Good morning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
People throughout the centuries have discovered treasures that have been left by others. They have searched for sunken galleons that have sunk into the sea. They have dug gold out of the mountains and the hills. They have even dived for pearls, hoping to find some that would set them up for life. Many people can inherit money, or receive a windfall that they really didn’t expect. They might win the powerball or a large lottery ticket. But what do you do with money? Purchase a 5 million dollar house? Drive around in a 100 million yacht? Once I talked to a very wealthy person who actually said that the life they now have was much better than the one they would have in the future.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Think of all the nice things that you can do with money. Think of all of the good works that you can do with it. Whether it’s digging up a treasure chest or panning for gold in a river, we will never be able to take it with us. It is certain that we were born into this world with nothing, and we will leave this world with nothing.
Luke 12 ¹³ And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
¹⁴ And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
¹⁵ And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. ¹⁶ And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: ¹⁷ And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? ¹⁸ And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
²⁰ But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? ²¹ So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
In this passage take notice that this person ripped down a perfectly good barn to build bigger ones. It’s very similar to storing up all of your money in the bank. Love of money is not being satisfied with what you already have and constantly wanting more. This results in taking your eyes off God, because rather than seeking Him, the heart seeks unrighteous mammon instead
Luke 16 ¹⁰ He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. ¹¹ If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
¹² And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
¹³ No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Love is a very powerful emotion, and at times, it can be placed on all of the wrong things.
Matthew 19 ¹⁶ And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? ¹⁷ And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. ¹⁸ He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, ¹⁹ Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
²⁰ The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? ²¹ Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. ²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. ²³ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. ²⁵ When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? ²⁶ But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
The Christian Life is learning to be content, but when people begin seeking after the world, they are not seeking after God.
1 Timothy 6 ⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. ⁹ But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰ For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The love of money causes unfruitfulness, because rather than discipling others, you become more focused on the world instead.
“He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” Matthew 13:22
We must completely rid ourselves of covetous desires.
Colossians 3 ⁵ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
⁶ For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
The desire for the things of this world only pulls your attention away from God.
1 John 2 ¹⁵ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
¹⁷ And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Remember that it’s the poor of this world who are rich in faith.
“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” James 2:5
We need to completely rid ourselves of certain things, one of which is covetousness. God is the greatest giver that there is, and He created this entire world for us to freely enjoy. What are you seeking after? What’s most important to you? Are you seeking after the…..
…….True Riches
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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