1 00:00:01,700 --> 00:00:05,600 As we continue to study The Parables of Jesus and I will say 2 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:10,900 that I've enjoyed greatly the study of these Parables, we can 3 00:00:10,900 --> 00:00:14,500 look to the Christian life and all things that we do in our 4 00:00:14,500 --> 00:00:19,100 life and we can find that Jesus brings about just about 5 00:00:19,100 --> 00:00:23,200 everything in The Parables that he talked so long ago. 6 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:27,400 But in all of those Parables that we discussed, I believe 7 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,000 that we can rightfully say that the parable of the Good 8 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:35,800 Samaritan was perhaps one of the most practical of all of The 9 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:40,900 Parables, the reason for that is it gives you and I practically 10 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,200 something that we can do in our life. 11 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:46,600 But, you know, also very rightfully. 12 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:50,300 So I find that we can look to the one that we're going to 13 00:00:50,308 --> 00:00:53,900 discuss this morning. The one entitled, the rich fool, 14 00:00:54,000 --> 00:01:00,000 Ooh, and we can consider it also as being very, very practical in 15 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,800 our life. You know, I believe that there 16 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,900 are many valuable lessons that are found in this Parable and I 17 00:01:06,900 --> 00:01:10,900 find also that it's extremely timely today. 18 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:14,300 You know, we might think that over time we would sort of 19 00:01:14,300 --> 00:01:17,400 outgrow lessons like the one that we're going to talk about 20 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,100 today. I mean after all after we come 21 00:01:20,100 --> 00:01:24,500 up out of the Waters of baptism and then over time as we grow As 22 00:01:24,500 --> 00:01:28,000 those that are in the body of Christ, shouldn't there come a 23 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,200 time when we no longer have to discuss? 24 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,700 The topic that we're going to discuss this morning for just a 25 00:01:33,700 --> 00:01:37,200 little while. I am convinced as Jesus so long 26 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:41,900 ago, stood before those masses and preach this very sermon and 27 00:01:41,900 --> 00:01:45,500 gave this very address to those that were there. 28 00:01:45,700 --> 00:01:49,700 It was extremely applicable to them on that day. 29 00:01:50,500 --> 00:01:53,800 But I would also say that if it were possible for you and I to 30 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:55,800 Sit at the very feet of the king. 31 00:01:56,100 --> 00:01:59,400 If he could literally stand before us and preach to us this 32 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:04,700 very same sermon, I believe, with all of my heart, it would 33 00:02:04,700 --> 00:02:08,900 apply to you. And I today, you know, Jesus on 34 00:02:08,900 --> 00:02:12,600 this occasion was preaching. One of his greatest sermons, he 35 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,100 was preaching about some of those things that you would 36 00:02:15,100 --> 00:02:18,300 think that people that were there in attendance, those that 37 00:02:18,300 --> 00:02:21,400 heard him would be right at the edge of their seats, as it were, 38 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:23,700 in terms of I used that as an example. 39 00:02:23,700 --> 00:02:26,000 Sure. Surely there were none but those 40 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,600 that were there were standing before Jesus. 41 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:32,700 And he talks about things that you would think are extremely 42 00:02:32,700 --> 00:02:37,000 important. He spoke about heaven, can you 43 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:42,700 imagine a greater topic of Hope then Heaven, you know, sometimes 44 00:02:42,700 --> 00:02:45,900 we talk about living the Christian Life and we fail to 45 00:02:45,900 --> 00:02:51,300 recognize what we get. Sometimes we fail to realize 46 00:02:51,300 --> 00:02:55,900 what the benefits of living the Christian Life, really are so 47 00:02:55,900 --> 00:02:57,800 many times. People look at the Christian 48 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,500 life and they say all, look at all the things that I have to 49 00:03:01,500 --> 00:03:04,300 give up in order that I might be. 50 00:03:04,500 --> 00:03:09,000 A Christian failing to see. The reason that we do so is 51 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:13,500 because the benefit of heaven, but, you know, Jesus on that day 52 00:03:13,500 --> 00:03:16,600 spoke of something else. He spoke about hell. 53 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,100 He spoke about the other side. If a person is not going to live 54 00:03:20,100 --> 00:03:24,300 Faithfully unto death, what's going to happen to that soul? 55 00:03:24,500 --> 00:03:28,600 That soul is going to find himself in a devil's, hell for 56 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:32,300 all eternity. Listen, they perhaps might have 57 00:03:32,300 --> 00:03:34,300 been the two greatest subjects that he possibly. 58 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:38,000 So we could have chose to speak to them about talking about 59 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,800 heaven and how we ought to hang in there for just a little 60 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:44,300 while, until time shall be no more, and we can have the 61 00:03:44,300 --> 00:03:46,900 wonderful blessing of the hope of heaven. 62 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:51,900 But also don't fall, don't fall and don't be weakened by the 63 00:03:51,900 --> 00:03:55,100 sinful things of the Flesh, and by the worldliness that is all 64 00:03:55,100 --> 00:03:58,500 around you. Because if you do, there's only 65 00:03:58,500 --> 00:04:03,600 one other alternative to Heaven, that be him. 66 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,200 You know, he spoke about the deity of Christ himself. 67 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,200 As the Son of God. He spoke to them about things 68 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,600 that they had never heard before. 69 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,900 He speaks to them about blaspheming the Holy Spirit. 70 00:04:16,100 --> 00:04:18,899 Yes, indeed. These were things that he said 71 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:23,400 were very, very important. I want you to picture if you can 72 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,100 and your mind's eye this city. I don't know how many people 73 00:04:27,100 --> 00:04:30,200 were there that day, that were congregated around Jesus when he 74 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:32,100 spoke these words, I really don't. 75 00:04:32,500 --> 00:04:36,600 But I know this that the things that He said, prior to our text 76 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:41,000 this morning, he was preaching this sermon to them on these 77 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:45,300 subjects and right in the very midst of this crowd, that was 78 00:04:45,300 --> 00:04:48,200 gathered at the feet of Jesus. All of a sudden. 79 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:52,900 Now, there's a man in the audience and he says this, he 80 00:04:52,900 --> 00:04:59,200 says, tell me He says Master meaning teacher. 81 00:05:00,300 --> 00:05:02,700 Would you make my brother? Give me my inheritance. 82 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:08,300 You think you can talk to him? That picture that that has 83 00:05:08,300 --> 00:05:11,900 absolutely nothing to do with what Jesus is speaking about? 84 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:16,100 Oh no doubt, this man looked at Jesus as a man of authority, and 85 00:05:16,100 --> 00:05:21,300 when Jesus spoke, he spoke as a great man of authority, that is 86 00:05:21,300 --> 00:05:23,900 true. But here was a man that was not 87 00:05:23,900 --> 00:05:26,200 listening to what Jesus was saying. 88 00:05:26,300 --> 00:05:29,500 He was not listening to his preaching, you know, I often 89 00:05:29,500 --> 00:05:33,400 wonder how many times when we stand here in this position? 90 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,200 Those that are preachers of the gospel, and those that are 91 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:40,200 teachers of the Gospel. I often wonder, as we look out 92 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:44,700 over the crowd, I've wondered how much are they really 93 00:05:44,700 --> 00:05:48,500 understanding? What I'm saying you ever done 94 00:05:48,500 --> 00:05:49,800 that? Those of you fellows, that 95 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,500 teach, have you ever asked yourself? 96 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:56,600 Are they really listening? Are they really grasping what 97 00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:01,300 I'm saying or is their mind somewhere else? 98 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:05,300 You know, this made me think of that when this man and the crowd 99 00:06:05,300 --> 00:06:07,200 before the greatest man that ever lived. 100 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:09,300 He wasn't listening to Jesus at all. 101 00:06:09,300 --> 00:06:12,100 Oh, he was there. He was sitting there that day or 102 00:06:12,100 --> 00:06:17,700 standing there that day, but his mind was on something else, but 103 00:06:17,700 --> 00:06:21,100 I often wonder as we look across the crowd, you know, when it's 104 00:06:21,100 --> 00:06:24,000 amazing, what we can see from up here, as we look across the 105 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:25,700 audience. It's amazing. 106 00:06:25,700 --> 00:06:27,600 And I often times Wonder as I do. 107 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:29,900 So how much are they really listening? 108 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:31,700 How much are they really paying attention? 109 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:34,200 Tension. Do they really want to hear what 110 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:38,300 God's word says? But you know what I thought 111 00:06:38,300 --> 00:06:41,400 about? I thought about this and I 112 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:45,300 understand this, I understand that people can be in the 113 00:06:45,300 --> 00:06:48,200 audience hearing me, and I can really understand why they'd 114 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,700 want to tune me out. I can understand why people 115 00:06:51,700 --> 00:06:55,300 might think it's Frank again. We got to listen to him again, I 116 00:06:55,300 --> 00:06:59,400 can understand that. I really can But I'm going to 117 00:06:59,407 --> 00:07:02,900 tell you something, I can't fathom the person that would be 118 00:07:02,900 --> 00:07:06,800 in the very presence of the greatest man that ever lived. 119 00:07:07,100 --> 00:07:12,100 The greatest teacher that ever was the King of Kings, the Lord 120 00:07:12,100 --> 00:07:15,500 of lords, and the Lamb of God, that was going to die for the 121 00:07:15,500 --> 00:07:17,900 sins of the world. When he's preaching about 122 00:07:17,900 --> 00:07:21,700 things, as important as he was, I can't fathom how there'd be 123 00:07:21,700 --> 00:07:25,500 even one person in his midst. That wouldn't pay attention. 124 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:28,600 I guess we shouldn't feel too bad. 125 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,500 Those of us that stand up here because you know what? 126 00:07:32,300 --> 00:07:35,800 This fellow did it in the presence of Jesus on this 127 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:37,700 occasion. This was the case as he was 128 00:07:37,700 --> 00:07:42,000 preaching, all of a sudden he just blurts out, Master speak to 129 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:46,100 my brother that he divide the inheritance with me. 130 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,400 You know, this doesn't have anything to do with the subject 131 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:53,100 that Jesus was speaking about. And it seems that in the very 132 00:07:53,100 --> 00:07:55,400 midst of hearing all of these great things. 133 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:59,700 He's sitting there Thinking about something else. 134 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:03,600 How many times do we do that all were there were assembled 135 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:08,000 together, but our minds and our hearts are somewhere else. 136 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:12,400 Now this man understood Deuteronomy chapter 21, with 137 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:14,600 reference to inheritance this man. 138 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:19,200 No doubt had a had a father that had passed away and this man had 139 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:23,200 a brother at least or he had a sibling that was older than he 140 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:26,200 was. And so he understood Deuteronomy 141 00:08:26,700 --> 00:08:31,300 21 that the inheritance of the father would come two-thirds 142 00:08:31,300 --> 00:08:35,900 proportioned to the eldest and then the rest would be dispersed 143 00:08:35,900 --> 00:08:39,000 among the rest of his siblings in that family. 144 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:41,400 Oh, no doubt. He understood that. 145 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:44,300 And when Jesus would speak with such great Authority, he's 146 00:08:44,300 --> 00:08:47,100 thought, well, you know what, I've got a problem and I needed 147 00:08:47,100 --> 00:08:50,700 to sort it out. I'll just ask this man of great 148 00:08:50,700 --> 00:08:53,100 Authority. By the way, as he might have 149 00:08:53,100 --> 00:08:56,400 raised his hand, we don't know, but he blurts out. 150 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,200 Can you speak to my brother? Because he is not doing what he 151 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:05,500 knows he should do in spreading The Inheritance around? 152 00:09:06,300 --> 00:09:08,700 You know, listen to what really is happening here. 153 00:09:10,100 --> 00:09:13,500 He came there that day and for some reason decided to listen 154 00:09:13,500 --> 00:09:16,400 to, or at least be in the presence of Jesus. 155 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:21,100 The problem is, though he was so obsessed by material things and 156 00:09:21,100 --> 00:09:24,600 by the fact that he might not get what he thinks he has coming 157 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,800 to him so we simply cannot listen. 158 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:31,700 You know, I think this is worthy to note that our Lord dispatch 159 00:09:31,700 --> 00:09:37,000 has this very very quickly. He quickly States man who made 160 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:42,900 me a judge or divider over you You know, I don't think for one 161 00:09:42,900 --> 00:09:46,200 minute that the Lord was saying that there's anything wrong with 162 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,300 material things. I don't want you to 163 00:09:49,300 --> 00:09:53,100 misunderstand me this morning either because Jesus was not 164 00:09:53,100 --> 00:09:57,600 saying that there's anything wrong with material things, 165 00:09:57,700 --> 00:10:01,400 especially in particular the response that he made. 166 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:05,800 When he said man, who gave me the Authority or who put me 167 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:09,600 judge or arbitrator over your financial matters. 168 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,100 You see, he was going to prove a A point. 169 00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:17,000 But his point was not that you can't have things in the flesh 170 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:20,000 that you cannot have material things. 171 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:23,800 Secondly, I also don't think that what he was saying is, 172 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:27,500 there's anything wrong with judges, or arbitrators, that 173 00:10:27,500 --> 00:10:31,200 would sit down and decipher a mounts that ought to be spread 174 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:35,600 around by way of inheritance. No, that's not. 175 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:40,900 What Jesus was talking about. You see Jesus was simply saying 176 00:10:41,900 --> 00:10:45,000 that's not the reason that I came into the world. 177 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:51,000 You know, if our greatest need had been financial matters. 178 00:10:51,500 --> 00:10:56,100 If our greatest need was money, God In His Infinite. 179 00:10:56,100 --> 00:11:00,100 Wisdom would have sent us an economist He just sent us a 180 00:11:00,100 --> 00:11:04,300 financial advisor. He would have sent us someone 181 00:11:04,300 --> 00:11:09,800 that could guide us financially. if that was our greatest need, 182 00:11:11,300 --> 00:11:13,300 But our greatest need was salvation. 183 00:11:14,900 --> 00:11:18,900 So he sent us a savior. That's what Jesus is talking to 184 00:11:18,908 --> 00:11:22,900 this man about I'm not the judge over these matters. 185 00:11:23,300 --> 00:11:25,200 Let somebody else take care of that. 186 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:31,000 I came to seek and save that, which is lost. 187 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:35,400 He came to save the souls of men and he wants us to understand 188 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:39,400 that there's bigger and better and higher things than money. 189 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:44,000 He speaks to us about the real vital issues of life. 190 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:48,000 He speaks to us today in the sermon about one of the greatest 191 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:54,400 foes that is against us. Today, and that is materialism. 192 00:11:55,700 --> 00:11:57,800 Oh, I would ask you to carefully, listen to what I have 193 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:02,900 to say because I sometimes think that we cast it aside, as well 194 00:12:02,900 --> 00:12:05,600 as just another preacher preaching on materialism and 195 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,500 preaching on things, and in this world and preaching against 196 00:12:08,500 --> 00:12:11,500 money and so on. Because listen, that is not what 197 00:12:11,500 --> 00:12:14,600 I'm doing, and that's not what Jesus did either. 198 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:19,100 So long ago, Jesus never said there was anything wrong with 199 00:12:19,100 --> 00:12:21,900 having money. Jesus never did say that it was 200 00:12:21,900 --> 00:12:24,800 wrong to go out and work with your hands and be blessed. 201 00:12:24,900 --> 00:12:27,600 Just because of the fruits of your labor, he never said there 202 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,700 was nothing wrong with that. In fact, Jesus said that a man 203 00:12:30,700 --> 00:12:33,700 that doesn't go out and provide for his family has denied. 204 00:12:33,700 --> 00:12:36,000 The faith and is worse than an Infidel. 205 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:38,100 There's nothing wrong with working hard. 206 00:12:38,100 --> 00:12:40,300 In fact, we are supposed to do that. 207 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,000 In fact, if you look at the other side of the coin as it 208 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:47,500 were laziness, is something that will cause you to lose your soul 209 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:52,200 laziness and not being occupied on productive, things will cause 210 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:54,800 you to stumble and fall in this life. 211 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:58,500 So there is nothing wrong with working and laboring all the 212 00:12:58,500 --> 00:13:03,000 days of your life and being blessed with the reward of 213 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:06,500 having been compensated for your labor. 214 00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:11,100 Nothing wrong with that at all. Jesus didn't say that we have to 215 00:13:11,100 --> 00:13:14,500 be poverty-stricken. He didn't say we couldn't have a 216 00:13:14,500 --> 00:13:17,800 nice home. He didn't say we couldn't have 217 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:22,300 cars and Automobiles that bring us from point A to point B, he 218 00:13:22,300 --> 00:13:27,800 didn't say that he never said those things and so if he didn't 219 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:32,000 say that and we're talking about materialism today. 220 00:13:32,900 --> 00:13:36,200 What was his point? What did he really mean when he 221 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:40,200 gave this Parable so long ago, Well, first of all, Jesus 222 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:45,700 introduces us to a rich man, and this man was evidently well off 223 00:13:45,900 --> 00:13:48,500 financially. Now, this man might have been a 224 00:13:48,500 --> 00:13:51,500 farmer, I don't know, or he might have just been a big 225 00:13:51,500 --> 00:13:54,800 landowner, but at any rate this was a man that had spent some 226 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:59,700 time in his life working, he had spent some time in his life 227 00:13:59,700 --> 00:14:03,200 understanding that he had to take care of the physical 228 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:07,200 provision of his family that he had to go out and provide for 229 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:10,800 them and we can assume That because of his age as described 230 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:14,300 here that he had a family. And so here it was that this man 231 00:14:14,300 --> 00:14:17,700 goes out and he works all the days of his life. 232 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:21,700 All of a sudden as he's been working so hard. 233 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:26,300 He looks out and he finds that the fruit of the crops, the 234 00:14:26,300 --> 00:14:30,400 fruit of his labor produced in such great abundance. 235 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:34,800 That his barns are too small to store. 236 00:14:35,300 --> 00:14:38,700 What he has is there anything wrong with that? 237 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:41,700 Is there anything wrong with having that problem? 238 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,000 You know, if we were in business we think that's the greatest 239 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,600 problem to have. Can you imagine if you were in 240 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:53,300 business and all of a sudden you had in Surplus, paid for you had 241 00:14:53,500 --> 00:14:58,700 an overabundance of it and it was all paid for whatever you 242 00:14:58,700 --> 00:15:00,700 might sell it. For would be profit, straight 243 00:15:00,700 --> 00:15:05,000 profit to you as the owner of that merchandise, whatever it 244 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:07,800 might be. There's not a businessman in the 245 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:10,700 world that would look at that. Ants and say, there was anything 246 00:15:10,700 --> 00:15:12,300 wrong with that. In fact, that's what we shoot 247 00:15:12,300 --> 00:15:16,700 for in business, is it not? Well, here's the problem. 248 00:15:17,100 --> 00:15:19,100 He decides. Well, I've got to do something 249 00:15:19,100 --> 00:15:21,700 and here's my dilemma. It's all going to go to waste 250 00:15:21,700 --> 00:15:25,100 because my barns are too small and they're going to be too full 251 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:26,000 here. It was. 252 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:30,100 Jesus said this man says as he comes to this information, he 253 00:15:30,100 --> 00:15:32,700 says, I'm going to pull down my barns. 254 00:15:32,700 --> 00:15:37,800 I'm going to tear them down, and I'm going to build bigger barns. 255 00:15:38,500 --> 00:15:42,500 Well, I'll tell you that. Awful wise to me here, verses 17 256 00:15:42,500 --> 00:15:45,500 and 18 of our text. And he thought within himself 257 00:15:45,500 --> 00:15:49,700 saying, what shall I do? Because I have no room where to 258 00:15:49,700 --> 00:15:53,800 bestow my fruits and he said this will I do I will pull down 259 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,800 my Barns and build greater and there will I bestow all my 260 00:15:56,800 --> 00:16:00,000 fruits and my goods. He not only wants to build 261 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:04,800 greater barns to store his crops but he also wants to retire and 262 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:08,600 enjoy the fruits of his labor for many many years. 263 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:13,800 Look at verse, 19, please where it says and ice will say to my 264 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:17,300 soul. Soul, thou Hast much Goods. 265 00:16:17,300 --> 00:16:20,100 Laid up for many years. Here's the problem. 266 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:27,000 Here comes take thine ease. Eat drink and be merry. 267 00:16:29,300 --> 00:16:31,500 You know, I know some folks that are retired and I think it's 268 00:16:31,500 --> 00:16:35,100 great. I know some folks that are 269 00:16:35,100 --> 00:16:38,300 retired and I'm so happy for them. 270 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,300 They are reaping the fruit or the benefit of what they've 271 00:16:44,300 --> 00:16:48,600 worked for in their life. But they're not guilty like this 272 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:50,400 man. You know why? 273 00:16:51,700 --> 00:16:55,900 What was the problem after all? Didn't he plan for his 274 00:16:55,900 --> 00:16:57,400 retirement? And that all, we'll all he was 275 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:00,900 doing. Well, notice what happens. 276 00:17:01,300 --> 00:17:02,800 He says, I'll build bigger barns. 277 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:06,400 I'll have all of this Surplus and I am going to say I am at 278 00:17:06,500 --> 00:17:10,800 ease. Now I am finished everything 279 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:13,099 that I've done before is no longer. 280 00:17:13,099 --> 00:17:16,000 I don't have to do that anymore and I have no other 281 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,599 responsibilities from this day forward. 282 00:17:18,599 --> 00:17:21,700 What am I going to do? I'm going to look at my Surplus 283 00:17:21,700 --> 00:17:25,800 and I'm going to say to my soul. He said, so you can now you can 284 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:28,800 rest now, you can sit back now, you can do nothing. 285 00:17:29,100 --> 00:17:32,500 And you can reap the benefit of those crops and that fruit 286 00:17:32,500 --> 00:17:38,100 that's in those barns right now. And he says, for many, many 287 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:44,100 years, Sometimes people say, you know, the half the more things 288 00:17:44,100 --> 00:17:46,900 that I have, the more possessions that I have, the 289 00:17:46,900 --> 00:17:51,400 more happiness, I will have. But you know, in summary thus 290 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:55,500 far this man assumes that his life consists in the abundance 291 00:17:55,500 --> 00:18:00,400 of things that he possesses. He thinks that happiness is 292 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:04,800 proportionate to the things that he has, but, you know, the 293 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:09,500 foolishness and selfishness of this rich man is seen in that he 294 00:18:09,500 --> 00:18:13,700 fails to realize that his body. He is mortal and he will not 295 00:18:13,700 --> 00:18:16,100 necessarily live on, for many years. 296 00:18:16,100 --> 00:18:19,900 He doesn't consider that. The rich is really cannot 297 00:18:19,900 --> 00:18:24,100 satisfy his soul. He does not consider the needs 298 00:18:24,100 --> 00:18:27,100 of others at all. He doesn't consider the needs of 299 00:18:27,108 --> 00:18:29,300 the poor. They are never taken into 300 00:18:29,300 --> 00:18:32,400 consideration. He thinks only of himself and 301 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:36,300 over all of the accomplishments that he's made in his life and 302 00:18:36,300 --> 00:18:41,800 never thanks wants to thank God and glorify him for He has 303 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:46,400 blessed him with, you know, for all practical purposes, this man 304 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:49,600 might just be an atheist. You know why? 305 00:18:51,700 --> 00:18:54,500 Because God was never in his plans. 306 00:18:55,900 --> 00:19:01,100 That's really the problem. But if God, or if one truly 307 00:19:01,100 --> 00:19:05,200 believes in God, he would respond like the psalmist. 308 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,400 David who said in Psalms 1, 16 and 12. 309 00:19:08,500 --> 00:19:14,300 What, shall I Render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward 310 00:19:14,300 --> 00:19:17,100 me? Oh, would that we would all do 311 00:19:17,100 --> 00:19:19,200 that. We would look to the things that 312 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:23,200 we have in our life and glorify God, because of those things. 313 00:19:23,500 --> 00:19:27,600 And thank God and praise God. Realizing that the more that we 314 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:31,200 are blessed with, in this I have two more that's required and 315 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:36,400 expected of us as well. Also understanding this many 316 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:39,700 times, when people have possessions or have large sums 317 00:19:39,700 --> 00:19:44,700 of money, they are looked upon as an example, from others, what 318 00:19:44,700 --> 00:19:49,200 a wonderful opportunity that it might be for us in living our 319 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:53,400 life in such a way that others would look to us because we had 320 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:57,700 an influence and an impact in their life and be guided to that 321 00:19:57,700 --> 00:20:03,800 which is right. and that, which is to God, you know, I knew a 322 00:20:03,808 --> 00:20:08,500 rich man, one time I really did. and, you know, he was talking 323 00:20:08,500 --> 00:20:13,300 about why Why he had all that he had? 324 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:20,100 You know what else she said, and why I will have everything that 325 00:20:20,100 --> 00:20:22,900 I will have. Someday. 326 00:20:24,500 --> 00:20:31,300 He says, because I have faith. He me and that's sad. 327 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:36,000 He said, I know why? I'm going to be a wealthy man, 328 00:20:36,500 --> 00:20:41,200 all of my life. Because I have faith in me. 329 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:47,700 Well, that man died. He died all by himself lonely 330 00:20:48,700 --> 00:20:53,100 and all of those things in all of his riches that he had, they 331 00:20:53,100 --> 00:20:56,200 did him, absolutely no good. And it only took a couple years 332 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:58,800 for his family to squander everything he ever made. 333 00:21:00,500 --> 00:21:03,800 I think that's what Jesus wants us to understand here in this 334 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:06,000 Parable. I think he wants us to 335 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:10,800 understand that God must be in our plans that God must be first 336 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:14,000 and things ought to be in proper perspective. 337 00:21:14,500 --> 00:21:16,600 Well, let's apply this. Parable rather quickly. 338 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:20,100 Jesus makes that application and Luke chapter 12 and verse 21 339 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:23,200 when he said. So is he that layeth up treasure 340 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:27,300 for himself and is not rich toward God. 341 00:21:27,500 --> 00:21:30,000 If you want to know what the problem is, it wasn't that he 342 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:33,700 was Rich in the flesh. It was that he was not rich 343 00:21:33,700 --> 00:21:36,300 toward God. So van, if we are rich in the 344 00:21:36,300 --> 00:21:41,300 flesh, nothing wrong with that. As long as we are rich toward 345 00:21:41,300 --> 00:21:45,600 God, if your plans for the future focus on yourself and not 346 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:49,900 on God and others, you are no different than the rich fool 347 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:54,000 that Jesus spoke of so long ago, you know, when we read these 348 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:57,900 words, this ought to encourage serious reflection in those that 349 00:21:57,900 --> 00:22:02,200 plan for their retirement. Now again, there's certainly 350 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:06,000 nothing wrong with planning for the future, but just remember 351 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:09,500 this, you still got to bear fruit. 352 00:22:10,500 --> 00:22:14,800 In old age, you know, I was thinking about this last night. 353 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:19,700 I mean this, I mean, this with all my heart, there are things 354 00:22:19,700 --> 00:22:24,100 that the older folks can do. that you and I that are young 355 00:22:24,300 --> 00:22:29,100 cannot There's an influence that you have that. 356 00:22:29,100 --> 00:22:33,400 I do not have. You see when a person has lived 357 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:35,600 their life for a long period of time. 358 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:39,900 They got a little salt in their hair, all of a sudden we find 359 00:22:39,900 --> 00:22:42,000 that those are the people that have learned from their 360 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:43,300 mistakes. They've learned from the 361 00:22:43,300 --> 00:22:46,700 mistakes of others and they have an influence that we that are 362 00:22:46,700 --> 00:22:52,000 younger, do not have All we respect greatly the life of 363 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:56,600 those that are older. Let me just say this, those of 364 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,400 us that are young, let me speak to those that are older right 365 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:01,900 now. We're counting on you. 366 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:07,800 We need you, we need you in the body of Christ, because there 367 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:11,200 are things that you can do that. We cannot. 368 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:14,900 So, when you retire, you can't retire. 369 00:23:14,900 --> 00:23:17,600 Spiritually. There's nowhere in the Bible 370 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:21,100 that it says that you ever reach a point in time in your life 371 00:23:21,300 --> 00:23:24,000 when you don't have a responsibility to the Lord and 372 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:28,300 his church, any longer there is nowhere in God's in God's word 373 00:23:28,300 --> 00:23:32,600 that declares that You don't get a gold watch. 374 00:23:33,100 --> 00:23:36,000 Thanks for your service. We'll see you later. 375 00:23:36,300 --> 00:23:40,700 No unto death. Unto death. 376 00:23:41,100 --> 00:23:44,300 There are people that are here right now that encouraged me 377 00:23:44,300 --> 00:23:47,400 because I know that they're not in the best of health. 378 00:23:47,700 --> 00:23:49,700 I know that they are older. I know that they're not in the 379 00:23:49,700 --> 00:23:51,200 best of health, but I'm going to tell you something. 380 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:54,000 They're down here. You know why? 381 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:59,700 They haven't retired. The Lord's number one in their 382 00:23:59,700 --> 00:24:02,900 life. We must keep in mind the brevity 383 00:24:02,900 --> 00:24:06,800 of life. We must understand the will of 384 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:09,700 the Lord in James chapter 4 and beginning. 385 00:24:09,700 --> 00:24:12,000 In verse 13, the Bible says go team. 386 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:16,500 Now, ye that say today or tomorrow, we will go into a city 387 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:21,600 and continue their a year and buy and sell and get game. 388 00:24:21,900 --> 00:24:25,600 And, you know, not what thou, what thou shall be on the morrow 389 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:27,100 for? What is your life, it? 390 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:30,600 Is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then 391 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:34,300 vanisheth away for that. You ought to say, if the Lord 392 00:24:34,300 --> 00:24:39,600 will we shall live and do this or that but now you rejoice in 393 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:44,100 your boastings. All such rejoicing is evil, what 394 00:24:44,100 --> 00:24:47,200 are they talking about? He says, don't rejoice in your 395 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:51,500 boasting if you rejoice in your boasting that type of boasting 396 00:24:51,700 --> 00:24:54,000 is evil. What did we talk about on 397 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:56,600 Wednesday evening? We made reference to, as we 398 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:59,300 discussed. Inspired writer of Hebrews when 399 00:24:59,300 --> 00:25:02,700 he was talking about the Christian race and so on and the 400 00:25:02,700 --> 00:25:07,000 benefit of living the Christian Life and doing so all the way to 401 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:09,900 death. Remember now we reflected back 402 00:25:09,900 --> 00:25:12,500 on the words of Jesus Christ himself. 403 00:25:12,500 --> 00:25:15,900 When he speaking to those disciples said this he said 404 00:25:15,900 --> 00:25:18,400 you're going to have a benefit that. 405 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:22,100 No one else is going to have you are going to have the benefit 406 00:25:22,100 --> 00:25:26,400 that the spirits would be subject unto you. 407 00:25:27,100 --> 00:25:29,900 Now, I don't know about you but that sounds like a pretty big 408 00:25:29,900 --> 00:25:33,300 deal. You know what Jesus says though 409 00:25:33,300 --> 00:25:39,200 about that don't boast in that. Don't be proud of that. 410 00:25:40,500 --> 00:25:45,600 His exact words in the King, James version Don't rejoice in 411 00:25:46,100 --> 00:25:48,900 that. Then he tells them, why you 412 00:25:48,900 --> 00:25:53,300 rejoice? Because your name is written in 413 00:25:53,300 --> 00:25:56,800 heaven. That's why we Rejoice today. 414 00:25:58,100 --> 00:26:00,200 All the material things in the world. 415 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:04,100 Can't do that. But we Rejoice because our name, 416 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:07,900 my name's in there. If you're Christian, your name 417 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:14,000 is in heaven enrolled there. We Rejoice greatly because of 418 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:17,100 that. Well, the question is then is 419 00:26:17,100 --> 00:26:21,500 how can we be sure that if a person is rich in this life he 420 00:26:21,500 --> 00:26:24,900 can still be rich toward God. That's really the question. 421 00:26:25,900 --> 00:26:29,800 First of all, and certainly stating the obvious number one 422 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:33,600 being in Christ is certainly required. 423 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:37,200 The Bible would tell us that all spiritual blessings come 424 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:41,600 through, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and our savior, the great 425 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:45,100 Apostle Paul wrote so long ago and Ephesians chapter 1 and 426 00:26:45,100 --> 00:26:48,800 verse 3, he said blessed be the God, and father of our Lord, 427 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:52,800 Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. 428 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:57,900 In Heavenly places in. Iced also the exceeding Riches 429 00:26:57,900 --> 00:27:01,900 of God's grace is only shown through Jesus Christ. 430 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:07,400 There is no blessings outside of the body of Christ, for one to 431 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:11,100 understand how he must separate the things of this world. 432 00:27:11,100 --> 00:27:14,600 And the thing spiritually he needs to understand, it makes no 433 00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:16,800 difference all the things that he possesses. 434 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:20,600 If he is not in the body of Christ, which is to be a member 435 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:22,800 of the Lord's Church. The one that he built. 436 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:25,800 So long ago on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter, Her 437 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:29,400 too. There are no blessings outside 438 00:27:30,300 --> 00:27:34,900 of that Institution. That's how we can know starting 439 00:27:34,900 --> 00:27:39,900 off if we are in Christ, Ephesians 2. 440 00:27:39,900 --> 00:27:44,000 Beginning, in verse 4, please Paul said, but God, who is rich 441 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:47,000 in Mercy for his great love wherewith. 442 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:50,600 He loved us even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us 443 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:53,600 together with Christ by grace. Are you saved? 444 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:57,600 And at the raised us up together and made us sit together in 445 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:02,400 Heavenly places in Christ Jesus that in all the ages to come he 446 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:05,100 might show Show the exceeding Riches of his grace in the 447 00:28:05,100 --> 00:28:08,600 kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 448 00:28:09,300 --> 00:28:12,600 Now then there's so many things I'd like to talk about on along 449 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:16,600 this line. We need to move on secondly in 450 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:21,200 order that we might understand, if we are living our life Rich 451 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:26,300 toward God, is when we use the things that we have of material 452 00:28:26,300 --> 00:28:31,800 basis, the material riches. If we use them properly, we need 453 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:34,400 to be ready and Going to help others who are in. 454 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:36,700 Need Jesus, on more than one occasion. 455 00:28:36,708 --> 00:28:41,400 Connects helping the poor with laying up Treasures in Heaven. 456 00:28:41,900 --> 00:28:45,300 Notice what he said in the twelfth chapter of the Book of 457 00:28:45,300 --> 00:28:49,500 Luke and beginning, in verse 32, Jesus says fear not little flock 458 00:28:49,500 --> 00:28:53,400 for it, is your father's. Good pleasure to give you the 459 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:58,600 kingdom cell, that you have and give alms provide yourselves 460 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:02,800 bags, which wax not old a treasure in the heavens that 461 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:06,300 That faileth, not where no Thief, approacheth neither, moth 462 00:29:06,300 --> 00:29:10,400 corruptive, for where your treasure is, there will your 463 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:13,700 heart be. Also, you remember, when Jesus 464 00:29:13,700 --> 00:29:16,300 was speaking to the Rich, Young Ruler in the Rich Young Ruler 465 00:29:16,300 --> 00:29:20,700 said to him, he said, Master, tell me, what must I do to 466 00:29:20,700 --> 00:29:23,700 obtain eternal life. You remember what? 467 00:29:23,700 --> 00:29:25,900 Jesus? Finally told him, he told him 468 00:29:25,900 --> 00:29:29,000 you go, sell all that you have and you give it to the poor. 469 00:29:29,100 --> 00:29:32,600 He said, you take up your cross and you follow. 470 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:36,500 Me. Jesus didn't say if you have 471 00:29:36,500 --> 00:29:38,000 money, you got to go get rid of it. 472 00:29:38,900 --> 00:29:40,200 That's not what his point was. You know, what? 473 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:45,300 His point was, what we talked about so many times. the Lord 474 00:29:45,300 --> 00:29:51,400 has to be first no, stumbling block or obstacle or know 475 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:56,000 anything in this life, can stand in our way, and he knew that the 476 00:29:56,000 --> 00:30:00,700 riches of life was standing in the way of this young man and 477 00:30:00,700 --> 00:30:05,800 his service to God, he said to God, to remove what your problem 478 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:10,800 is, and you take up your cross and you follow me, you know, 479 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:14,000 this man, the Bible says, went away sorrowful e because he was 480 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:18,600 very, very He wealthy he missed the whole point, he missed the 481 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:24,100 idea that Jesus wanted him to understand notice what Paul told 482 00:30:24,100 --> 00:30:27,700 the young evangelist Timothy to command those Rich that are 483 00:30:27,700 --> 00:30:31,100 present in this, that are in this present age or in this 484 00:30:31,100 --> 00:30:34,800 present world. And First Timothy chapter 6 in 485 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:40,300 verses 17 through 19, Paul said, charge them that are rich in 486 00:30:40,300 --> 00:30:44,500 this world that they be not high-minded, nor Trust. 487 00:30:44,700 --> 00:30:48,500 In uncertain riches, but in the Living, God, who giveth us 488 00:30:48,500 --> 00:30:53,900 richly all things to enjoy that, they do good, that they be rich 489 00:30:53,900 --> 00:30:56,000 in. Good Works ready to distribute 490 00:30:56,200 --> 00:31:00,100 willing to communicate, laying up in store for themselves. 491 00:31:00,100 --> 00:31:04,300 A good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay 492 00:31:04,300 --> 00:31:08,000 hold on eternal life. And just remember what Jesus 493 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:14,300 said for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also 494 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:18,500 You know, as we use the things that we have monetarily and the 495 00:31:18,500 --> 00:31:20,900 money that we have and the wealth that we have and the 496 00:31:20,900 --> 00:31:24,600 possessions that we have, when we share those things with those 497 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:28,700 that are less fortunate, it goes a long way toward being rich 498 00:31:28,900 --> 00:31:33,400 toward God. You know, finally, There's 499 00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:35,000 something that I'm going to talk about that. 500 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:38,600 I know I speak of quite often and I'm going to tell you 501 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:42,200 something, I'm going to keep speaking on it because it seems 502 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:47,500 to be always an issue. There's another way to know if 503 00:31:47,500 --> 00:31:52,700 we were on the right track and that is simply this if the Lord 504 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:58,800 and his church is first in your life that is imperative. 505 00:31:59,500 --> 00:32:01,700 You know, it's really quite simple and living the Christian 506 00:32:01,700 --> 00:32:03,900 Life. If the Lords Turkey is first, 507 00:32:03,900 --> 00:32:08,000 then every single priority in our life will fall where it 508 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:11,000 needs to fall. The problem is we get things out 509 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:15,900 of sorts because the Lord's church is not first in our life. 510 00:32:16,100 --> 00:32:19,000 How do you know if you are getting richer toward God or 511 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:23,000 Rich toward God? If his church is number one, 512 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:26,300 when we do though, the me just talk about a blessing that we 513 00:32:26,300 --> 00:32:32,500 have, we have both physical and spiritual blessings in doing so. 514 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:36,800 So when the Lord church is number one and Luke chapter 12, 515 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:41,000 beginning in verse 22, Jesus said and he said unto his 516 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:43,200 disciples, therefore, I say unto you. 517 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:46,900 Take no thought for your life. What ye shall eat neither for 518 00:32:46,900 --> 00:32:49,900 your body. What ye shall put on the life is 519 00:32:49,900 --> 00:32:52,500 more than meat and the body is more than raiment. 520 00:32:52,700 --> 00:32:56,100 Consider the Raymond's for they neither sow nor reap which 521 00:32:56,100 --> 00:33:00,800 neither have Storehouse nor barn and God feedeth them, how much 522 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:04,800 more are you better than foul? And which of you, which taking 523 00:33:04,800 --> 00:33:09,000 thought can add to his stature one cubit, if he then be not 524 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:11,500 able to do that, which is the least. 525 00:33:11,500 --> 00:33:15,200 Why take ye thought for the rest consider the lilies how they 526 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:18,900 grow? They toil not they spin not and 527 00:33:18,900 --> 00:33:23,300 yet I say unto you that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed 528 00:33:23,300 --> 00:33:27,300 like one of these if then God. So clothes the grass which is 529 00:33:27,300 --> 00:33:32,000 today in the field and to Morrow is cast into the oven, how much 530 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:37,300 more will he Clothe, You O ye of little faith and seek not ye 531 00:33:37,300 --> 00:33:39,800 what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink. 532 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:44,100 Neither be, ye of doubtful mind for all these things do. 533 00:33:44,100 --> 00:33:48,200 The nations of the world seek after and your father knoweth 534 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:51,400 that ye have need of these things. 535 00:33:51,700 --> 00:33:56,500 Then in verse 31, he says, but rather seek ye the kingdom of 536 00:33:56,500 --> 00:34:01,300 God and all these things shall be added unto you. 537 00:34:01,700 --> 00:34:03,700 Jesus on another occasion. Asian on The Sermon. 538 00:34:03,700 --> 00:34:10,100 On the Mount said, seek, ye first the kingdom of God and his 539 00:34:10,100 --> 00:34:13,699 righteousness. You know, when the Lord and his 540 00:34:13,699 --> 00:34:18,000 kingdom is first. We don't have attendance 541 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:22,199 problems, we really don't. We'll be able to do as the 542 00:34:22,199 --> 00:34:25,100 inspired writer of Hebrews said, we'd be able to cast every 543 00:34:25,100 --> 00:34:27,300 weight and every Temptation that would so easily. 544 00:34:27,300 --> 00:34:30,800 Beset us. And we be able to run the race 545 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:32,900 with patience until the very end. 546 00:34:33,699 --> 00:34:38,000 If the Lord is first, you know, I know people. 547 00:34:38,300 --> 00:34:42,400 I know you do too. that, you know, because the life, they 548 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:47,800 live that the Lord and his church is first, Then if we come 549 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:51,699 in here in this building, all of a sudden, one day or one time we 550 00:34:51,699 --> 00:34:53,000 look around and they're not here. 551 00:34:53,900 --> 00:34:55,800 You know what? We think we better get on the 552 00:34:55,800 --> 00:34:56,900 phone. Something's wrong. 553 00:34:58,100 --> 00:35:00,800 Something's wrong. Somebody is in the hospital. 554 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:04,500 Somebody died. Something is wrong. 555 00:35:05,100 --> 00:35:09,300 Because by the life, they live, we know we can count on them. 556 00:35:10,500 --> 00:35:14,200 I wonder though if that could be said about all of us, but I'll 557 00:35:14,200 --> 00:35:17,300 tell you something, when you look at your life and you 558 00:35:17,300 --> 00:35:21,300 compare your life with the things that we have to let lay 559 00:35:21,300 --> 00:35:26,400 aside in, living the Christian Life, it won't matter because 560 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:28,200 our Treasures would be in heaven. 561 00:35:28,900 --> 00:35:33,200 That would be, what is the most important thing in our life and 562 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:36,900 Jesus said, where your treasure is, there will your heart be 563 00:35:36,900 --> 00:35:39,200 also. A tax assessor. 564 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:42,800 One time he came to a poor old preacher. 565 00:35:44,100 --> 00:35:47,100 And he was trying to determine the amount of taxes that he 566 00:35:47,100 --> 00:35:50,100 would have to pay. Maybe you've heard this, I don't 567 00:35:50,100 --> 00:35:53,100 know. But this tax man said, he said, 568 00:35:53,100 --> 00:35:58,400 I need to know all of the things that you possess Because I have 569 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:05,500 to tax you on your wealth. Well this man says oh sir I'm a 570 00:36:05,500 --> 00:36:09,400 wealthy wealthy man. And so the tax assessor opened 571 00:36:09,400 --> 00:36:11,700 up his book and he got his Pen in Hand and he's listening. 572 00:36:11,700 --> 00:36:14,300 They're listening, very attentively to what this 573 00:36:14,300 --> 00:36:17,400 preacher had to say. And this preacher said, you 574 00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:22,400 know, I've got 10 of the greatest most valuable things in 575 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:26,400 all the world. Oh, hanging on to his every word 576 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:29,700 on the edge of his seat. This tax, man listened to this 577 00:36:29,700 --> 00:36:35,000 preacher say this. He said, first of all, I've got 578 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:38,500 everlasting life. He said, secondly. 579 00:36:39,900 --> 00:36:44,800 I've got a mansion in heaven. He said, thirdly and I know a 580 00:36:44,808 --> 00:36:47,300 lot of folks don't think this is much but I do. 581 00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:52,500 He says I've got peace that passes all understanding. 582 00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:57,000 He says fourthly. I have also what the world 583 00:36:57,000 --> 00:37:02,300 doesn't have. I have joy unspeakable fifthly. 584 00:37:02,300 --> 00:37:09,500 He says I have Divine love which never fails He said, six, you 585 00:37:09,500 --> 00:37:12,900 know, in a world where there are broken homes and broken families 586 00:37:12,900 --> 00:37:17,600 and shattered promises. I have a faithful precious wife. 587 00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:21,300 Seventh. I have healthy and happy 588 00:37:21,300 --> 00:37:25,300 obedient children eight. I have true. 589 00:37:25,300 --> 00:37:28,000 Loyal friends. Real friends that are with me 590 00:37:28,700 --> 00:37:33,900 all the days of my life, 9th, I have songs in the night and 591 00:37:33,900 --> 00:37:39,800 10th, I have a Crown of Life. Well, you know, this old tax man 592 00:37:39,800 --> 00:37:42,700 said, you know, sir, he said truly, you are rich, indeed. 593 00:37:43,500 --> 00:37:46,700 But you're of no use to me because your wealth is not 594 00:37:46,700 --> 00:37:51,800 subject to taxation. Oh, would that we would all 595 00:37:51,900 --> 00:37:56,500 aspire to have the wealth. That is not taxed. 596 00:37:57,700 --> 00:38:00,300 You know, in conclusion, this morning and I need to draw my 597 00:38:00,300 --> 00:38:04,600 remarks to a close. I'll do so now, This rich man in 598 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:11,900 our Parable, stood that day and stood and stood before the Lord. 599 00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:17,500 He assessed his problem. The Lord conveyed this parable. 600 00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:22,100 but this rich man when he figured out what his problem was 601 00:38:22,100 --> 00:38:28,700 and how to solve it, The Lord said he's a fool. 602 00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:36,700 He might be wise to the world but God said he's a fool because 603 00:38:36,700 --> 00:38:38,700 he said this. Now here was a man that thought 604 00:38:38,700 --> 00:38:42,000 he was just going to live on and on and on and on he's covered 605 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:44,300 every base. Except this one. 606 00:38:45,700 --> 00:38:51,100 This night thy Soul shall be required of Thee. 607 00:38:52,400 --> 00:38:55,500 And while all the things and all the possessions that you have, 608 00:38:56,200 --> 00:39:02,100 what good are they now for you? You know why this is important. 609 00:39:02,900 --> 00:39:07,500 Make no mistake. When death comes death is not 610 00:39:07,500 --> 00:39:12,100 coming from the things that you possess death is not coming for 611 00:39:12,100 --> 00:39:15,300 yours. As one preacher said, one time 612 00:39:15,700 --> 00:39:21,600 death is coming for you. You know, I heard it all 613 00:39:21,600 --> 00:39:24,100 straightened like this one time. If death was coming for our 614 00:39:24,100 --> 00:39:26,700 possessions, we could maybe sit down with death and say, look, 615 00:39:26,800 --> 00:39:29,600 you take half or three-quarters of everything that I possess and 616 00:39:29,600 --> 00:39:31,800 be gone with you. Oh no. 617 00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:35,500 When death comes in the chilly Waters of death are before us, 618 00:39:36,600 --> 00:39:40,700 It is coming for us. The question is, will you be 619 00:39:40,700 --> 00:39:44,900 ready when death comes of all the plans that you've made for 620 00:39:44,900 --> 00:39:47,100 tomorrow? Did you make provision for your 621 00:39:47,100 --> 00:39:50,100 soul? Are you here today and not a 622 00:39:50,107 --> 00:39:52,700 Christian? Are you not a Christian and 623 00:39:52,700 --> 00:39:55,100 you've never entered into the body of Christ? 624 00:39:55,400 --> 00:39:58,300 We talked about the fact that there's only blessings, Jesus 625 00:39:58,300 --> 00:40:01,300 only through his church, we enter into his church when our 626 00:40:01,300 --> 00:40:03,700 sins are washed away. We hear the word of God. 627 00:40:03,700 --> 00:40:06,000 As we've done today upon hearing it. 628 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:08,600 We believe in Jesus as the son of God. 629 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:12,000 Be willing to repent of our sins and decide we no longer want to 630 00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:14,900 live that way any longer confess, the name of Jesus 631 00:40:14,900 --> 00:40:18,800 Christ, as the Son of God and then be baptized in water for 632 00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:23,200 the remission of our sins. Have we made provision for our 633 00:40:23,200 --> 00:40:30,500 soul by doing those steps and having our sins washed away, We 634 00:40:30,500 --> 00:40:33,500 thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the Church of 635 00:40:33,500 --> 00:40:38,800 Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you 636 00:40:38,800 --> 00:40:42,000 would like any additional information or you would like to 637 00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:45,000 receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail. 638 00:40:45,700 --> 00:40:49,500 Please email us at info at True Church of Christ 639 00:40:49,500 --> 00:40:53,500 Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays 640 00:40:53,500 --> 00:40:59,100 at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 641 00:40:59,700 --> 00:41:03,300 Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our 642 00:41:03,300 --> 00:41:04,200 honored guest.