The man who thought his stuff could save him

Luke 12:13-21 ESV Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." [14] But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?" [15] And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." [16] And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, [17] and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' [18] And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. [19] And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."' [20] But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' [21] So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." There are several men here. The Lord’s parable takes in so many of us. And while Luke’s theme is salvation, this parable still speaks to us who are saved! 1. The man who trusts in his stuff the save him. Luke 12:15 ESV And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 2. The man who trusts in his slide rule to save him. Luke 12:16-18 ESV And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, [17] and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' [18] And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.” 3. The man who trusts in his slander to save him. Luke 12:17,20-21 ESV and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' [20] But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' [21] So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." His relationships were minimal. He thought to himself. Really there was no one close to him. He probably had consulted with his lawyer to find some way to cut out family members from his will. The normal pattern of Jewish inheritance was that when the landowner died the land would stay in the family. But the Lord asks “when he had “bought the farm” who would get the farm! 4. The man who trusts in his spreadsheet to save him A gentleman seeking to marry into a family decided that the answer as to why he was a suitable man for his second marriage was he had worked it all out on his spreadsheets. His work and training as a project manager was adequate to meet all of life’s challenges. Army his spreadsheet hadn’t worked on his first marriage. Settling in your planning does not guarantee success. In fact it may be God’s way to humble a man. Jeremiah 9:23-26 ESV Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, [24] but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD." [25] "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh- [26] Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart." The problem and the solution is not in your planning. It is living a life that is not reliant upon the Lord Jesus. This sort of planning is indicative of a heart not circumcised made tender to the Lord. 5. The man who trusts in his in his superannuation to save him. 6. The man who trusts in his own strength to save him. Luke 12:20-21 ESV But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' [21] So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." Paul discovered the secret of contentment was not in his possessions nor in his productivity. Stuck in a Roman prison Paul discovered the secret to contentment. Philippians 4:11-13 ESV Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. [12] I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. [13] I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Three words hold important background information for us. 1. Secret. The word for initiation into the mystery religions. Here is the entry door for you beginning to understand how life can be best for you. 2. Contentment. This word had special meaning as it spoke of a prevailing Greek philosophy of stoicism. Don’t be phased by anything life brings on you. Take pleasure in whatever pleasures you have. 3. Learn. Even if you are already saved and a believer this stuff applies to you. Matthew 11:28-30 ESV Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." The Lord emphasised this so beautifully. Luke 12:22-34 ESV And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. [23] For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. [24] Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! [25] And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [26] If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? [27] Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [28] But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! [29] And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. [30] For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. [31] Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. [32] "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. [33] Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. [34] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. For most of us we haven’t factored into our calculations on our mental spreadsheets the single greatest event of history that will turn all our perceived assets into liabilities. Communist governments attack those thoughtful of productivity and possessions by overturning the rules. In Australia it has become a liability to have houses which we rent to others. If they don’t pay rent you really can’t toss them out. If your tenant destroys property, it’s on the owner, the tenant will never have to pay up. But the Lord points out there is a greater revolution about to happen. Luke 12:35-40,42-48 ESV "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, [36] and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. [37] Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. [38] If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! [39] But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. [40] You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." [42] And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? [43] Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. [44] Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. [45] But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, [46] the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. [47] And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. [48] But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.