Rich Toward God

INTRODUCTION: The Interruption

Picture this: Jesus is teaching about courage, about not being afraid to stand up for what's right. Heavy stuff. Life-changing stuff. And right in the middle of it, someone raises their hand with a completely different agenda.

"Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

Can you imagine? It's like interrupting a wedding ceremony to ask about the catering bill. This guy missed the entire point of what Jesus was saying because he was focused on... money.

And here's what's scary: We do this all the time.

TENSION: What We're Really After

Jesus doesn't take the bait. Instead, He does what great teachers do - He goes deeper. He says, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, because life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."

Here's the question that will make you uncomfortable: What if the thing you think will make your life better... won't?

What if that promotion, that house, that financial goal you're working toward - what if reaching it doesn't give you what you're really after?

Because here's what we believe deep down: More stuff equals better life. More money equals more security. More possessions equal more happiness.

But what if that's wrong?

THE STORY: The Successful Fool

Jesus tells a story about a guy who had it all figured out. Financially, anyway.

This man wasn't greedy in the way we usually think about greed. He wasn't cheating people or being dishonest. He was just... successful. Really successful.

His problem? Five words: "What shall I do?"

Not "What should WE do?" Not "What would GOD have me do?" Just... "What shall I do?"

He had a YOU problem.

Listen to his internal monologue:

"I will tear down MY barns"

"I will build bigger ones"

"I will store MY surplus grain"

"I will say to MY soul..."

Five "I" statements. Zero "God" statements. Zero "others" statements.

This successful man was successful at everything except the one thing that mattered most.

And then God speaks: "You fool! Tonight your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?"

Boom. Game over.

THE PRINCIPLE: Two Kinds of Rich

Jesus ends with this gut punch: "This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God."

There are two ways to be rich:

- accumulating for your own security and pleasure Rich toward yourself

- investing in what matters to Him Rich toward God

Here's the difference: One focuses on what you can control (your stuff). The other focuses on what actually controls everything (God).

Here's the irony: The person trying to secure their future by accumulating stuff is actually the most insecure person in the room. Because they're betting everything on things that can disappear overnight.

THE TENSION RESOLVED: What Rich Toward God Looks Like

Being rich toward God isn't about being poor. It's about understanding who owns what.

Three shifts that change everything:

1. From Owner to Manager When you realize God owns it all, you stop hoarding and start stewarding. You ask different questions: "How does God want me to use this?" instead of "How can I get more of this?"

2. From Accumulator to Investor Rich-toward-God people invest their resources in things that outlast this life - people, relationships, kingdom work, generosity that changes lives.

3. From Self-Secured to God-Secured Your security isn't in your 401k or your bank account. It's in your relationship with the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

APPLICATION: The Question That Changes Everything

Here's the question that will change how you think about everything you own:

"If God asked for this back tomorrow, would I give it freely or would I negotiate?"

Your house. Your car. Your savings. Your plans.

Because here's what the rich fool forgot: It was never really his to begin with.

Practical ways to be rich toward God:

- not just tip money, but money that requires faith Give generously

- relationships are the only thing you take to heaven Invest in people

- hold everything loosely Live with open hands

- ask "Will this matter in 100 years?" Think eternally

THE GOSPEL: The Ultimate Wealth Transfer

Here's the beautiful irony of the gospel: The only person who was truly rich toward God - Jesus - became poor so that we could become rich.

He gave up His heavenly wealth, His position, His life itself, so that spiritually bankrupt people like us could inherit eternal riches.

You can't earn your way to being rich toward God. But when you receive what Christ offers - forgiveness, relationship with God, eternal life - generosity becomes a joy, not a burden.

CONCLUSION: The Choice

You have a choice to make - not someday, but today:

Will you live like the rich fool - successful by every earthly measure but poor toward God?

Or will you live rich toward God - investing in what lasts, finding security in Him, and using whatever He's given you to advance His kingdom?

Because here's what we know for sure: The fool thought he had many years. He had one night.

You have today. What will you do with it?

One Thing: This week, ask God to show you one way you can be more rich toward Him than toward yourself.