I REVEAL YOUR HEART

Intro./Welcome

There once lived a very rich farmer who faithfully managed all that he had and worked hard for what he had. He had barns, wealth, land, workers, you name it. One year though, he had his workers plant his crop and he was blown away by the yield it produced. This was no normal crop yield, like he didn’t even have enough room to store all of it, even though he had plenty of land and barns to store things. He had a problem on his hands and honestly, it was a good problem to have.

Faced with this decision, he did something that truly revealed who he was on the inside. And depending on who you are on the inside will determine whether you think this guy was wise or foolish with what he did next.

Luke 12:17–21 (ESV): 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’

Well hey, and welcome to Community Christian Church. We are right in the middle of a four-week long financial series designed to train you to learn from your money by listening to your money. What?!? John, my Benjamin’s don’t have voice boxes. What are you talking about?

Right, your money can’t audibly speak to you … if it can, please stop watching this and go get medical help. But even though our money can’t create sounds waves, it can definitely communicate to you and we want to give you the tools you need in order to help you hear from your money, learn from it, and live freer, fully lives including your finances.

That story we just heard, what did you think of that? Was the rich farmer wise? Was he a fool? Was he properly prioritizing his money and possessions? In fact, how would you have handled that situation? (WHAT WOULD YOU DO?)

This is what is called an example story where you have a central character that is confronted by a difficult situation and how they handle that situation either paints them as a good example and someone you should live like or a bad example and someone you should definitely not be like.

Now, if you are familiar with this story, then you probably know that I didn’t tell you how it actually ended. In fact, this story is usually called the parable of the rich fool. And, even though he is rich and kind of seems to be doing the smart thing with his wealth, he is actually a fool because of how the story ends.

This is what Jesus goes on to say concerning this story:

Luke 12:20 (ESV) 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

What this man did with the wealth he suddenly entered into revealed who he truly was on the inside. That’s because money has the power to reveal our hearts, our motivations, and who we truly are deep down. This is why, when you listen really closely, you can hear money say: “I Reveal Your Heart.”

Point #1: Money says, “I Reveal Your Heart.”

Explanation:

This story was all sparked by one guys questions about his inheritance. But Jesus doesn’t take the bait, instead he says something so countercultural, freeing, and life-giving to this guy in Luke 12:15 (NLT): 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

The younger brother had the same issue that the rich farmer had, they were both greedy and slaves to their money and stuff.

What do you mean? Where do you get that?

This guy just wants what is rightfully his. The farmer made wise moves with his stuff, he doesn’t have the room that he needs so he builds bigger barns, he has enough now, he can rest, retire, and live free from the tyranny of work now!

We all want to be this guy. We all want to come into wealth and one smart decision and be set for the rest of our lives, don’t we?

I do! Nothing wrong with wanting what is rightfully yours or properly managing your money in order to get a massive yield off of your investments. Nothing wrong with having wealth, nothing wrong with growing your wealth, nothing wrong with working hard, nothing wrong with enjoying the fruits of your labor either.

But both of these guys had a problem. They were trying to fulfill the needs and desires in their lives with stuff, and we were never designed to do that.

The Rich Farmer was greedy and his words and actions prove it.

Luke 12:17 (ESV) and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’

Analysis of the Rich Fool:

He wasn’t that wise (Lk. 12:17)

This guy isn’t actually that smart when it comes to properly managing his possessions, including his wealth. He fails to see a large harvest on the horizon. He fails to properly prepare for a large harvest and already have storage space ready to go.

We can’t fault him too much though because of the way Jesus describes the amount of yield this crop produced. Jesus said that it produced “plentifully,” the Greek word that is being translated as plentiful is where we get our english word Euphoria from. So this guys crop “produced unusually well” and caused intense excitement within the farmer.

But by describing it this way, Jesus is hinting at the fact that this farmer wasn’t the sole reason for why his crops produced so much. He was getting help and that help was coming from God.

In fact, your ability to work and produce wealth has always come from God. Listen to what God says in Deuteronomy 8:11-14, 17-18a (NIV)

Deuteronomy 8:11–14 (NIV)

11 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Deuteronomy 8:17–18 (NIV)

17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

He is a ruthless agri-businessman (Lk. 12:18)

The mind-blowing wealth that this man was about to enter into was from God, but what he did with what God had given him shows us that he greedy, arrogant, and a ruthless businessman.

His game plan was this:

Withhold his harvest from the local market

Build a deeper and taller granary but with the same footprint as his existing barn, so that he doesn’t lose any land that could grow future crops.

Wait out his competition until he is the only supplier left in the game, once that happens, then he can charge what he wants, jacking the price up and creating even more wealth for himself

Eventually, the price would be so high that poorer people would have to sell their land to him and then work that same land for him, creating even more wealth for this guy.

In essence, this guy was position himself to basically build up a monopoly where he owned a corner of the local economy, which would eventually position him in owning the whole thing.

It’s a smart plan if you want to grow your wealth by any means necessary. After, it’s not personal; it business.

Jack Welch, Former Chairman and CEO, General Electric

“Business in the end is about understanding the playing field…You’re always in that competitive game. You’re looking at innovation. You’re looking at leap frogging, trying to get ahead of them. You’re never complacent. You’re semi-paranoid about what they’re doing. That’s what a game is all about.”

This guy was playing the game and he was playing to win, but he had a heart problem and how he handled his money reveals the condition of his heart. He didn’t care about others, he didn’t care if this was going to disrupt the economy or cause hunger or people to lose everything. He only cared about growing his wealth (he was already rich), acquiring more and more, and building up his own kingdom. In effect, he was playing God. Look at what he says to himself in verse 19.

He is arrogant and consumed by greed (Lk. 12:19)

He is speaking to his own soul. The very thing that God alone gave us when he breathed life into our lungs back in the garden [Gen. 2:7]. This dude is a serious fool. Or as my Dad would say, ‘Ah … you a dummy!’ He is talking to his own soul as if he is the one who is in control of it. He is acting like he has total command over whether he lives, whether he dies, or who tells his story. He is, in effect, living as if he is God.

God calls him a fool, not because he isn’t smart or good at a cut-throat business, but because he is living his life as if God has nothing to do with it and he’s trying to fill his life with material things, when the only thing that can actually fulfill him is relational.

“There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made know through Jesus Christ.” - Blaise Pascal

Jesus tells the crowd and you today, that your life isn’t defined by how rich you are, how much stuff you have, or the value of your retirement funds. Instead, your life is defined by how rich your relationship with God is because you were designed with relationship in mind.

Your money can reveal the condition of your heart. The condition of this guys heart was not good. Nor was the condition of that younger brother who wanted Jesus to force his older brother to give his inheritance of land and money and stuff. You were designed for more. Don’t sell yourself short by following what the culture says, that money can buy you happiness, or more stuff = more value! Those are lies that are meant to trap you in a hamster wheel of death!

Your Money can talk and it is telling you that it can reveal your heart. So, where’s your heart? At the end of this section dealing with money, Jesus says

Luke 12:34 (ESV)

34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

ILLUSTRATION: Heart-Strings

Transition: So, money has told you it can reveal your heart. But it also wants to tells you that it knows where you put your trust.

Point #2: Money says, “I Know Who You Trust.”

This farmer was putting his trust in his material wealth and not his relational wealth with God. He was trusting in his stuff and becoming a slave to it.

3 Money Traps:

Identity Trap - “You have ample goods” (ie., I’m Rich because my stuff gives me significance)

Security Trap - “laid up for many years;” (ie., I’m not worried, my stuff gives my safety)

Satisfaction Trap - “relax, eat, drink, be merry.” (ie., I’m the party starter, my stuff makes me happy)

After finishing this parable about greed, Jesus turns his attention to his disciples, with the rest of the crowd listening, and talks about anxiety and worry over our stuff. It’s so interesting what Jesus is doing here. He is showing us that whether you are part of the 1% or part of the 99%, the issue is the same: it’s easier to put our trust in our stuff, our bank account, or savings; then it is to put our trust in God and allow him to literally take care of us.

After talking about how God literally provides for birds, grass, and flowers, Jesus says this in vv. 30-34.

Luke 12:30–34 (ESV)

30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 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. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Be a Kingdom Seeker (v. 31, Seek God’s Kingdom First)

LK 12:31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

Be a Generous Giver (v. 33, give to the needy)

LK 12:33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy.

Proverbs 19:17 (ESV)

17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,

and he will repay him for his deed.

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 (NLT)

6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

Be a Grateful Receiver (v. 31b - things will be added to you.)

LK 12:33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy.

Philippians 4:6–7 (NLT)

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Transition: So, money says that it can reveal your heart and that it knows where you are placing your trust. So how do you heart what it is telling you?

You have to build off your 5 Capitals and monitor what is going on with your cash flow: what’s coming in, what’s going out, and where everything is going.

Conclusion:

We are slowly putting the building block in place for you to be able to start growing a firm financial foundation for yourself, others, and for God’s glory and it will ultimately look like this:

Money Talks Overview:

Prioritize (5 CAPITALS)

Monitor (CAPTURE/CATEGORIZE)

Plan (SPENDING PLAN)

Partners

Illustrations/Conclusion: CAPTURE & CATEGORIZE

So how to do monitor your spending in order to reveal where your heart is and where you are putting your trust?

Where are you placing your trust? Are you putting your trust in money or in God?

Before you answer that, your money already has something to say about it, in order to find out its answer, look back over the past three months of your cash flow: what comes in and what goes out.

Capture and Categorize what you did with your money.

RESOURCES:

You can download a Google Sheet here = https://bit.ly/3bl5C3e

You can print it that off or just recreate your own document.

You can even download an app from Mint.Com in either the Apple App or Google Play stores that will help you capture and categorize your cash flow.

This week, search your heart and listen to what it says about how you actually think about your money and where you put your trust.

As you capture and categorize your spending, ask yourself:

What category is getting most of your heart?

Is this what God would want?

Is this building a solid foundation for myself and others?

Am I bringing glory to God through my spending habits?