The Folly of Materialism
The Parables of Jesus
The Parables of Jesus #10: an exposition of Luke 12:13-21. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 14, 2015.
Intro:
You do know don’t you, that we are a spoiled bunch? We in America possess most of the world’s wealth. When it comes to per capita income we are by far the “richest nation on earth.” Yet most of us are far from satisfied. We are driven in an endless pursuit of stuff. We have more than we could ever use. Yet we can always justify more. Do you know what one of the fastest growing industries in the United States is? Storage facilities. That’s a facility were you rent space to store the stuff you don’t have room to store at home! When you are looking for a new home – what do you look for? Closet space. Why? You’ve got to have room for your stuff. We’ve got two large walk-in closets, two hall closets and a long closet in the boys’ room. They are stuffed with stuff. We have a garage full; a shed full in the backyard and the attic is more than full. We’ve got boxes in the attic that we’ve not opened since 1980. Now in that time we’ve moved from Tulsa to Shawnee, to Fort Worth, to Pawnee, to Ponca City and back to Tulsa. Each time we moved those boxes – we still haven’t opened them! But we had to take them with us because they have our stuff in them!
Materialism is a problem in the American culture. One financial expert has said that our financial woes are do, in large part, to the fact our neighbors keep buying things we can’t afford! Advertising is big business. One cynic has suggested that, “Advertising is the art of getting people to buy what they don’t need by describing it in ways they know are not true.” We see and advertisement and think, “Oh, I’ve got to have one of those.” It is a universal problem and those of us in the church are certainly not immune.
The sad reality is that multitudes are seeking meaning in fulfillment in the “things” they possess. If they can just get that house – then they’ll be happy. If I had that car. If I just had this much in the bank. They spend their days in the endless pursuit of a dream only to learn it was a nightmare. How many have sacrificed their families, their health, and their souls in the pursuit of things only to learn it was all an illusion? R.G. Lee said in his masterful sermon, Payday Someday, “The Devil always pays with counterfeit bills.”
But being consumed with the material is nothing new. Man has always struggled with a desire to have. It’s as old as life in the Garden. Covetousness and greed have poisoned the souls of men throughout the ages. In fact it was a desire to possess that drove a man to interrupt the Lord Jesus in the midst of a sermon. We read about it in the 12th chapter of Luke’s Gospel.
Text: Luke 12:13-21
The purpose and background of Luke’s Gospel.
The immediate context of 12:13-21
Jesus was teaching about authentic faith.
The need to focus on central issues – transparent honest, reverential fear of God, God’s providential care and the Spirit’s enabling.
Someone in the crowd had an issue they wanted settled. So when there was a pause in the message, he interrupted . . .
I have to say this interruption sounds very familiar. Jesus is discussing core issues. This is the essence of life and this man is interested only in himself. He cannot look beyond his own wants and desires to see what Jesus has to say. His attitude seems to be “that’s all well and good – but I’ve got a real problem here.” He is so consumed with greed he is incapable of hearing what the Lord Jesus has to say. Jesus knew this man’s heart. He saw past his complaint to the driving motive of his heart. Thus Jesus’ answer is rather curt. And He took the opportunity to teach us a valuable lesson about life.
Thesis: The wise man seeks meaning and fulfillment along the God-ordained path.
Somewhere along the way we’ve gotten a little to smart for our own good. We got the idea that we know what’s best for us. We know what will make us happy. It just isn’t so. Our maker knows better than we do. He knows what best fulfills us. He knows what we were created for!
It has been suggested that when you buy a refrigerator – you get a book. The book says, “read this before you use.” The maker, manufacturer wants to make sure you understand how to use their product for maximum benefit and efficiency. You buy a refrigerator, get a book.
You buy a stereo – you get a book.
Buy a washer – get a book.
A car – get a book.
You get life – you get a book!
God reveals Himself in His book. He reveals His person. He reveals His purpose in creating you. He reveals how you can best function. And in the book you can find the way to true, lasting fulfillment and purpose.
There are two things I want us to note in our text this morning.
- The fool expects to find meaning and fulfillment in the accumulation of things. (12:13-20)
- The wise man knows true meaning and fulfillment are not found in things but in a person. (12:21)
Conclusion:
How does one become rich toward God?
Two things are essential:
- Desire to serve God first and foremost.
Matthew 6:24 – “You cannot serve both God and money (mammon). - You must empty yourself of anything that would take the place of God in your life.
Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poverty-stricken of spirit…”
This is the issue: are you in relationship with the God who is through the person of His son the Lord Jesus?