The Trouble with Treasure (Luke 12:13-21)

Parable of the Rich Fool - The Trouble with Treasure (5.29.22)

Introduction
Last weekend, our theme for the retreat was wise investments. Where do we invest our time, our money, our energy? Where should we invest our time, money, and energy?

Think about this:
What is your life all about? What do you spend your time, money, and energy doing?
What is most important in your life?
That’s what we invest our time and money into, don’t we?
- Ex. Hobbies, significant others, retirement

What do you treasure the most?

Jesus teaches an important lesson in Matt. 6:19-21. He says, ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[e] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”

What do you treasure the most? Where is your heart?
After all, there is a direct tie between our treasure and our heart. Want to see what you care for the most, look at your bank statement. You might find that your heart is in the nacho fries box at taco bell…
Where do you invest the most time and money? What do you check or think about first thing in the morning or just before you fall asleep? That’s your treasure. That’s where your heart is.

Most of us have savings accounts, retirement accounts, IRAS, stock portfolios, etc. These are not necessarily bad. Having these things follow another commandment of being good stewards with what we have, including our money. Certainly, investing in savings can be wise. But it would be contrary to all of scripture to suggest that being good stewards and prioritizing finances are the same thing. We can, and should, make good decisions with our money, but is our money what we treasure?

Paul actually warns in 1 Tim. 6:17-19 - “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Is money what we care about the most? Likewise, our possessions, anything temporary; do we treasure those more than the heavenly things that are truly life?

More than One’s Possessions

in Luke 12, Jesus presents us with a story, a parable. But first, theres’ a question. Well, more of a statement.

Luke 12:13 - “ Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.””

First off, rude. You can ask. Sometimes, Jesus’s patience is on display just in his lack of passive aggressiveness. Here, he returns with “Man, who made me judge and arbitrator over you?” These disputes were not what Jesus was on this earth for. He was here to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, salvation to all men. (Mark 1:15 - “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”)With that in mind, he addresses this man’s focus. See, the man wanted the inheritance he felt he was owed (really the man was just greedy). Notice though, Jesus doesn’t judge the situation. He doesn’t say yes your brother should split his inheritance, or “no, that isn’t yours to receive.” He knows that the real issue is not this land dispute, it’s the heart of the man. So he instead addresses the root issue: Covetousness.

v.15 - “And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Life is not about what money you make. It’s not about your land.” It’s the old saying “You can’t take it with you.” This is what Jesus was going to get across in the story he then tells.
v.16-21 “And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

You know what I notice about this rich man? He’s relatable. Sadly, he’s like me. He’s like you. Isn’t he?

We all see our needs and we do what we can to get to them. We think that’s what we really need.

Isn’t it interesting who this self-centered man speaks to? He speaks to his soul.

“Soul, you have goods for years. You’re set!”

You know that feeling, don’t you. “Oh man, this dinner. It makes me feel good in my soul.” You have a nice relaxing day and you think, “Man, this does the soul good!”

Because it makes us feel good deep inside. The truth is, though, that’s not feeding the soul, that’s feeding self.

This man thinks what his soul needs is a barn to store he stuff. He thought was his soul needed was to build up more and more treasures. But all this man was doing was building up treasures on earth rather than treasures to God.

“One’s life does not consist of the abundance of His possessions.”

We talk a lot about sin, and for good reason. Sin is a problem. Temptation is a deadly tool that Satan used. But one of the worst tools Satan will use on all of us is distraction, letting us think that something important to us is what’s most important.

Life’s Distractions

Let me ask again, what is most important in your life? What are your goals in life?
Play in the majors?
Have a nice car? nice home?
Have a big family? Have nice land?
Be the best in your field?
None of these are bad. Just like having lots of goods or a barn isn’t bad. But none of these things provide our soul with what it needs.

What does your life consist of? What’s most important in your life? Replace that with what Jesus says in v.15. “Life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions, nor does it consist in the abundance of:
hobbies
401k
sports achievements
work achievements
followers or likes on social media
fishing trip catch, hunting trophies

None of these things are bad, but all of them can be distractions. They all take us away from the one thing that is most important! You accomplish these goals in life? Awesome! That’s wonderful. But at what cost? If attaining goals, none of which are bad, but if goals requires sacrificing spiritual focus, none of it is worth it! Life consists of more than your possessions and your earthly goals. Every single goal, bad or good, in life will pass, whether it was accomplished or not. Don’t sacrifice what your soul truly needs for the sake of what you think is most important.

A question arises about earthly inheritance, and Jesus points to our eternal inheritance. That’s what our life is about. That’s what we must strive to attain.

Elsewhere, in Mark 8, Jesus has just talked about his death and the suffering he must endure. Peter rebukes him for talking this way. “No, Jesus, you can’t die!” Peter’s focus is on this life.
Jesus then teaches him in a different way, there’s more to life than the things of this life.
He then gather everyone to him and says (v.34-35), ““If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.”
Connect these two thoughts: Life is more than his possessions. Life isn’t about what you gain; it’s about what you give up.

v.35, Jesus says, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 
Look back at those things that might be important in our life.
For what does it profit a man if he (becomes a master at his craft, gets on a major league roster, achieves employee of the year, gains his dream home, catches the most fish, has the biggest trophy mounted on his wall, has the most followers on social media) but loses his own soul.
The answer…nothing. It’s like having ample goods and storing them in a barn where they’re going to rot away. Because that’s not what our soul requires.
v. 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 
The answer: Nothing, but we certainly try, don’t we.

We often focus on our body, on our life, more than our soul. The life we’re living can be distracting; a distraction from the life that truly matters.

Life isn’t about what you have, it’s about what you give up. If we give up/lose our life (and the things of it) for the sake of God and the gospel, we will gain life.

A Heart in Heaven

Look back at Luke 12, right after the parable of the rich fool. This section of Luke 12 runs parallel with Matt. 6.
(v.22) “Do not be anxious about your life…about your body…” Do not focus on that. (v.23) “Life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.” Again, these are important things! But these aren’t things to worry about. These aren’t the most important thing. (v.24) “consider the ravens….they have neither storehouse nor barn. (See the connection to the parable?) They don’t need a barn. God feeds them. He feeds the birds, he takes care of the lillies and the grass. AND GOD VALUES YOU MORE!
Instead (v.31 “Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness (Matt. 6:33) and these things will be added to you.”
God values you more than the things of the earth. Can you say the same about how much you value him? Seeking first the kingdom of God shows you value him more than food, clothing, etc. If we are focussed on the life to come, than we must value him more than anything else in this life.

The lesson that Jesus is sharing in this passage, along with this parable of the rich man, is that righteous living is to be prioritized over the affairs of life.
- Example: Think of Israel. When the sought after God, God took care of them (Protection, manna, prosperity). It was only when they forsook God that God withheld his blessings.)

Life is more than our possessions. It’s more than our goals. Life is about being rich towards the God who gave it.
Jesus actually goes on to tell this same crowd, consisting of men who were disputing possessions, “You want to seek God first? (v. 33) You want to show that you value God above all things? “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “

Look at that idea again, specifically what is said in Matt. 6:19 (“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also). Replace “treasure” with heart. “Do not place your heart on earth. Place your heart in heaven.”
Do not place your heart where thieves break in and steal it. Do not put your heart where moth and rust destroy it. Place it in heaven. A treasure in heaven does not fail. A heart set in heaven cannot fail.

Conclusion:
Where is your heart? Is it on earth and the things of it, or is it set in heaven? One day, your soul will be required of you. Will your heart and soul be bound up in your achievements, your hobbies, your possessions? Life does not consist of these things. Life is about being rich towards God, investing your heart and soul in him.
As we sometimes sing “If you give your heart to Jesus, He will make it white as snow.” Have you placed your heart in the care of the Lord?