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Why is it that when life is going the best
and we have the most, that we act the most foolishly? When supplies are
ample, or we are celebrating a great victory, or someone praises us—we take
such opportunity to show what we’re really made of.
Why do we show our foolishness at such
inappropriate times? We’re sinners. Meanwhile, God is perfect. He is
wise, and we are foolish! Yes, and when times are good is when we can come
down with a good case of “Affluenza!” To be affluent is to have much, but
beware, it can be a curse, or at least can lead you down the wrong paths.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe God wants to give to us richly, but in the
right perspective which is hardly ever present! Our God is so good to
us…and so we receive the benefits, but often we forget the “Benefactor.”
[the One Who gives all to us.] "Affluenza" is the disease, the love of
money is the root cause, and this story of Jesus is the cure! But first…
The Bible speaks of a number of fools.
1.The unbelieving fool. Psa
14:1 “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.”
3.The self righteous fool. Prov. 12:15 “the way ofa fool is
right in his own eyes”
4.The mocking fool. Prov.14:9 “fools mock at sin”
5.The self sufficient fool. Rom.1:22 “professing themselves to be
wise, they became fools”
6.The Christian fool. I Cor. 4:10 “we arefools for Christ
sake.”
7.The Rich Fool. Luke 12:16 “thou fool, this night thy soul shall be
required.”
Truly, the love of money is the root of all
evil. But God has help for us today…
"There are some things money can buy,
for everything else there's the Jesus."
I'm a card carrying representative for the
MASTERSCARD. A new Bible may cost you $20, and an Easter lily today will
run you $15, but an eternity in heaven [say it with me] PRICELESS!
Let me tell you about it ...
NO finance charges
NO payments due
Completely Pre-paid
NO expiration
I couldn't afford the price, so Jesus stepped
in and paid it for me.
My name is written on the card for all to
see. It is accessible twenty-four hours a day from anywhere in the world.
The MASTERSCARD has so many benefits it's hard to list them all, but let me
just say that you might want to apply for a personal card yourself.
The MASTERSCARD gives you access to many
"Members Only" benefits:
Unlimited Grace
There is no preset limit to the amount of
grace you receive from the MASTERSCARD.
Unlimited Love
It has the highest rates I’ve ever found when
it comes to…
Joy, Lasting peace, and Dependability
Another great thing about the MASTERSCARD is
that it never expires. Once you're a member, you're a member for life ...
eternal life, that is. (Membership has its privileges, you know)
If you’re a sinner, then you qualify! But,
don't delay! This great offer won't last forever. But the benefits will.
Don’t leave Earth without it!
[back to today’s text]
Notice the progression:
MAN’S WEALTH (v.16,17)
…leads to man’s will
MAN’S WILL (V.18,19) “I will”
1.I will pull down my barns.
2.I will build greater barns.
3.I will store my produce.
4.I will say to my soul.
5.I will eat, drink, and be merry.
Proverbs 1:32
…the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
Man’s wealth leads to man’s woe…
MAN’S WOE (V.20) “ but God said unto
him”
1.The woe of being a fool.
2.The woe of sudden death.
3.The woe of losing it all.
4.The woe divine judgment.
He received the benefits but forgot the
benefactor.
Four Reasons Why God Called the Rich Man a
Fool:
I . BECAUSE OF HIS ATTITUDE
TOWARD GOD.
A.Never thanked God for anything.
B.He left God out of his life all together.
II.BECAUSE OF HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD OTHERS.
A.His interest was in things, and possessions instead of people.
B.He ignored the second commandment. “love thy neighbor”
Ill.--The chairman of the community charity
called on a notorious miser. “Sir,” said the fund-raiser, “our records show
that despite your wealth, you’ve never once given to our fund drive.” He
replied, “Do your records show that I have an elderly mother who was left
penniless when my father died?” fumed the tightwad. “Do your records show
that I have a disabled brother who is unable to work? Do your records show I
have a widowed sister with small children who can barely make ends meet?”
“No, sir,” replied the embarrassed volunteer. “Our records don’t show those
things.” “Well,” said the miser. “I don’t give to any of them, so why should
I give anything to you?”
The rich fool had the wrong attitude toward
God, others, and also…
III.BECAUSE OF HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD LIFE AND MONEY.
A.His thoughts were on retirement and ease.
B.He ignored the fact that one day he would need others.
C.He forgot that God is the owner of all he had.
Let’s take some testimonies of what we’ve
learned about money, and how it applies to life and spirituality…
(Deuteronomy 8:18) But thou shalt remember
the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he
may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this
day.
(Jeremiah 9:23-24) Thus saith the LORD, Let
not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in
his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that
glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the
LORD...
(Matthew 6:21) For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.
(Matthew 6:24) No man 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.
(Mark 10:23-25) And Jesus looked round about,
and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter
into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But
Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for
them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 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.
(1 Timothy 6:9) 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.
(1 Timothy 6:10) 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.
Not only was his attitude wrong toward God
and others, and toward money and life, but also…
IV.BECAUSE OF HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD ETERNITY.
A.He lived as if there were no eternity.
B.He lived as though he were going to live forever on earth.
Summary:
1. We Are Fools When We Do Not Give God The
Credit For Things He Has Done.
2. We Are Fools When We Make Plans But Leave God Out.
3. We Are Fools When We Live Only For the Moment.
4. We Are Fools When We Store Our Treasure In The Wrong Places.
Who else does the Bible say is a fool?
1. He Who Trusts In His Own Heart. Prov.
28:26.
Proverbs 28:26
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he
shall be delivered.
Romans 1:22
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.
2. He Who Is Always Right [In His Own
Eyes.] Prov. 12:15.
Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth
unto counsel is wise.
Proverbs 14:16
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and
is confident.
3. He Who Despises Wisdom and Instruction.
Prov. 1:7.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools
despise wisdom and instruction.
4. He Who Is Soon Angry. Eccl. 7:9.
Ecclesiastes 7:9
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of
fools.
5. He Who Slanders Others. Prov. 10:18.
Proverbs 10:18
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a
slander, is a fool.
6. He Who Mocks At Sin. Prov. 14:9.
Proverbs 14:9
Fools make a mock at sin:
7. He Who Talks A Lot.
Proverbs 29:11
A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till
afterwards.
Ecclesiastes 5:3
…a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
Someone once said, "Better to keep your mouth
closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."
8. He Who Minds Others’ Business.
Proverbs 20:3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will
be meddling.
Proverbs 26:17
He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to
him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
9. He Who Says There Is No God. Psa. 14:1
Psalms 14:1
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
If you aren’t saved, all you must do is
believe! Believe the truth of the gospel… [share]
What should believers do?
Proverbs 9:6
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
It has been said, "Never let a fool kiss you
and never let a kiss fool you."
Ephesians 5:15
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.
Let’s realize what an ample job God has done
in blessing us. We are truly rich. And God wants us to be rich in wisdom,
so when you come to the mountaintop and things are going great, what a great
time it is to lean on God and realize all we have is His…don’t reveal our
truly foolish, sinful colors!
1 Corinthians 4:10
We are fools for Christ's sake…
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