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Message for April 18, 2010
Posted on 06-05-10 |
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MCC: 04.18.10
Text: Luke 12.13-21 (737)
Series: Freedom
Resources: Max Lucado, Fearless, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2009).
Freedom from Materialism
Intro) A) This past Thursday was a day that many dread. To slightly alter Shakespeare, “beware the ides of April.” April 15th is Tax Day, technically the last day that one can file his or her taxes and not owe interest on the money one is deemed to owe the United States government.
B) The Federal Income Tax Form is not the easiest one to complete. Albert Einstein once admitted that figuring out his U. S. income tax was beyond him—he had to go to a tax consultant. “This is too difficult for a mathematician,” said Einstein. “It takes a philosopher.” The good news is that the government is trying to make it easier. Someone asked, “Have you seen the latest simplified tax forms? All they ask is: ‘What do you make? What do you spend? What have you got left over? Send it to us’” (both quotes, Sourcebook of Wit and Wisdom, ed. Joe Taylor Ford, Canton, OH: Communication Resources, 1996), 47).
C) Since many of us have just filed our taxes, the issue of money is on our minds. We’re in a series of messages entitled “Freedom.” We’re talking about how we can be free from a variety of human experiences that threaten to enslave us. On Easter, we talked about being set free from the ultimate fear which is the fear of death. Last week, we focused on how we could be set free from guilt.
D) Many of us are enslaved, in one way or another, by money. Perhaps we owe more than we have. Or we struggle to make ends meet on what we make. For most of us, the issue is larger than money itself. We’re enslaved by a form of materialism. One dictionary defines materialism as an “undue regard for world concerns” (William Morris, ed. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1980). In other words, we want more—more money, more possessions, more “stuff.” Even if we don’t have very much stuff, we want more or we want people to think that we have more than we do.
E) Listen, I find myself preaching on materialism as my wife and I are attempting to buy a larger house. I think that we have reasons for wanting a bigger house that go beyond the mere desire for more. Nevertheless, I understand the pull of materialism. I understand the desire for more or bigger or better.
Trans) So how can we be set free from the trap of materialism, from the desire for more? This morning, we turn to a request made of Jesus and to his response. The story is told to us in the twelfth chapter of the third book of the New Testament, the gospel (good news) of Luke. As we go through this story, I want to suggest three truths about our money and possessions and a corresponding attitude with each. Think of them as three keys to unlock us from materialism.
I) We Are Not Defined by What We Own.
A) The story begins in verses 13-14 of Luke 12: 13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." 14Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"
1) Jesus is teaching his disciples when a man from the crowd interrupts Jesus’ teaching. Does he have a great theological question to ask? Nope. Is he critically ill and needs Jesus to heal him? Nope. What’s his issue? He and his brother can’t settle their inheritance. He wants Jesus to intervene in this family squabble.
2) The laws of inheritance in Jesus’ day and time were pretty straight forward. The oldest son always had the priority and received a double portion of the inheritance. That law was true even when the sons were twins. The first-born twin received a double portion of the inheritance. They didn’t split it fifty-fifty. I have a twin brother and I’m the first-born. I like this law. Of course, my brother and I are the fourth and fifth born which means “we ain’t gettin nothin”—not a thing.
B) So what do we know about this man who interrupts Jesus? He’s the younger son. If he were the older son, he wouldn’t be asking Jesus to intervene. In other words, he wants more—more money, more possessions, more “stuff,” a bigger portion of the inheritance.
C) That may help explain why Jesus answers the way that he does in verse 15. Jesus is not interested in becoming a mediator in this guy’s inheritance squabble. So he goes to the heart of the matter in verse 15: 15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
D) Jesus says that the real issue in this man’s life is materialism. This guy is interested in having as big of a house as his brother, as big of a car as his brother, as much money as his brother, as much “stuff” as his brother. So Jesus responds by giving us our first crucial truth concerning our money and possessions: We Are Not Defined by What We Own. A man's life, Jesus says, does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." We Are Not Defined by What We Own 1) When we’re enslaved by materialism, we place so much emphasis on how much we own, and how new our cars are, and how nice our possessions are. But our stuff is NOT who we are. We are so much more than our stuff. We are so much more than the things we own. We are much more than the houses in which we live, or the designer clothes we wear.
2) So the key to unlocking the trap of materialism is this. We Are Not Defined by What We Own so be content. Be content with what you have. That doesn’t mean that you don’t occasionally buy a new car or even a bigger house, but learn to be content with what you do have. Don’t judge yourself or others by stuff—whether it’s houses, or cars, or whatever. Don’t feel like you have to the newest and biggest and best in order to be happy. Be content with what you have.
E) The apostle Paul writes in the fourth chapter of Philippians: Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. 4:12 I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.
F) I have learned to be content with whatever I have. Later, in 1 Timothy 6, he writes that godliness with contentment is great gain….8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Paul was a man who was not enslaved by materialism. Yet, many of us are like the mugger in Charleston, West Virginia that TIME Magazine told about several years ago (9-26-94). The mugger wasn't satisfied with the $12.50 his victim was carrying. So he accepted a 300 dollar check from the guy. The thief was arrested the next day when he tried to cash it. How often does longing for more get us into trouble?
Trans) We Are Not Defined by What We Own so be content.
II) Every Thing We Have is a Gift from God
A) Jesus continues his response by telling a story in verses 16-19: 16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."
B) At this point in Jesus’ story, you would think that this rich man is an exemplary businessman. Max Lucado writes, “Truth be told, we want to learn from his success. Has he written a book (Bigger Barns for Retirement)? Does he conduct seminars (“Recession-Proof Your Barns in Twelve Easy Steps”)” (Lucado, 105). This man is clearly a candidate for businessman of the year. If this guy was a CEO, he’d be a strong candidate for a huge, incentive based bonus, unless of course his company had received money from the stimulus program.
C) So Jesus’ audience might have been shocked to hear Jesus’ assessment of the CEO’s performance in verses 20-21: 20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." When Jesus does the end of the year review, he doesn’t give this CEO a bonus. Instead, he calls him a fool.
1) As I deliver newspapers, I listen to a sports talk radio show on the weekends. I like the host very much. He’s a reasonable person which is unusual for sports talk radio show hosts. But he does one thing that bothers me a bit. He ends the show with a promo for the next show on the network and he says, “You’d be foolish to change channels now because such and such show is coming on.”
2) The reason that bothers me is because of the way that the Bible consistently uses the term “fool.” Being a fool in the Bible is not a matter of intellect. When the writers of the Bible refer to “a fool,” they are referring not to insufficient intellect but to insufficient character. Foolishness is a moral quality in the Bible. The New Revised Standard Version translatesPsalm 53.1: Fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they commit abominable acts; there is no one who does good.
3) In our story, Jesus is not saying that this man has made a poor business decision because he misread the economic indicators. Jesus is saying that this man is a fool because he has intentionally built his life around possessions instead of building his life around God. He has left God out of the picture entirely.
D) Look at the pronouns that the man uses: 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down mybarns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all mygrain and mygoods. 19And I'llsay to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."
1) What are the key pronouns? “I, me, myself.”
2) This man was the proverbial ‘self-made man’ who worshipped himself.”
E) So here is the second truth about “stuff” that we need to learn: Every Thing We Have is a Gift from God. Every thing we have is a gift from God. We don’t earn it. We don’t deserve it. All we can do is receive it. The apostle James writes in the first chapter of his letter that Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
F) The reality is that God is the great giver. Max Lucado writes, “God is the great giver. The great provider. The fount of every blessing. Absolutely generous and utterly dependable. The resounding and recurring message of Scripture is clear: God owns it all. God shares it all. Trust him, not stuff” (109).
G) So, if every thing we have is a gift from God, the key to unlocking the trap of materialism is to be grateful. Be grateful for what you have. The apostle Paul writes in Colossians 3.16, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Be grateful. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t deserve what you have. You didn’t earn what you have. It’s a gift. I hate to pop your bubble but there are people in the world who have less than you do who deserve more than you do, and than I do. So be grateful.
H) In the passage which Jim read for us, in 1 Timothy 6.17, Paul tells Timothy: Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. God provides everything for our enjoyment. Be grateful.
Trans) We Are Not Defined by What We Own so be content. Every Thing We Have is a Gift from God so be grateful. That brings us to the end of the story.
III) Everything Goes Back in the Box
A) Let’s look again at how Jesus finishes the story in verses 20-21: 20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
B) Here you have this extraordinarily successful CEO. He has a huge house, three cars—a Rolls, a Jaguar, and a Mercedes Benz, servants galore. He’s got it all. Then, at 3 AM, he wakes up with a burning sensation down one of his arms, trouble breathing. Before the ambulance gets there, he’s gone. Or, perhaps like Max Lucado suggests, the CEO has an elaborate swimming pool built and he dives in…before putting water in the pool. Same result. God says to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.
C) A couple of weeks ago, I caught a few minutes of the show Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me on NPR. It’s a combination of Quiz Show concerning the News, and Comedy show. They told the story of this woman (photo)…Her name is Diane de Poitiers. She was a mistress of the 16th Century French King Henry II. An article that I found online said that she “ was renowned for her youthful looks and porcelain skin…Experts say she was up to 20 years older than the king but her appearance made them look the same age. She was unusually athletic for the time, keeping in shape by horse riding, hunting and going on daily swims in the river next to the chateau d'Anet, in northern France where she lived” (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/6865939/French-kings-mistress-poisoned-by-gold-elixir.html, accessed on April 12, 2010).
D) Do you know what she thought the secret to her health was? An elixir she drunk every day made up of gold chloride and diethyl ether. In other words, she drank a form of liquid gold. Yet, French experts writing last year in the British Medical Journal say that the yellow liquid said to harness the powers of the sun and keep her immutable actually slowly killed her at the age of 66. In the words of Peter Sagal, the host of Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, “Apparently, people at the time thought drinking gold kept you young, which is only true in the sense that you stop aging when you die" (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125526301).
Diane de Poitiers was not the first person nor was she the last person to think that gold would somehow keep her alive. But it doesn’t. God says to such people, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.
E) Max Lucado paints this picture for us. You are a financial planner and you have a man who walks into your office. He is a Monopoly champion. He spends all day every day “collecting houses, Park Places, and make-believe money.” And he comes into your financial planning office, surrounded by bags of pink cash and little plastic buildings, and he wants you to help invest it. He says, “I have 314 Park Places, 244 Boardwalks, and enough Reading Railroads to circle the globe like thread on a spool.”
“You do your best to be polite. ‘Seems like you’ve amassed quite a Monopoly fortune.’ He crosses his arms and smiles. ‘Indeed I have. And I’m ready for you to put it to work. It’s time for me to sit back and take it easy. Let someone else monopolize Monopoly for a while.’
You take another look at his stacks of funny money and toy real estate and abandon all tact. ‘Sir, you’re crazy. Your currency has no value. Your cash has no clout. Outside of your game, it’s worthless” (103f.).
F) You get the point, don’t you? All of our money, all of our possessions, all of our stuff, it eventually becomes worthless when we die and we’ll all die. And, like Monopoly money, the truth is this: Everything Goes Back in the Box.
G) In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases Psalm 49.16-20 in this way: So don't be impressed with those who get rich and pile up fame and fortune. They can't take it with them; fame and fortune all get left behind. just when they think they've arrived and folks praise them because they've made good, They enter the family burial plot where they'll never see sunshine again. We aren't immortal. We don't last long. Like our dogs, we age and weaken. And die.
H) So if this is true, if we can’t take it with us, if everything we have is Monopoly money which goes back into the box, what is the key to unlocking the trap of materialism? Be generous. Be generous.
I) Look at the last verse of Jesus’ story in Luke 12, verse 21: 21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Be rich towards God. How do we do that? By being generous to God and by being generous towards others. Once again, Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6, verses 17-19: Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
J) be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. Be generous.
Conc) I have a Monopoly, Jr. box here. It’s the only version of Monopoly that we have in our house. As you leave today, I want you to throw something in the box that will remind you of the truths that Jesus has talked about this morning. It can be a quarter; if you have to borrow a penny from your neighbor, that’s OK. If you want to borrow a thousand dollar bill from your neighbor, that’s even better! Just remember as you leave, in order to be set free from materialism, We Are Not Defined by What We Own, Every Thing We Have is a Gift from God, so be content, be grateful, and be generous, because Everything Goes Back in the Box.
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