has declared it. I am personally going to believe it and become rich toward God because I I will become an inheritor of his Blessing of salvation. Practically speaking though. What do how do we become rich toward God. 22 down 3:30 really don't start unpacking this phrase dealing with 22 starts with take no thought for your life what you eat needed for your body with your sister and the whole admonition throughout that section is just rest in the father's care for your needs. Don't make this life about these things because God's promise to care for it. Don't don't worry about it. I'm a planner and I'm a prepare then plan and prepare for eternity and let God take care of everything else. The last the last for the second is give the purposes give yourself to God purposes than 31. He says seek rather that you the kingdom of God make your life not about pursuing this life, but about that. I heard through 40 to 30 things. I think this week and she's not in here. So I'll use this one but Rachel told me about this yesterday and I thought this fits and I as I heard it I thought this is exactly it but something has a bagale got like five bucks this week just got five bucks for her the teeth right? There was five bucks this week and you know in doing it Rachel gives it to her in the first thing the girl doesn't she stands there and think about it for a minute. And if she runs and put the five bucks in the missions back.

I can't tell you all the applications of being rich toward God. But that's the heart of it. Where we live with such a priority daily. That our first desire the preeminent desire.

and I know Value makes on the all-time cuz I just rag on my Dollar General. Is that what does Dollar Dollar Tree dog? I recognized you. I just feel like every time I go in Dollar Tree on the surrounded by junk. I just it's just attacking me. I can't handle it. I just can't. It's just driving up all night. If your Dollar Tree person God bless your heart. I'm happy for you. Love it and you go but very nose. Don't take me cuz I just I'm just grumpy the whole time. I'm there. I just feel like stuffed and all over me.

But if I can illustrate this for you.

We've been given in Christ and salvation and then it in our sanctification in living for him throughout we've been given the opportunity to lay up treasure in heaven where nothing will corrupted. But we are way too content at going around to the Dollar Tree of the world. And getting it stuff and living like that. And not being rich toward God. We as a church family. I can tell you this as a church family with with the way as a church family. This is coming together as far as supporting with the Lord's doing here and the building project and all that. All I can tell you is this if you're as you do that from your heart, you know, what you doing? You just laying up treasure in heaven.