January 6, 1999

FAMILY BIBLE SERIES:
Why you'll never see a
hearse pulling a U-Haul
___ Luke 12:13-34
___By Doug Riggs
___Woodland Heights Baptist Church, Bedford
___A rich man once determined he would prove false the saying, "You can't take it with you." Before he died, he liquidated his assets and divided the cash among three trusted friends. He asked them to place their portion of his wealth in the coffin before he was buried.
___After the funeral, two of the men confessed to each other that before the burial they had removed a portion of the cash to use for a good cause. The third man expressed shock that the other two had forsaken the wishes of their friend. He proclaimed, "I'll have you know that I put in my personal check for the entire amount."
___ Possessions overvalued (12:13-15). Our currency proclaims "In God we trust," but many of us place more confidence in the money than in God. Jesus warned against trusting in the abundance of possessions (v. 15). The problem rests not in the possessions themselves, but in one's attitude toward them.
___The circumstance that precipitated Jesus' warning was an issue concerning inheritance (v. 13). The man in the crowd obviously felt his older brother (who received a double inheritance according to Jewish law and controlled family property) was being unfair in the division of family wealth.
___The younger brother expected Jesus to settle the dispute. Jewish rabbis often performed this function. However, Jesus refused such a role (v. 14). Compared to his mission in the kingdom of God, earthly inheritance issues paled in significance. Jesus taught that life was incomplete even with an abundance of possessions (v. 15). If one focuses on material things, he will either covet or worry. Both are sins based on the overvaluation of possessions.
___ Stewardship betrayed (12:16-19). To illustrate his warning against greed, Jesus told a parable about a man who had everything materially. His crops were so good he could retire and enjoy life (v. 19). Of course, to retire he would have to keep everything for himself. Therefore, he built bigger barns (v. 18).
___Some point out his failure to help others in need. God intends us to use possessions and love people (1 Tim. 6:17-19). A greedy person tends to love possessions and use people. Wiersbe stated, "Wealth can be a window through which we see God or a mirror in which we see only ourselves."
___ Future neglected (12:20-21). Not only did the man in the parable neglect those around him, he also neglected his own spiritual needs. He focused his attention entirely on the present and ignored the future. Such action made him a fool regardless of his accumulation of possessions (v. 20). We each leave this world the same way we came--with nothing. You will not likely see a hearse pulling a U-Haul behind it.
___How can the richest nation on earth also suffer most from depression? Could it be that we have a misplaced emphasis on possessions? Jesus proclaimed our need to be rich toward God rather than focusing on the material (v. 21).

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