Are
You a RICH Christian?
Do you remember eating in a fine restaurant?
-Do you remember what you ate?
Do you remember the most delicious meal you’ve ever eaten?
-Do you remember who prepared it?
Let’s consider the meals we have eaten over the years:
3 meals a day = 21 meals a week. Let’s say you miss 1 meal a week (on average)… 20 meals a week
52 weeks a year X 20 meals a week = 1,040 meals/year
Now, I’m 56 years old: I’ll ignore the first two years, leap year days, fasts, etc…
1,040 meals/year X 54 years = 56,160 meals
My birthday is Feb. 9th; I’ll add 36weeks plus 2 days (722 meals)
56,160 meals + 722 meals = 56,882 meals so far…
If the average meal cost $5.00:
56,882 meals X $5.00/meal = $284,410!!
That’s way over ¼ million dollars!! (3,754,212 pesos!)
Where are those meals today? Gone!
How about clothes?
-Remember when your folks dressed you up fancy for a holiday or wedding?
-Remember your first really nice dress or outfit?
-Remember those favorite shirts or blouses you’ve worn over the years?
Where are they today?
-Do you remember your first car or truck?
-Do you remember the first furniture you bought yourself?
-What about pets that you used to have?
Where did everything go?
Jesus talks about these things (and more) in the 12th chapter of Luke…
Luke 12:13-21
13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Jesus is saying that:
-some things you can’t take with you (when you leave).
-some things you can take with you (when you leave, or send it ahead of you).
Do you know the difference?
-We ALL have to leave eventually…
Luke 12:22-27
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Ravens and flowers have very little value and do not do any work…
You have great value to God, whether you work or not!
(Note: eating is not work, drinking is not work, growing is not work, being pretty is not work, reading the Bible is not work, going to church is not work, listening to sermons and Bible studies is not work…)
Luke 12:28-30
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Since God provides for birds, flowers and grass (which are almost worthless), God will certainly provide for each of us because we are worth MUCH more!
God provides for you whether or not you are Christian.
-A sinner is worth more than the plants and animals.
-A very elderly person is worth more than ravens and flowers.
-Mean, wicked people are worth more than animals and plants.
V.29 says don’t be of a doubtful mind.
-the word means to be “up in the air” about this.
-many live fearful, stressful lives because they won’t trust God.
There are two ways to be sure that God will take care of you…
First: God must be your Father.
-If you follow Satan, he will make you suffer…
(1 Peter 5:8)
-If you follow Satan, the wrath of God abides on you… (Romans 1:18)
-If you surrender to God, He will adopt you and bring all good things to you! Of course, HE will decide what is good.
Second:
Luke 12:31-32
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
If you desire above all that God’s will is done, you will have peace.
All the things that makes you rich toward God are in the Kingdom of God! But what are the riches that Jesus offers us?
Remember all those things that wore out, ran out, faded out, burned up, used up or became the property of others?
Look at your life today: are you seeking those things that fade away ----- and hope that having enough of them will make you happy?
The super-rich have often been asked: “How rich is rich enough?”
-The answer: “A little more than I have.”
The reason is that everything they own is slipping away from them!
Ecclesiastes 5:10-12
10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
v.11 The more you make, the more you spend: the view (pictures, gardens, beautiful properties) is better, but life is not…
-In a short time, you will become “used to” the view. :-/
Ok. How do we get the TRUE riches?
Luke 12:33-34
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
What are these “bags that wax not old”? Christians that you helped find the Lord!!
Luke 16:9-13
9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail (this word means “die”), they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
13 No servant 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.
Use your wealth (not just your money) to help those in need to be saved. In their need, they are more soft-hearted toward God and His salvation.
V.9 Since they got to heaven first, most are older…
V.10 A little is a lot…
V.11 This is the way to receive the true riches!
V.12 Remember; the money you have will go to others when you die. Your car, clothes, furniture, house…
V.13 What will you do with your life?
-use it to gain wealth?
-use it to serve God?
Have you noticed that your body is wearing out?
-Soon it will be thrown out, burned or buried…
-Most of us don’t know when we will lose our bodies…
Jesus says that if we seek first His Kingdom, He will feed and clothe us. He will give us wonderful new bodies (eternal bodies) when these old bodies fail us.
Luke 12:35
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
This is a picture of a posted guard. You should be “on guard”.
Luke 12:36
36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
You should be waiting every moment for Jesus to show up!
-When you pray; wait for Him to answer!
-When you preach; wait for Him to save them!
To be rich in God’s eyes, you are using your life and all your resources to convince people that Jesus is our Savior! PEOPLE are God’s treasure!
Some will wake up tomorrow hoping to save some money.
WE wake up each morning hoping to save souls!!
Will YOU be a rich Christian today?
Do you remember eating in a fine restaurant?
-Do you remember what you ate?
Do you remember the most delicious meal you’ve ever eaten?
-Do you remember who prepared it?
Let’s consider the meals we have eaten over the years:
3 meals a day = 21 meals a week. Let’s say you miss 1 meal a week (on average)… 20 meals a week
52 weeks a year X 20 meals a week = 1,040 meals/year
Now, I’m 56 years old: I’ll ignore the first two years, leap year days, fasts, etc…
1,040 meals/year X 54 years = 56,160 meals
My birthday is Feb. 9th; I’ll add 36weeks plus 2 days (722 meals)
56,160 meals + 722 meals = 56,882 meals so far…
If the average meal cost $5.00:
56,882 meals X $5.00/meal = $284,410!!
That’s way over ¼ million dollars!! (3,754,212 pesos!)
Where are those meals today? Gone!
How about clothes?
-Remember when your folks dressed you up fancy for a holiday or wedding?
-Remember your first really nice dress or outfit?
-Remember those favorite shirts or blouses you’ve worn over the years?
Where are they today?
-Do you remember your first car or truck?
-Do you remember the first furniture you bought yourself?
-What about pets that you used to have?
Where did everything go?
Jesus talks about these things (and more) in the 12th chapter of Luke…
Luke 12:13-21
13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Jesus is saying that:
-some things you can’t take with you (when you leave).
-some things you can take with you (when you leave, or send it ahead of you).
Do you know the difference?
-We ALL have to leave eventually…
Luke 12:22-27
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Ravens and flowers have very little value and do not do any work…
You have great value to God, whether you work or not!
(Note: eating is not work, drinking is not work, growing is not work, being pretty is not work, reading the Bible is not work, going to church is not work, listening to sermons and Bible studies is not work…)
Luke 12:28-30
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Since God provides for birds, flowers and grass (which are almost worthless), God will certainly provide for each of us because we are worth MUCH more!
God provides for you whether or not you are Christian.
-A sinner is worth more than the plants and animals.
-A very elderly person is worth more than ravens and flowers.
-Mean, wicked people are worth more than animals and plants.
V.29 says don’t be of a doubtful mind.
-the word means to be “up in the air” about this.
-many live fearful, stressful lives because they won’t trust God.
There are two ways to be sure that God will take care of you…
First: God must be your Father.
-If you follow Satan, he will make you suffer…
(1 Peter 5:8)
-If you follow Satan, the wrath of God abides on you… (Romans 1:18)
-If you surrender to God, He will adopt you and bring all good things to you! Of course, HE will decide what is good.
Second:
Luke 12:31-32
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
If you desire above all that God’s will is done, you will have peace.
All the things that makes you rich toward God are in the Kingdom of God! But what are the riches that Jesus offers us?
Remember all those things that wore out, ran out, faded out, burned up, used up or became the property of others?
Look at your life today: are you seeking those things that fade away ----- and hope that having enough of them will make you happy?
The super-rich have often been asked: “How rich is rich enough?”
-The answer: “A little more than I have.”
The reason is that everything they own is slipping away from them!
Ecclesiastes 5:10-12
10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
v.11 The more you make, the more you spend: the view (pictures, gardens, beautiful properties) is better, but life is not…
-In a short time, you will become “used to” the view. :-/
Ok. How do we get the TRUE riches?
Luke 12:33-34
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
What are these “bags that wax not old”? Christians that you helped find the Lord!!
Luke 16:9-13
9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail (this word means “die”), they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
13 No servant 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.
Use your wealth (not just your money) to help those in need to be saved. In their need, they are more soft-hearted toward God and His salvation.
V.9 Since they got to heaven first, most are older…
V.10 A little is a lot…
V.11 This is the way to receive the true riches!
V.12 Remember; the money you have will go to others when you die. Your car, clothes, furniture, house…
V.13 What will you do with your life?
-use it to gain wealth?
-use it to serve God?
Have you noticed that your body is wearing out?
-Soon it will be thrown out, burned or buried…
-Most of us don’t know when we will lose our bodies…
Jesus says that if we seek first His Kingdom, He will feed and clothe us. He will give us wonderful new bodies (eternal bodies) when these old bodies fail us.
Luke 12:35
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
This is a picture of a posted guard. You should be “on guard”.
Luke 12:36
36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
You should be waiting every moment for Jesus to show up!
-When you pray; wait for Him to answer!
-When you preach; wait for Him to save them!
To be rich in God’s eyes, you are using your life and all your resources to convince people that Jesus is our Savior! PEOPLE are God’s treasure!
Some will wake up tomorrow hoping to save some money.
WE wake up each morning hoping to save souls!!
Will YOU be a rich Christian today?
