Lk12:13-21 Net Worth

# Net Worth
## Luke 12:13-21

[Aaron Burden](https://unsplash.com/photos/6jYoil2GhVk "caption")

---

# What is the **value** of your life?

>>>
+ e.g., wrongful death **lawsuit**:
  + **productivity**, future **earnings**
  + what you can **contribute**
+ think we **build value** by accum
  + possessions
  + skills + credentials
  + experiences / bucket list
+ but **God** declares 
  + you are worth **more** than these
+ so what you are to **pursue** is
  + what is of **value** to God

---

## Luke 12: Priorities of the Kingdom of God
+ Not Man's **Affirmation** [(v1-12)](# "ref")
+ Not Building **Wealth** [(v13-21)](# "ref")
+ Not Health/**Security** [(v22-34)](# "ref")
+ Faithful **Stewardship** [(v35-48)](# "ref")
+ **Fire** Upon the Earth [(v49-59)](# "ref")

[Mark Basarab](https://unsplash.com/photos/1k5Qq4YQM0g "caption")

>>>
+ what it means for God to be 
  + **King** in our hearts
+ Luke 12: Jesus demonstrates that
  + what we **worry** about, our **goals**
  + are **missing** the bigger picture
+ in light of imminent **judgment**
  + God's abundant **provision**

******
[13](# "ref")
Someone in the crowd said to him, 
“Teacher, tell my brother to 
divide the inheritance with me.”

[14](# "ref")
But he said to him, “Man, 
who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

[Luke 12:13-21 (ESV) (p.1/5)](# "ref")

******
[15](# "ref")
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.”

[Luke 12:13-21 (ESV) (p.2/5)](# "ref")

******
[16](# "ref")
And he told them a parable, saying, 
“The land of a rich man produced plentifully,

[17](# "ref")
and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, 
for I have nowhere to store my crops?’

[Luke 12:13-21 (ESV) (p.3/5)](# "ref")

******
[18](# "ref")
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](# "ref")
And I will say to my soul, “Soul, 
you have ample goods laid up for many years; 
relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’

[Luke 12:13-21 (ESV) (p.4/5)](# "ref")

******
[20](# "ref")
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](# "ref")
So is the one who lays up treasure for himself 
and is not rich toward God.”

[Luke 12:13-21 (ESV) (p.5/5)](# "ref")

---

## Net Worth [(Luke 12:13-21)](# "ref")
1. Doubting God's **Justice** [(v13-15)](# "ref")
1. Dreaming **Upside Down** [(v16-19)](# "ref")
1. Discovering the **Treasure** [(v20-21)](# "ref")

>>>
+ we don't have what **others** have
  + it's not **fair**
+ **parable**: what if achieve our **dreams**?
  + what if pursuing the **wrong** things?
+ what has **lasting** value?

---

“Teacher, **tell** my brother to 
divide the **inheritance** with me.”

[Luke 12:13 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Boys Town, US. Andrew Seaman](https://unsplash.com/photos/ey5zZOkYL0Q "caption")

>>>
+ inheritance: not **earned**
  + but given by **family** right
  + **name** of family, **blessing** of father
  + not **fair**: favouritism
+ tell my brother: recog Jesus' **auth**
  + but **directing** that auth
+ Jesus w/ sisters Mary + **Martha**

---

Lord, do you **not care** that my sister 
has left me to serve alone? 
**Tell her** then to help me.

[Luke 10:40 (ESV)](# "ref")
["Christ at the House of Martha and Mary", Alessandro Allori, 1605](https://www.flickr.com/photos/136733695@N04/40207015510 "caption")

>>>
+ unfair **workload**
  + brothers: unfair div of **wealth**
+ does Jesus not **care**?
+ prayers that **instruct** God what to do:
  + "**Tell** her"

---

But he said to him, “Man, 
who made me a **judge** 
or arbitrator over you?”

[Luke 12:14 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Wesley Tingey](https://unsplash.com/photos/9z9fxr_7Z-k "caption")

>>>
+ **judge**: decide who is right
+ in fact, **God** set Christ as judge
+ not to say I **win** / brother loses
+ not just over distribution of **wealth**
  + but even our very **lives**:

---

As the Father raises the **dead** 
and gives them **life**, 
so also the Son gives life **to whom he will**.

[22](# "ref")
For the Father judges no one, 
but has **given all judgment** to the Son.

[John 5:21-22 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **authority** comes from God
  + **Author** of life
  + **given** to Jesus the Son
+ that we **live** and
  + have hope of **eternal** life
  + is only by His **grace**

---

Who made me a judge 
or **arbitrator** over you?

[Luke 12:14 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ arbitrator: **mediator**, in middle
+ not between **man** and **man**
+ but between man and **God**:

---

For there is **one God**, 
and there is **one mediator** 
between God and men, 
the man **Christ Jesus**, 
[6](# "ref")
who gave himself as a **ransom** for all

[1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Aaron Burden](https://unsplash.com/photos/09AhDCedXF8 "caption")

>>>
+ this is **testimony** God entrust to us
+ Jesus has **auth** to decide
  + but not at our **behest**
+ His judgment reminds us of
  + the real **priorities**
  + not building **wealth**
  + but pursuing His **kingdom**:

---

And he said to them, 
“**Take care**, and be on your **guard** 
against all **covetousness**

[Luke 12:15a (ESV)](# "ref")
[Israeli soldiers. Timon Studler](https://unsplash.com/photos/sjynUnr9ikA "caption")

>>>
+ **watch**: be observant, inspect
  + materialism can **sneak** up on you
+ what **others** have that we don't
  + covet: desire for **more**
  + **discontent** w/what I have
+ **guard**: keep, protect, as prison
  + your **heart** is precious
  + **protect** it from greed/envy

---

Those who desire to be **rich** 
fall into temptation, into a **snare**, 
into many senseless and harmful **desires** 
that plunge people into **ruin** and destruction

[1 Timothy 6:9 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Steve Johnson](https://unsplash.com/photos/0sPFjdcRhko "caption")

>>>
+ God's **blessings** rcvd w/thanks
  + **shared** generously with all
+ but we should not **want** to be rich
+ **snare**: looks good
  + but ultimately **ruins** us

---

# In what have I felt God to be **unfair**?

>>>
+ brothers: division of **inheritance**
  + Mary+Martha: div **workload**
  + feel **loved** less by parents
+ "Jesus, **tell** them ..."
+ **inspect** own heart
  + protect from **covetousness**

---

## Net Worth [(Luke 12:13-21)](# "ref")
1. Doubting God's Justice [(v13-15)](# "ref")
1. **Dreaming Upside Down** [(v16-19)](# "ref")
1. Discovering the Treasure [(v20-21)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Jesus tells **story**:
+ what if you got **everything** you dreamed for?

---

“The land of a rich man **produced** plentifully, 
[17](# "ref")
and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, 
for I have nowhere to **store** my crops?’

[18](# "ref")
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**.

[Luke 12:16-18 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Seth Schwiet](https://unsplash.com/photos/qVb-K2mFtDU "caption")

>>>
+ **produced**: legit biz, not stolen
  + **hard work** yields **earnings**
  + but also: **blessed** by God
+ what to **do** with these earnings?
  + store up / **barns**: to have, to place
  + not **share**, sell, distrib
+ goods: **good things**, finer things of life

---

And I will say to my soul, “**Soul**, 
you have ample **goods** laid up for many **years**; 
**relax**, eat, drink, be **merry**.”’

[Luke 12:19 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Vita Vilcina, Spain](https://unsplash.com/photos/KtOid0FLjqU "caption")

>>>
+ isn't that **purpose** of hard work?
  + **save up** good things
+ so I can comfort my own **soul**:
  + **security** for the future, many years
  + **retire**: relax, pause, cease work
  + physical **needs** are taken care of
  + think **happy** / good thoughts
+ is this our **goal** in life?
+ Rev 3 to church in **Laodikaea**:
  + much **accomplishment** + wealth:

---

For you say, "I am **rich**, I have **prospered**, 
and I **need nothing**",

not realizing that you are **wretched**, 
pitiable, **poor**, blind, and **naked**.

[Benjamin Child](https://unsplash.com/photos/GWe0dlVD9e0 "caption")

>>>
+ **working** hard to climb **higher**
  + achive **more**
  + gain **independence**
+ get to the **top**:
  + reach up to touch the **ground**
+ realize I've been **upside down** the whole time

---

# What if I got everything I ever **wanted**?

>>>
+ **envision** attaining all my **dreams**
+ but what if all along I was chasing 
  + after the **wrong** things?
+ what is the **goal** of going to **school**?
  + of having a **career**?
  + of raising a **family**?
  + of **retirement**?

---

## Net Worth [(Luke 12:13-21)](# "ref")
1. Doubting God's Justice [(v13-15)](# "ref")
1. Dreaming Upside Down [(v16-19)](# "ref")
1. **Discovering the Treasure** [(v20-21)](# "ref")

>>>

---

But God said to him, ‘**Fool!** 
This night your **soul** is **required** of you, 
and the things you have **prepared**, 
whose will they be?’

[Luke 12:20 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Ju On](https://unsplash.com/photos/e6XsI7qqvAA "caption")

>>>
+ rich thinking **happy thoughts**
  + **secure** in built wealth
+ **fool**: unthinking, w/o discern
+ **required**: asked
  + e.g., police demand to see **ID**
  + God has **auth** to take our **life**
+ **prepared**: plan, made ready
  + felt **secure** bc of plan
+ what will they **amount** to?
  + my **wealth**, cred, accomplish
  + will be as **nothing**

---

One's **life** does not consist 
in the abundance of his **possessions**.

[Luke 12:15b (ESV)](# "ref")
[Mark Basarab](https://unsplash.com/photos/1k5Qq4YQM0g "caption")

>>>
+ more **things** we have, more **worries**
  + e.g., **house**, bsmt flood
  + "didn't realise that being an adult involved so much **fighting** for yourself"
  + fight **strata**, insurance, ICBC, etc.
+ these all **add** on to my life on earth
+ they do not **constitute** my life

---

For **life** is more than **food**, 
and the **body** more than **clothing**

[Luke 12:23 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Laguna de Icalma, Chile. Jorge Barahona](https://unsplash.com/photos/8GVGrjx82oo "caption")

>>>
+ God will take care of our **needs**
+ you are **worth** more than 
  + your possessions
  + or **productivity**, accomplishments
+ your life is **precious**
  + because **God** deems it so!
+ follow God's **value** system:

---

So is the one 
who lays up **treasure** for himself 
and is not rich toward **God**.”

[Luke 12:21 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **work** hard, **store** up, 
  + pursue that which is **precious**:
+ but not fleeting riches of this **world**
  + accumulating things for **self**
+ what does **God** value?
  + to the **rich**, God says:

---

They are to **do good**, to be rich in **good works**, 
to be **generous** and ready to **share**,

[19](# "ref")
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**.

[1 Timothy 6:18-19 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ don't **hoard** riches for self
  + **share** generously
+ money is not real **treasure**
  + new **life** in Christ is the treasure
+ both now and for the life **to come**

---

In this you **rejoice**, though now 
for a **little while**, if necessary, 
you have been **grieved** by various trials,

[1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ this: being **born again** to living hope

---

[7](# "ref") 
so that the **tested genuineness** 
of your faith — more precious than **gold** 
that perishes though it is tested by fire —

may be found to result in **praise** and glory 
and honor at the **revelation** of Jesus Christ.

[1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ to find treasure better than gold:
+ that our faith in God's promises
+ is not only lip service
+ but stands the test, proved true
+ This is being rich toward God

---

# Have I been **rich** for **myself** but not toward **God**?

>>>
+ I **work** so hard,
  + spend **time**, energy, **worry**
+ for what **goal**?
  + to **protect** myself / loved ones?
  + provide for daily **needs**?
  + prepare for **retirement**?
+ have I **neglected** the real **treasure**?
+ The **Master** is **returning** soon:
  + am I being a **faithful** steward?

---

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**.”

[Luke 12:15 (ESV)](# "ref")

---

>>>
+ use of money (next time?):
  + v33 sell possessions
  + rich young man: treasure in heaven
  + Lk16:9-10 make friends out of Mammon of unrighteousness
+ (Jm 1:10 rich boast in lowness)
+ 2Cor6:10 have nothing / possess all
+ v6-7 worth more than sparrows