Sermon Tone Analysis

June 14, 2015

*Intro* – Col 3:1, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Jack Benny was an old comedian who represented himself as a tightwad.

One famous skit had Jack accosted by an armed robber who orders, “Okay, Mister, your money or your life.”

There is a long pause during which Jack says nothing, until the robber waves his gun and says, “Well?”

Jack replies, “Don’t rush me.

I’m thinking.

I’m thinking!”

It’s funny only because it illustrates the truth that it’s easy for money to get a strangle hold on people.

Give you an example.

Boston U sociologist, Juliet Schor, reports that 1/3 of households with over $100,000 income agree with the statement: “I can afford to buy everything I really need.”

That means 2/3 of all houses making over $100,000 say they do NOT make enough money to buy all they need.

So the wealthiest people in the wealthiest country in world history think they can’t afford what they need.

In other words, covetousness and greed drives our existence and we don’t even know it.

Given that tendency, it’s not surprising that Jesus had something to say about money.

In fact, He had a lot to say about it – more than any other single subject.

He taught that it is an index of a person’s character – even an evidence of salvation.

It was when Zaccheus was ready to open his tainted pocket book to reimburse those he had cheated that Jesus affirms, “Today salvation has come to this house” (Lu 19:9).

His attitude toward money was evidence of a transformed heart.

Money is a concrete substitute for God.

It is tangible.

Money talks – and we listen, often to our own destruction.

The Bible does not forbid the possession of money.

Deut 8:18 teaches God “gives you power to get wealth.”

I Tim 6:17: It’s God “who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”

The Bible presents many wealthy believers.

I think God loves to find people He can trust with money.

But the Bible does warn against loving money – making it a focus.

I Tim 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.

It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

When we cross the line from money as useful to money as focus of our existence then we fall.

And few of us can keep from crossing that line if we have more than we need.

The Bible makes a promise in the regard: “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money” (Ecc 5:10).

The best way not to enjoy money is to want to – make it a priority.

When asked how much is enough, filthy rich John D. Rockefeller replied, “Just a little bit more.”

It’s the easiest trap in the world to fall into because we all think we can manage it; and before you know it, it manages us.

We fool ourselves – like the judge who said to the thief: “I note that in addition to stealing money, you took watches, rings and pearls.”

“Yes, your honor,” he replied.

“I was taught money alone doesn’t bring happiness.”

That guy was self-packaged for destruction.

So this brief two—part series – “Money Matters” from Lu 12:13-21.

Five points: Inquiry, Indictment, Instruction, Illustration and Insight.

*I.

The Inquiry (13)*

*A.

He’s prioritizing “now” instead of “eternity”*

Now, get the picture.

Jesus has been preaching about profound spiritual realities – the absolute necessity to confess Jesus publically; the possibility of an unpardonable sin; the need to fear God as the One who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

I mean Heavy truth!

Groundbreaking reality, right?

And suddenly he’s interrupted with “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Are you kidding me?

Jesus is addressing major eternal life and death issues and this guy wants his money.

He can’t have been listening and come up with this.

He’s like someone sitting thru church and all they’re thinking about is the ballgame afterward, right?

Or dinner, or work or whatever.

He’s oblivious to reality.

Did he have a valid claim to the money?

We don’t know.

But it’s clear there is a family squabble going on.

Occasionally rabbis would adjudicate such matters.

So, he’s looking for help.

You can almost sense his impatience.

Drumming his fingers!

“How long is this guy going to go on!?” At his earliest opportunity, without prelude or explanation he interjects, “Teacher [to get his attention], tell my brother to divine the inheritance.”

It’s not even a request; it’s a command.

He is driven by crass materialism; completely indifferent to weighty spiritual realities.

His only reality is the inheritance.

Now, is God interested in his inheritance?

Yes, Beloved, He is.

If He takes note of every sparrow that falls, He is certainly interested in this man’s inheritance.

But this man has made inheritance his ultimate reality.

He is making the monumental mistake of prioritizing “now” over “eternity.”

Know anyone like that?

Such a common mistake.

So easy to fall into.

We forget how short “now” is and how long “eternity” is.

John Wayne was 71 when he appeared with Barbara Walters.

She asked how he liked watching his old movies.

He replied, “It’s kind of irritating to see I was a good-looking 40-year-old then look in the mirror and see this 71-year-old.

I’m not squawking.

I just want to be around for a long time.”

He barely made it to 72. “Now” is short; eternity is long.

AND you can’t take it with you.

In England they have a quaint little custom.

When someone dies, the probate court sends details to the local paper which publishes how much is left and to whom.

One day, Stuart Briscoe, a British pastor living in Milwaukee, was back home.

His father was reading the Westmoreland Gazette one morning when he called to his wife, “Mrs.

Jones has died.”

Stuart’s mom replied, “Oh, really, how much did she leave?”

His father quickly replied, “Everything.

She left everything.”

And so will we all.

That’s why it’s a fool’s errand to prioritize “now” over “eternity”.

If you are going to exist there that long, it only makes sense to make preparation, right?

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”

*B.

He’s using Jesus instead of worshiping Jesus*

Another sign of the fool.

He was hiding from himself – listening for others rather than himself.

See, I don’t think he came primarily to command Jesus to divide the inheritance because Jesus was a rabbi.