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Parables Series
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Affluenza
Parable
of the Rich Fool
Luke
12:16-21
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.”
2.
The ignorant
fool. Prov.1:7 “fools despise wisdom”
3.
The self
righteous fool. Prov. 12:15 “the way
of a 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 are
fools 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, flowers for Valentine's day 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 of
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.
Love people, use things, not the opposite.
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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