Luke 12:13-21
In 2010 Senator Tom Coburn put together a report of some of the ways that government is wasting taxpayers’ money. Following is a sampling from his report:
- A total of $3 million [was] granted to researchers at the University of California at Irvine so that they [could] play video games such as World of Warcraft. The goal of this "video game research" is reportedly to study how "emerging forms of communication, including multiplayer computer games and online virtual worlds such as World of Warcraft and Second Life can help organizations collaborate and compete more effectively in the global marketplace."
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture gave the University of New Hampshire $700,000...to study methane gas emissions from dairy cows.
- $615,000 was given to the University of California at Santa Cruz to digitize photos, T-shirts and concert tickets belonging to the Grateful Dead.
- Approximately $1 million of U.S. taxpayer money was used to create poetry for the Little Rock, New Orleans, Milwaukee and Chicago zoos. The goal of the "poetry" [was] to help raise awareness on environmental issues.
- $1.8 million of U.S. taxpayer dollars went for a "museum of neon signs" in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- $35 million was reportedly paid out by Medicare to 118 "phantom" medical clinics that never even existed. Apparently these "phantom" medical clinics were established by a network of criminal gangs as a way to defraud the U.S. government.
- In California, one park received $440,000 in federal funds to perform "green energy upgrades" on a building that has not been used for a decade.
When you read about these kinds of wasteful spending, is it any wonder our economy is in trouble and millions of people are still out of work? Most American’s don’t trust their own government to spend taxpayers’ money in a proper fashion. For decades our government has failed at being good stewards of the resources exacted from its citizens.
If we were to live beyond our means as our government does, we’d be bankrupt in a matter of weeks or months. Good stewardship of our resources is an important part of our lives and if we fail...there will be a heavy price to pay (pardon the pun).
Recent statistics show that some of the best stewards of their resources are Christians that tithe their money to God.
In every category, people that give to God are better off than those who don’t. But, notice carefully the last statement on the slide. “Only 12% of born-again Christians tithe.”
Materialism and covetousness have gripped many Christians and void any possibility of them being good stewards of their resources. Advertisers have learned how to make us “need” the products they’re offering. Millions of people are impulse buyers that justify their habit by saying, “Look how much I saved. It was all on sale.” Instead of denying ourselves anything, we indulge ourselves almost everything.
I think David Platt rightly observes, “We [have] settled for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves.”
If we’re going to change the world, we are going to have to get radical with our resources and how we steward them so that God’s priorities are reflected in our finances.
Jesus gave a parable that gives insight about how He thinks in the area of stewardship. Consider it with me...READ SCRIPTURE TEXT (Luke 12:13-21)
What God is not against in this text:
- He is not against people being rich. (“a certain rich man”)
The scripture often celebrates those who have resources and use them for God’s purposes. For instance, think of the well-to-do centurion who built a synagogue for God’s people—the hospitable home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus where Jesus found respite—the well-connected women who supported Jesus’ ministry.
- He is not against people being successful. (“The ground...yielded plentifully”)
- He is not against people saving for the future.
- He is not against people reasonably enjoying their success. (His barns were already full--cf. 1 Timothy 6:17)
In this parable, Jesus addresses “covetousness” (12:15) and the idea that life is about materialism...to the neglect of eternal and spiritual things. It’s worth asking the questions, “How much is enough and how much is too much?”
The man in this parable made several key mistakes, causing him to mishandle his miracle supply.
- He failed to thank God for his supply.
“...he thought within himself...” (12:17)
- He never asked God how to use the surplus.
“I will do this...” (12:18)
- He wrongly thought his resources belonged to him.
“my crops,” “my barns,” “my goods,” “my soul” (12:17-19)
- He didn’t distinguish between wants and needs.
“...take your ease...” (12:19)
He thought he needed ease...
Mark Twain once defined “civilization” as “a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities.” This man demonstrates pure hedonism!
- He never noticed the struggle of others around him.
He says, “I have no room to store my crops” (12:17), but he did have room. All around him were people that needed the grain. They could have been the storehouse he utilized.
- He believed that life was primarily about his own comfort and ease.
“...take your ease; eat, drink and be merry...” (12:19)
“This was a common expression in both Jewish and Greek literature, indicating a carefree, sensuous lifestyle. It was characteristic of the Greek Epicurean lifestyle, which sought comfort and pleasure above everything else in life.” (Bible Backgrounds Commentary)
I take you back to David Platt’s statement: “We [have] settled for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves.”
- He valued materialism more than relationships.
“...life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (12:15)
- He only thought of now, never eternity.
“But God said to him, ‘Fool!’ This night your soul will be required of you’...So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (12:15, 21)
What this man most exemplifies is the person who is covetous or greedy! Covetousness is defined as, “A strong desire to acquire more and more material possessions...irrespective of need.” Just how much does one really need? When is enough, enough and too much, too much? Obviously, there is subjectivity in answering those kinds of questions. But, when it’s all said and done...you’d better be sure you are “rich toward God,” rather than rich in this world’s wealth!
Read: 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19
Closing:
A very wealthy man came to his minister and said, I’m having a problem with this tithing thing. You see I made $500,000 dollars last year. If I gave 10% then I’d have to give $50,000. I can’t do that. And the pastor took him aside and said, would you pray with me, “Dear Lord, please reduce this man’s income so that he can afford to give.”
