What is your price?

Then He said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own."

INTRODUCTION

Good morning, Southpointe!

This morning I feel the need to talk to you about a touchy subject.

Jesus here in our text is teaching and someone from the crowd called upon Jesus intervene in a dispute, but He refuses to do so,

Then someone called from the crowd, "Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father's estate with me."

Jesus replied, "Friend, who made Me a judge over you to decide such things as that?"

But Jesus did inject the truth in the story because He was all knowing and the hidden underlying part was greed.

Web. definition: Greed— “a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed.” 2) excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves

excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves

Jesus had a definition for greed: He called it the practice of measuring life by possessions.

You got a lot equal to you are a lot.

You go a little equal you are little.

The consequence of this philosophy is predictable. If you are the sum of what you won, then by all means own it all.

No price is too high! No payment is too much!

But we must understand that greed is not defined by what something costs: it is measure by what it costs you.

If anything costs you your faith or your family, the price is too high!

So we have seen people’s lives destroyed because of greed.

The line between “success-driven” and “greedy” is narrow.

To determine what separates one from the other, we need to go back to our definition.

It describe greed as “a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed.”

One word sticks out in particular: “excessive.” This can help explain the problem.

Patrick Mussel, a leading researcher on the topic of greed at the University in Germany, explains greed as “striving excessively toward material goods.”

He also said: “According to our definition, a greedy person stands out in their desire for more, even at the expense of others.”

Something that seems to be true through out this study is that greedy people don’t learn from their mistakes.

Remember the balloon contest: They knew that the balloon would burst after so must air was put in it, but the greed for the money make them push the limit.

The researchers concluded that greedy people tend to ignore warning signals from the brain – and therefore, take on higher risks.

Greedy people are willing to take the risk regardless of what is destroy.

Show a picture of the Enron logo

“The greatest company in the world” – that’s how CEO’s Jeffrey Skilling and Kenneth Lay described their company, Enron.

The two were always hungry for more, and when  energy and gas weren’t enough, they took on more, adding coal and insurance to their company.

They took on riskier deals, and purchased new companies. In December 2001, Enron went bankrupt.

In the course of uncovering their bankruptcy, a huge betrayal came to light: for years, Enron had cooked their books. Their investors lost billions, their 20,000 employees lost their jobs.

Kenneth Lay died during the trail and Jeffrey Skilling is still in prison.

Show a picture of Lance Armstrong.

Lance Armstrong, a one-time world class cyclist and inspiration to millions worldwide, is another name that often comes up when conversation turns to greed and downfall. 

The quest towards dominance and triumph, over the course of many years, led him to practices, like illegal doping, and betraying his fans all over the world. His credibility is still in pieces, even years after the scandal came to light.

"THE BIGGER BARN FOLLY"

I. A MAN'S LIFE CONSISTETH NOT IN THE ABUNDANCE OF THINGS HE POSSESSES.

A. This is exactly what so many feel.

Most people are search for more, selfishly need more and more, they are trying to fill their life’s with things that they think will make them happy.

1. Should question be posed, "What would it take to make you a truly happy person?"

So this morning the question must be asked, "What would it take to make you a truly happy person?"

Most answers would involve some material possession but possessions alone cannot make you happy.

b. Possessions alone cannot make you happy.

We look at a person living on private island with a 50' yacht tied up to their own private dock and we will think "He's/She’s got it made."

What you don't see is the inner strife and struggles. That vain attempt to fill a spiritual void with material things.

Jesus said:

b. That vain attempt to fill a spiritual void with material things.

Then He said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own."

B. "Beware of covetousness."

"Beware of covetousness."

The big 10 Commandments,

1. 10 Commandments, "Thou shalt not covet."

"You must not covet your neighbor's house. You must not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor."

The thing you covet will not satisfy. You're trying to find the end of the rainbow.

2. The thing you covet will not satisfy.

3. You're trying to find the end of the rainbow.

You will never discover the meaning of life in material things.

In our text this story, Jesus address the man’s question with the story of the bigger barn, because He knew the problem the man was having was greed.

II. THE STORY OF THE BIGGER BARN.

Then He told them a story: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.

He said to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have room for all my crops.'

Then he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods.

And I'll sit back and say to myself, "My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!"'

The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plenty. This was unhappy man here in the Lord’s story. This was a common person in Palestine in an ordinarily prosperous time.

We have the portrait of a landowner whose farms do not seem to have been acquired by any unjust means.

This man, after years of successful farming, having acquired great wealth, wholly devotes himself to it and to its increase.

He does not give himself up to excess, but simply, body and soul, becomes the slave of his wealth; utterly, hopelessly selfish, he forgets God and his neighbor.

He felt that a bigger barn would provide him security for the future. And He said :

A. He felt that a bigger barn would provide him security for the future.

1. Now I can take it easy.

2. Now I have enough to be satisfied.

3. If I just had a bigger barn I could kick back and relax, I'll be a happy man.

B. His estimate of his dream, "I'll have it made."

He though his dream had been fulfilled and He was thinking "I'll have it made."

His estimate of his dream was on material things.

If you look at the three things there: Now I can take it easy, now, i have enough to be satisfied. But I can only be happy if I build a bigger barn. Never enough.

Another greedy story:

Jericho and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies.

"Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel.

Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the LORD and must be brought into His treasury."

Remember story of Israelites marching around Jericho seven times, on the sixth times before they started the seven march Joshua gave those orders from God the people.

And they march, the walls came down and victory was won. But one did not abide by the orders. Because of greed.

But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the LORD. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the LORD was very angry with the Israelites.

Joshua had send spy out to the city of Ai and they return with their report and Joshua said, we don’t need to send but around 3000 of our warriors.

Because they are so few of them. And the Israelites got whip and lost 36 men in the battle.

Israel was in shock, and they fell on their knees and cry out to God.

God said, this:

But the LORD said to Joshua, "Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this?

Israel has sinned and broken My covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for Me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings.

That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.

Joshua told the people to purity them and prepare for the tomorrow.

"Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the LORD. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.

You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.

Those things was that spirit of greed.

It cost Achan everything, his life, his family life, everything they had work for was destroy.

Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, by telling the truth. Make your confession and tell me what you have done. Don't hide it from me."

Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel.

Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest."

I wanted them so much that I took them. Greed which brought destruction to his whole family. They stoned Achan and his family.

God has a different plan when our plans turn to greed.

"But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?'

Who is going to spend your fortune? You have sacrificed and saved, you have used prudence and wisdom to get your fortune. Now who is going to spend it and how?

1. Who is going to spend your fortune?

2. You have sacrificed and saved, you have used prudence and wisdom to amass your fortune. Now who is going to spend it and how?

I know you are saying “Well, I don’t have a lot of money and material possessions, but It doesn’t have to be that, I started this out saying material things, anything on this earth that you have desire to have more than God.

If it isn't possessions, or pleasure, or education, what is it?

A. If it isn't possessions, or pleasure, or education, what is it?

To have a true and blessed life, it is not about the things you own or possess.

True life consists in a right relationship with God.

"Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."

You could be on the list of the 10 richest men/women in the country and still your life is empty and meaningless.

You are a spiritual begger, You are spiritually bankrupt. You have put all of your eggs in the wrong basket. You may be rich, full life, but bankrupt forever.

2. You are spiritually bankrupt.

You have put all of your eggs in the wrong basket.

You may be rich, full life, but bankrupt forever.

A right relationship with God can only be experienced through Jesus Christ.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

B. How rich are you today toward God?

How rich are you today toward God? What does your eternal bank account look like?

B. How rich are you today toward God?

1. What does your eternal bank account look like?

You have used such wisdom and prudence to provide a secure future.

You hope to have enough to live the remainder of your life in ease and comfort.

How long is the rest of your life?

Is God saying to you, thou fool? Any man is a fool who --

3. Any man is a fool who --

Lives only for this life. Doesn't take eternity into account.

b. Doesn't take eternity into account.

Who takes great care to provide for present retirement, but has laid up nothing for eternal retirement.

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?