Sermon Archives

August 1 2010
Pastor Dan Selbo

"A Fool and His Money"
Luke 12:13-21

            There’s a story told about a 6^th Grade math teacher who posed the following story problem to her students. She said, “There was a wealthy man who (in his will) upon his death was to leave (to those he loved) ten million dollars. One fourth was to go to his wife. One fifth (each) was to go to his son and his daughter. And one sixth was to go to his only surviving sister. The rest was to be given to charity.” The question is, “When the man dies, what does each one get?”

            After a long period of silence, little Joey raised his hand. The teacher called on him and said, “Joey, when the man dies, what does each one get?” And in as honest and sincere way as he could, little Joey simply said, “A lawyer.” (Sad to say, little Joey’s answer was more on target than we’d like to admit.)

            Today we’re talking about a fool and his money, (about a fool and his money). A man who had a lot of money (in the story Jesus told), but who ended as a big fool. And he wasn’t a fool (in the story) because he had money. (That’s not what Jesus tells us.) And he wasn’t a fool because he had a lot of money, which obviously (from the story) he did. No, he was fool because his money controlled his life. (His money controlled his decisions in life.) And because it controlled his decisions (and his life), he ended up (in life) as a fool.

            If we wanted (today), we could become quite philosophical and ask all kinds of questions (based upon this text.) Questions like, “What is the meaning of life?” “What is our purpose in life?” (Questions like), “Who are we? Why are we here? How can we find fulfillment?”

            One of the tragic realities of life (in our world) today is that not only are people not finding the answers, but they’re failing to even ask the questions. They’re not even asking the questions that need to be asked (in life) about ultimate purpose and meaning and fulfillment.

            But the truth is (in spite of not even asking) that everyone is living for something. (Everyone is living for something.) No matter who they are? No matter what they’re doing. Everyone has something that drives them in life.

            Now, they might not have it all neatly packaged, (ready to lay out): My goal in life is…Or my main purpose for living is…But everyone is living for something. (Everyone is living for something), whether or not God is part of their life or not.

            What is the meaning of life? Who are we and why are we here? And how can (and do) we find fulfillment?

            One of our readings today was from the book of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes is an interesting book. In it, King Solomon talks about the various ways in which people seek (in this life) to find fulfillment. And do you remember what he says? (It’s somewhat of a pessimistic answer.) He says, “All of life is meaningless.” He says, “Everything in life is meaningless…apart from God (apart from God).”

            Sit down some time and read through the book of Ecclesiastes. It’s only twelve chapters. (It would take you half an hour.) It talks about how there’s “nothing new under the sun.” It says “there’s a time for everything,” everything that happens in this life: “A time to be born, a time to die; a time to weep, and a time to laugh.”

            In the same chapter (as our lesson today), Solomon talks about the pursuits of life (the things after which) people seek to find meaning and purpose. Talking about his own life, (and some of the things he went after), he says, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good. But that also proved (he said) to be meaningless.” (He says), “I undertook great projects…I built houses and planted vineyards…I made gardens and parks, owned more herds and flocks than anyone else…I amassed silver and gold…I denied myself nothing my eyes desired. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done (he says), everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”

            Do you know what his conclusion was…when all is said and done? He says, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty (and purpose) of man.” (End of story.)

            Now, you can disagree with Solomon (after reading those chapters) and with the conclusion he draws, if you like. But you can’t argue with the fact that many in life seek meaning in life in places it will never be found. Now, for a moment, maybe? For a time (in life), perhaps? But not for the whole of life, and not for anything (in life) that will last.

            “What is the meaning of life? Who are we and why are we here? And how can and do we find fulfillment?” Can you imagine dying in life for something that’s worth nothing? (What a tragedy that would be.) How about living for nothing, a life that’s empty, with no lasting meaning?

            That was the fatal flaw of the rich man in our story. It wasn’t that he had accumulated (in his life) many things that were material. But he’d fallen (in his life) for becoming materialistic. And that’s when things (in his life) began to fall.

            I still remember as a kid, my first case of poison oak. It wasn’t a bad case, only a few little spots. But it itched. (At times, it’s all I could think about.) But I learned an important lesson (when I had it). If you scratch it, it doesn’t help. It only gets worse.

            Materialism is like that. Even if it starts out in just a small spot, if it goes untreated, it can take over your life. And if you scratch it, it doesn’t help. It only makes things worse.

John Rockefeller was once asked how much money is enough money. (His answer was classic.) He said, “A little bit more.” The Romans had a proverb. They said, “Money is like sea water. The more you drink, the thirstier you become.”

            There’s a big difference between enjoying the things in life that are material and allowing those things to become your god. (You know that, as well as I do.) And yet, how often does it happen in life? And how ironic when it happens.

            Just think about it. You and I, (we) are material beings. God has created us in a material way. We are “of the earth” the Bible says. We’ve been created and placed in a material world. And the material things (of this world) in themselves are not bad. We have homes. We have cars. We have appliances and furniture and clothes. And they’re all good things. And they’re all material. And they come to us from the one who created them all.

            But how ironic when the creation takes the place (in our lives) of the Creator. When the things we’ve been given take the place in our lives of the one who gives.

            And it’s ironic, because we’re not just material beings, we’re spiritual beings. We’ve been created (the Bible says) in the image of God. And it’s our relationship with God that gives meaning and purpose to life. Both the material and the spiritual (both aspects of our existence) are important.

            But they’re not separate. (They’re not separate.) They’re connected. They’re two parts of the same whole. You can’t say, “Over here is my physical life, things material. And over here is my spiritual life, my relationship with God. It’s not that simple. And it’s not the way it works.

            The truth is that there’s a direct connection between the two. The way in which you deal with the things in your life that are material is directly related to the way in which you live out your spiritual relationship with God.

            The basic problem of that rich farmer was not his material wealth, but his spiritual wellbeing. It was a spiritual problem. It was a selfishness, a self-centeredness that had caused him to think of no one but himself.

            Did you notice that (in the story)? Eleven times in three short verses, the words “my” and “I” and “mine” are found. His god was his barn full of grain. (And then two barns, and then three barns, and on it went.) And there was no thought of God (as creator) and not even a hint of a thought of giving thanks.

            He thought his barns could fulfill his life’s needs. (Remember his words?) “Eat, drink, and be merry.” That was his life’s goal. That’s the life goal of so many today: an eternally contemporary philosophy of life.

            And so God used the one word that fit his life best. “You poor fool” he said. This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” And then Jesus says (and here’s the punch line), “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself, but is not rich toward God.”

            “A Fool and His Money.” You know what I’ve seen (over the years) as a pastor? As people look back on life and think about their regrets. (We’ve said this before.) They never look back and wish they had accumulated more stuff. (That’s not what they regret.) More often, they look back and wish they had spent more time, invested more of their life in things that count.

            And yet think of the hours, days, and weeks (of our lives) we spend working for and worrying about our possessions. (Now, I know this gets personal.) But just think if those same hours and days and weeks were invested in things that count?

            My friends, the desire (we have in our lives) for things (in this life) will never be satisfied, if all we’re doing is going after what we don’t have. There will always be something bigger, (always something better), always something faster and more efficient and longer lasting. But it’ll never last. The things of this life will never satisfy. They will never satisfy.

            You’ve probably heard the expression: “Less is more.” It’s often one that refers to the clutter and to the ways in which we decorate our homes. (And it’s true: “Less is often times more.”) But it’s also true in relation to the ways in which we can (so easily) clutter up and decorate our lives (with things that don’t finally matter).

            Dr. Richard Halverson, who served a few years back as the chaplain for the United States Senate, made a speech in which he said that the modern man suffers from (what he calls) “Destination Sickness.” Destination Sickness is the tendency to focus all of one’s time and energy in the wrong direction.

            He said it’s marked by the belief that money and success and (the material things of this life) are the most important. And he said it’s a sickness that is rampant in our country. He said far too many people are investing all of their life (their time and energy and efforts) in the wrong direction. And it’s a sickness (he says) that never goes away. It’s a sickness (he says) that can destroy a life.

            That’s a lesson the rich man (in our story) never learned. And if he did learn it, it was too late. Most people think it’ll never be too late. They come at life as if it’ll never end. (But it’s going to end.) The day will come (for all of us) when we’ll hear the same words as that rich man heard: “This very night, your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”

            “Don’t be a fool.” That’s what Jesus is telling us. Don’t let the things of this life distract you from life, get in the way of your life, (worse yet), become your life.

            I read a story a few months back about a man who was twenty nine years old, (an attorney, a good life and career ahead), married, three kids, all under the age of five. One day he woke up with a headache. Later that same day his vision was blurred. An hour later, he had a hard time walking. (So they rushed to the hospital.) The doctor told him he had a brain tumor that would require surgery. If he survived the surgery, his first year would be critical. If he made it through the first year, then each year would become more hopeful.

            Well, he made it through the surgery. He made it through the first year. It’s now been four years since it happened. And his story is not unique. We’ve all heard similar stories. But do you know what he said (when asked) what he had learned? (Do you know what he said?) He said, “Your life is on loan.” (He said, “Your life is on loan.”)

            My friends, that’s the message of the parable. Now, its obvious message is that we can’t take our possessions with us. And I think most of us know that (we get that). And that’s why you’ll never find ultimate satisfaction in things. But that’s not the main point. The main point, (the message of the story) is that your life is on loan.

            “You fool, (Jesus said), “This very night your life is demanded of you.” (That’s the message.) Not just your possessions, not just the material things you can’t take, but your life. Your life belongs to God.

            I hope you know that. The Bible says we’re sojourners. We’re here for a moment, and then it’s over. And it’s not what you possess in your life that matters, but how you use your life (and the possessions of your life) to reflect the one who has possession of your life.

            Do you remember the name John Bunyan? It was the main theme of his book called, “Pilgrim’s Progress.” I don’t know if you’ve read it or not. (If not, you should.) During the 1800’s and on into the 20^th century, in almost every home (as I understand it) there was a Bible, McGuffey’s Reader, and John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress.” And everybody read it. So much so that it shaped the consciousness of our nation for many years. (Everybody read it.)

            But now, hardly anyone reads it (including the Bible). In fact, (as a nation) we no longer see ourselves as sojourners, or pilgrims, or travelers. No longer dependent on a power greater than ourselves for life and sustenance and our very survival, but independent, autonomous, free moral agents, able to define and live life as we please. And that (my friends) is not progress, but digression. And it’s not wise, but as foolish as it gets.

            This life is not your own. (That’s the bottom line.) Nor are the possessions you possess. It all belongs to God. The Bible says, “You’ve been bought with a price.” (You’ve been bought at a price.) And the price he gave was his life. And his name is Jesus. And he gave his life (on the cross) so that you could have yours.

            In closing (today), it’s a simple lesson. Don’t be a fool. Don’t let the material things of this life stand in the way of your spiritual wellbeing and relationship with God. (Because if you do), if you scratch the itch, it’ll only get worse. Less is more. Your life is not your own. You’re a pilgrim, a sojourner in this life. And that’s the good news. And that alone is where we find lasting purpose and meaning for life. Amen.