It is Not What You Have
Not What You Have, But What Has You • Sermon • Submitted
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· 6 viewsAn overview of warnings against desire for possessions
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These two lessons introduce our motto for the church during 2019 – It is Not What You Have, But What has You. We begin with the first clause of that motto. This lesson will serve as an overview. Many of the points we introduce today will be considered in detail later in the year.
I) Forms of greed
I) Forms of greed
Jesus warns us that there are multiple forms of greed –
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
We often limit greed to the wealthy, but nothing in this context suggests this man is wealthy (or his brother)
His “greed” is the desire to get that which he believes is lawfully his (personal injury lawyers would be much less prevalent in Jesus’ kingdom) – ; ;
To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”
And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.”
God is just – ; ; – but His justice concerns the things that really matter (i.e. eternal)
And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,
since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
II) Life is not possessions
II) Life is not possessions
It is fleshly nature to consider possessions as the purpose for life – – “most likely to succeed” usually means “most likely to make a lot of money”
And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’
In accounting, “assets” are possessions, expressed in monetary value
Jesus teaches another of His mind-changing truths – possessions do not define, or complete our lives, even when we have an abundance – ;
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Life does consist of being rich towards God – ,
So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
That requires us to think differently than the world about success and failure
III) Seeking the better thing
III) Seeking the better thing
Mary chose to neglect guests to sit at the feet of Jesus to learn –
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Hospitality is good – ; – but this event shows us that spiritual needs must take precedence over physical concerns at all times
Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
James tells us it is arrogant to plan our lives without considering the will of God – – and evil to neglect what God calls the “right thing”
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
Recognize the danger that comes from striving to gain the “whole world” – ; – enough to survive is all we need
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me before I die:
Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
lest I be full and deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.
Concl: In a culture that emphasizes material success at an ever-increasing level, God’s people must always work to guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus – – this will be challenging for us (it is for me). But we can do this through the power of God, and we must!
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.