TRUE FICTION

“Protecting Yourself From Rich-fool-itis”
Pastor Doug Heisel – June 12, 2022

The Parable of the “Rich Fool”
Luke 12:13-21

Then He said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

And He told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'  Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."'

“But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

Habits of those who are “Rich Towards God”
Managing your stuff in harmony with God’s plan

1. HONOR God by giving back the FIRST and the BEST,rather than allowing worry, control, or greed to drive you.

   Then Jesus said to His disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. …And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.  For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek (first) His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Luke 12:22-23, 30-31

   Honor God with everything you own; give Him the first and the best…” Proverbs 3:9

2. LEVERAGE what you have, instead of fixating on what you don’t have.

   Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:32-34

3. SERVE God’s purposes throughout your lifetime - not being consumed with RETIREMENT but thinking READINESS in all you do.

   Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Luke 12:35-37

   You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.  Luke 12:40