Sermon Tone Analysis

The Poor Man’s Heaven

1 Timothy 6:6-19

Introduction:

One of my all time favorite Christmas tales is that of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.

Allow me to share a little of the back story to this tale.

A Christmas Carol.

In Prose.

Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol, is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech.

A Christmas Carol recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come.

After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.

Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol during a period when the British were exploring and re-evaluating past Christmas traditions, including carols and newer customs such as Christmas trees.

He was influenced by the experiences of his own youth and by the Christmas stories of other authors including Washington Irving and Douglas Jerrold.

Dickens had written three Christmas stories prior to the novella, and was inspired following a visit to the Field Lane Ragged School, one of several establishments for London's street children.

The treatment of the poor and the ability of a selfish man to redeem himself by transforming into a more sympathetic character are the key themes of the story.

There is discussion among academics as to whether this was a fully secular story, or if it is a Christian allegory.

Published on 19 December, the first edition sold out by Christmas Eve; by the end of 1844 thirteen editions had been released.

Most critics reviewed the novella favourably.

The story was illicitly copied in January 1844; Dickens took legal action against the publishers, who went bankrupt, further reducing Dickens's small profits from the publication.

He went on to write four other Christmas stories in subsequent years.

In 1849 he began public readings of the story which proved so successful he undertook 127 further performances until 1870, the year of his death.

A Christmas Carol has never been out of print and has been translated into several languages; the story has been adapted many times for film, stage, opera and other media.

A Christmas Carol captured the zeitgeist of the mid-Victorian revival of the Christmas holiday.

Dickens had acknowledged the influence of the modern Western observance of Christmas and later inspired several aspects of Christmas, including family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, dancing, games and a festive generosity of spirit.

(Wikepedia)

I cannot help but think that today’s passage of scripture had something to do with Charles Dickens inspiration for this tale.

However, we will see that there is not as happy and ending in the story found in scripture.

Prayer

Background:

Last week we found Jesus teaching His disciples about stewardship in the Parable of the Shrewd Manager.

However, the disciples were not the only ones listening.

The Pharisees were always hanging around to hear what Jesus would say next and to try to find a way to trap Him.

They did not like Jesus.

They were content with the way things were.

They taught that wealth was evidence of God’s blessing in someone’s life.

They marked their own righteousness by two things; their attention to the law (righteousness by works) and their money (according to them this showed God’s approval of them).

They had prestige and approval of men (though I am sure it was somewhat grudgingly).

Now Jesus keeps revealing their hypocrisy.

Their popularity with the people is being torn down by the teachings of Jesus.

The regular person who was without funds had no hope of righteousness based on the Pharisee model, but now they find they can have the blessings of God through faith.

No wonder the Pharisees hated Him so.

And hated is the true word for it, so much so that they were even at this moment conspiring to have Him killed.

So much for their righteousness!

Luke 16:14-1

So Jesus is teaching His disciples about wise stewardship.

We saw it last week.

Wealth is not to be used for personal gain as much as to be used to provide for the care of others.

We are to use our excess funds strategically, not only to aid people with their troubles here on earth, but also to be able to share about their spiritual need to provide for their future in heaven.

Now the Pharisees hearing this began to make fun of Jesus.

Back up a few verses with me to vv 14 & 15.

The last thing Jesus had said prior to this is, “You cannot serve two masters...You cannot serve both God and money.”

Here are the Pharisees who preach that their wealth is a sign of God’s blessing upon them and their righteousness and Jesus says this is not so.

Can you imagine how livid they were at this.

In fact, we see all through scripture that they have a very poor attitude toward people and a very selfish attitude about their money.

They in no way honored God in the use of their funds, but instead lorded it over the poor to show they were better than others.

The last thing Jesus had said prior to this is, “You cannot serve two masters...You cannot serve both God and money.”

Here are the Pharisees who preach that their wealth is a sign of God’s blessing upon them and their righteousness and Jesus says this is not so.

Can you imagine how livid they were at this.

Then Jesus lays the foundation for the parable He is about to share.

Luke 16:14

Woe, those are fighting words.

But Jesus does not stop there.

He goes on...

Luke

God has shown the path for His people from the beginning.

In the Old Testament, God gave them the Law and the Prophets to lead them.

However, the religious leaders did not follow them.

Even the Pharisees, as religious leaders knew the teachings of the prophets, yet they disobeyed.

Instead of living the Law, they twisted the Law to fit their own desires.

They had a love/hate relationship with the prophets.

They were proud of their prophets because it showed God was with them, yet they were never willing to accept the word of the prophets.

Eventually, the prophets died away and God was silent for some 200 years.

I.

A Tale of Two Men

Now God is speaking again.

It began with John the Baptist and continues with Jesus.

Many are pushing their way in to hear and receive the words of Jesus, yet the Pharisees continue to deny the truth.

They disobey the Laws.

They divorce for their own pleasure and purpose with no concern for the women they use.

To make clear what the Pharisees are risking, Jesus tells...

I.

A Tale of Two Men

Luke 16:

It is unclear if this is just another parable or a true event.

This is the only parable for which Jesus shares a name and some believe Jesus is sharing a true event that has taken place, an ongoing story if you will.

We have no way of knowing if it is or not.

However, it gives us a rare glimpse into the afterlife.

In this story, we find these men contrasted in life, death and in the eternal afterlife.

Let us look at those.

A. A Contrast in Life ()

A. A Contrast in Life ()

Rich Man:

a. unnamed

b. dressed in purple - purple die was made from thousands of ground sea snails.

c. dressed in fine linen

d. joyously living in splendor

myth buster: Some rich people are happy, contrary to what we often teach.

2. Poor Man:

a. Lazarus = “One who God helps”

b. destitute - laid at gate of rich man hoping for some compassion

c. ill with visible, oozing sores