Rich Toward God

Text - Luke 12:13-21 PB 1617

As I begin this message, I want to acknowledge the work of John Ortberg and his book,

When the Game is Over, it All Goes Back In Box.

My study this week has taken me repeatedly to the text that we are going to read in a moment. John’s treatment of that text was compelling and some of his thoughts will show up in this sermon!

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Are you 'rich toward God?' (Luke 12:21)

Are you pursuing Him, seeking to live in the center of His goodness, enjoying the wealth of His favor?

You can - and, what a difference in life, God’s grace makes!

Occasionally I have an experience that refreshes my appreciation of my relationship with the Lord and the difference His grace has made in my life.

This week, I spent some time among some new friends. When that happens, I usually keep my vocation to myself. When people find out that I am a pastor, it usually creates all kinds of self-consciousness. So, I was lunch with a couple of guys who had no idea that I am a Christian or a pastor. I listened to them brag about their bourbon, their pursuit of 'babes,' and their various weekend diversions. Their lives were oriented around themselves and their personal happiness. As I drove home, I thought about that hour and the emptiness of a life given to the pursuit fo pleasure took on a stark contrast to the fullness of the life I live!

Please do not misunderstand my attitude here. I am not crawling up on a pedestal to look down on others. Like Paul, I know that "God was kind! He made me what I am, and his wonderful kindness was not wasted."

(1 Corinthians 15:10, CEV)

One of the guys mentioned his ex-wife, who had left him because of his wandering eyes. His loneliness was obvious despite what he claimed about ‘rediscovering freedom.’ In my marriage, I have a source of joy that my 'babe chasing' friend, whose marriage ended because of his wandering ways, cannot know. Next week Bev and I will celebrate our 33rd anniversary, thanks be to God's goodness.

In that same conversation, another person made reference to the fact that he had fulfilled his 'Christmas obligations' by spending a day with his adult son and daughter, with the implication it was not something he did gladly. He spoke of his relief that the holidays were over and that the kids had gone home. I enjoy my children's love and esteem, not because I am better or brighter than him, but because the Holy Spirit helped me to love and nurture them as a godly father through the years. (Hold up the book Sean prepared as a gift)

Because of the grace of God, my life is crowded with friends, abounding in hope and purpose, and my eternal home secure in Christ! What more could I want or need?

From time to time, someone will say "You're so lucky. You lead a charmed life, that knows so little of problems or sadness." I smile and thank the Lord! But, the truth is that my sojourn on this planet has not been a walk in the park without trials, temptation, or tribulation. I've known sorrow, seduction of the sinful nature, and disappointment as much as any other man. The difference is the Presence of the the Spirit. Those things have not broken me, because I do not walk alone. God has led me through dark valleys and His promise has proven true - "I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe." (Psalm 23:4, CEV)

Once again, let me emphasize I do not wish to boast. I exult in the amazing grace of God! I deserve judgment; I am gifted with life abundant! Yes, to be sure, there are choices to be made and I am responsible for choosing, day after day, to say "yes" to Him, in order to continue to know His goodness. But, even those choices are empowered by the Spirit who works deeply in me, drawing me to the Presence and favor of God, in Christ Jesus. I do not belong to an exclusive club that is open only to those of some special bloodline or heritage. I received the grace of God, and you can receive Him, too.

"For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you." Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 5:21-6:2, NLT)

In this message today, I want to urge you, here at the start of a brand New Year, to make the choice to receive the gift of God's undeserved favor. Let Him hide your life in Christ. I cannot promise you that all your troubles will go away. Neither the Scripture nor my experience of the Christian life would support such a claim. But I can promise you that you will find a whole new dimension to life, one that is beyond the reach of those who live apart from the Spirit! I want to urge you to be “rich toward God.”

Jesus told a story that I think is particularly appropriate to read here at the beginning of 2008.

Let’s take a look at our text - READ - Luke 12:13-21

This passage is frequently misunderstood as Jesus’ taking on the rich guy! But is He really condemning a good guy’s management and diligence? Is Jesus down on making money or knowing a measure of financial success? I think not! The Lord is speaking directly to a person’s value system, not the balance in his bank account!

Poverty is not a spiritual virtue!

A consistent theme in Scripture is abundance, provision, and blessings for the people of God. When they obeyed and lived in His favor, they knew His blessings. When they rebelled against Him, they fell into hard times.

∙ Moses told the nation that God desired to bless them. Listen to his challenge. READ Deut. 30: 15-18

Some of you have leapt ahead of me and think that you’re hearing me espouse a prosperity Gospel - one of health, wealth, and happiness! I do not see the promise made in the Scripture that serving Jesus Christ is a road to riches or a guarantee of a trouble-free life. But I do hear Him say that He gives ‘life to the full’ to those who come to Him. When I read the Gospels, I see Jesus meet the needs of the people who surround Him. He does not just address their spiritual needs, either. He feeds them, heals them, and comforts them.

When Peter made mention of the cost that was involved in following Him, Jesus replied with this promise:

READ Luke 18:28-30

In a contemporary version it reads this way:

"Peter tried to regain some initiative: “We left everything we owned and followed you, didn’t we?”

“Yes,” said Jesus, “and you won’t regret it. No one who has sacrificed home, spouse, brothers and sisters, parents, children—whatever— will lose out. It will all come back multiplied many times over in your lifetime. And then the bonus of eternal life!” The Message

So what is our text about?

It is about a misplaced value system that makes money and things the meaning of life!

It is a call to be ‘rich toward God.’ The main character in Jesus’ story had a wrong list of priorities, as do many of us. Ortberg says the man’s list might have read like this:

1. Harvest large crop

2 Build bigger barns

3. Achieve financial security

4. Eat

5. Drink

6. Be merry

7. Don’t die too soon!

It is a list not unlike that of many of our own lives. We’re working hard to make some money, put it away, invest it so it produces wealth for us. And why? So we can live ‘the good life.’

Is that a bad thing? Not at all, if it is not the main thing! Jesus said as much as He introduced the story!

Re-read Luke 12:15

The NLT says, “Life is not measured by how much you own!”

Then, Jesus told the story. To underline the point, He concludes with this statement...

Re-read Luke 12:21

What does it mean to be ‘rich toward God?’

It is not hard to answer that question. Jesus does, simply and in a manner that is straightforward. He says -

“Love God with all your heart, your soul, your mind, and your strength; and love your neighbor as yourself!”

Being rich towards God means that we give Him what is most valuable to us - and that is ourselves! God gives us many gifts, but the best gift He gave to us is the Gift of Himself! It is true about loving Him, too. We may give Him many gifts, but what He wants above all else, is our love and devotion.

Let me help you to understand this by talking about my love for my wife, Bev. As mentioned earlier, on Thursday, this week, we will mark our 33^rd anniversary. In our years together we have given each other many gifts - jewelry, clothing, computers, cars - but none of those things is what we want most from each other! More than once, in the late evening, as we’re sitting in our living room together, reading or watching TV, I’ve remarked to her - “Hon, this is the best time of my day.” Why? Because the one whose company I enjoy more than any other is with me. Her presence is the one gift she can give me that is completely unique. No one else could ever be ‘Bev’ to me.

When I gave myself to her in marriage, it changed everything! “Me” was replaced with “We.” It wasn’t my money any longer. It was our money. It wasn’t my vacation, my house, even my time. I had to learn to think in the plural, to consider how choices would effect this new thing called a marriage. Like many young husbands, at first, I did not do that very well. I was still thinking just about what I wanted, but over time, as I came to love her more deeply, it became a habit to always think of “we” instead of “me.”

God wants us to be ‘with Him’ too, not just in church, nor in special times of prayer or religious activities. He wants us to share life with Him. He wants to love us uniquely and to give Him the singular gift that no one else could give to Him. He wants us to learn to think ourselves as part of Himself, to realize that He lives in us, works through us, and ultimately will bring us to live in His Presence for eternity!

Here’s what happens when we love God in that way - everything changes!

∙ We relate to other people in a new, whole way!

∙ We evaluate our choice of entertainment in a new way.

∙ We start to understand that the way we our temporal things has eternal implications.

∙ Yes, even the meaning of life is defined in a new way when we are in love with God!

Ortberg observes - “Wise people build their lives around what is eternal and squeeze in what is temporary, not the other way around.”

So what is temporary? Think about that with me.

Cars - Eternal or temporary?

House - Eternal or temporary?

Body - Eternal or temporary?

401K accounts - Eternal or temporary?

Football - Eternal or temporary?

Art - Eternal or temporary?

Furniture - Eternal or temporary?

Hobbies and Pleasure - Eternal or temporary?

Resumes, Awards, and Recognition - Eternal or temporary?

College degrees - Eternal or temporary?

Beautiful yard - Eternal or temporary?

How much of your life is organized around the things just mentioned?

Again, remember, God does not condemn us for any of those things. They just cannot be the core of our life.

Jesus does not soften his judgment of the person who thinks that life is about the temporary things. Such a person, He says, is a fool!

Let’s expand the list...

God - Eternal or temporary?

Other People including family - Eternal or temporary?

Soul - Eternal or temporary?

Service done in love - Eternal or temporary?

On this first Sunday of 2008, I want to encourage you to the best life, one that is rich toward God. And the paradox of it all is stated by a man who came to adulthood a half century ago who gave his life to the service of others in the name of God. When he was just 25 years old he wrote -

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

His name was Jim Elliott. He lived what he believed and went to Ecuador as a missionary to the tribal people of the Amazon jungles. He delighted in life, was full of joy over the opportunities he found in his calling. The people he went to serve, killed him when he just 30 years of age. Yes, some would call his service there a waste, a fool’s errand. God says that Jim Elliott invested himself in true wealth! He chose what was eternal as the core of his life.

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Which person are you?

The Fool, who is trying to make life about his stuff; OR

The Wise, who gives all to God, and finds the abundance that His favor provides?

Amen.