This morning we conclude our series called "Good Sense Living." This series is about living our lives in such a way that it makes good sense to both ourselves and to God. There are ways that we can live that make good sense. There are, as well, ways that we live that do not make good sense. As we said it doesn’t make good sense to fail our family by seeking fulfillment through our work. It doesn’t make good sense to live lives so out of balance that we fail to take care of our body and our soul. Today we want to talk about how that it doesn’t make good sense to depend on my stuff, my material worth to define or measure my significance. We need to understand that our self-worth or value isn’t determined by my address, what is in my drive way or on my check stub—whether that is great, small or somewhere in the middle.

In our story today Jesus was interrupted. He has been teaching literally thousands of people. He had been talking to his disciples about the attitude of the Jewish religious professionals that tried to burden people with traditions that stifled God’s grace. He has challenged the disciples to develop absolute fearless commitment to Him. His encouragement to the disciples was that regardless of those who would threaten them they are to know that God will sustain them when they were afraid. He said, "And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don't worry about what to say in your defense, for the Holy Spirit will teach you what needs to be said even as you are standing there" (Luke 12: 11-12).

No sooner had he finished these words than he is interrupted by a family quarrel. "Then someone called from the crowd, ‘Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father's estate with me’" (v. 13). Jesus was presented with a family dispute between two brothers. The younger wanted his share of the inheritance of his father’s estate. The law required that in all inheritance two-thirds was to go to the oldest brother while one-third was to go to the youngest. It was common for the family to live together in order to maintain the viability of the wealth. Here, though, the younger brother wanted his share to be liquidated in order to do as he chose.

Jesus responded with incredulity. "Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?" (v. 14) It was common for a rabbi to intervene in domestic disputes. Yet in this instance Jesus refuses. Why? I believe that he was possessed by another agenda: He came to bring people into a relationship with God not settle family arguments over property rights! Jesus then gives a warning not only to the younger brother asking the question but also to us about the danger of misplaced worth and value. He said, "Beware! Don't be greedy for what you don't have. Real life is not measured by how much we own." (v. 15)

Jesus saw through to this man’s heart and perceived that his appeal for justice was really a smokescreen for his greed. The brother’s basic problem was that he had plans. His brother had the money but he was stuck—stuck in the middle between his plans and the resources that were out of reach. Jesus said the man’s basic problem was greed.

That, my friends, brings us to the issue as believers over our desperate need to find significance in our material wealth in spite of everything Jesus said to the contrary. Why do we ignore such an obvious command of Jesus? I believe it is because of fear. Jesus said it is greed and I agree but I believe behind the greed that there are worries and fears that drive us to grasp for the material. We are afraid that we will never have the standard of living that our parents had and our kids will have less than we had. We worry that we can’t save enough to retire or send our kids to college. We are afraid to be sick because we know that our HMO may not provide adequately, if we have insurance at all. We are anxious about losing our standard of living and see it being threatened. We stay awake wondering how the loans are going to be paid and what happens if we can’t pay the rent or the house payment.

As a result of our fears we can lose our perspective and become frustrated, angry and greedy. We look at our stuff or look at our check stub and decide, "I’m only as significant as my net worth so in order for me to be worth more I must have more!" We know that that logically this doesn’t make good sense. We hear the words of Jesus, "Real life is not measured by how much we own" (v. 15). I’m more important than the stuff I possess!

Underneath all that we are talking about this morning is a very basic principle we must understand and believe. That principle is this: God cares if you have what you need to sustain your life every single day! (Luke 12:22-30) That’s what Jesus says in verses 22-30 of chapter 12. It’s essential that we believe that because it is our willingness to believe that fact that is the key to our coming to terms with the struggle with my stuff and my self-worth. Hear what he says in Luke 12:29-30, " And don't worry about food—what to eat and drink. Don't worry whether God will provide it for you. These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs." Jesus said that God cares if we have food, clothes, health, home and transportation. The implication is that because he knows we need these things he will provide them.

All the rest—the kind of food, the type of clothes, house or transportation is grace and blessing. Until you come to terms with this one issue you will not find peace. God cares if you have what you need to sustain your life every single day!

Now the problem comes, however, when we decide that God’s supply, God’s "enough" isn’t enough. We decide that it is the extras that make us truly valuable. That’s why Jesus cautions us in Luke 12:15, "Beware! Don’t be greedy for what you don’t have." Now the NASV translates this, "Beware and be on your guard against every form of greed…" When Jesus says, "Beware" and "be on your guard," he is admonishing us to be proactive in resisting the attack of greed. He says that greed can come in many forms so we have to be vigilant against all kinds of attacks. The word greed actually means, "the more to have." "The more to have" has become our standard for our success and our significance. It can come in many shapes and sizes. It’s funny, isn’t it, that it is always someone else who is greedy?

Last week Amy and I were watching a favorite movie of our family, "Saving Private Ryan", the Steven Spielberg portrayal of the events of D-Day, June 6, 1944. While we were watching it she said, "Why can’t we fight like this in Iraq? Why are we always losing?" I told her that we didn’t lose in 1991, we simply stopped. Currently we have stopped fighting conventional warfare and we are fighting a different enemy that we seemingly are helpless to find, stop and destroy. Terrorists constantly find new ways to export death, whether it is in Iraq, England or the United States.

In the same way that terrorists can strike with an unlimited arsenal so the power of the material will take any form of attack until it is satisfied. It is, therefore, imperative that we understand that we as Christians have become like sponges that are saturated with the value system of the culture in which we live. In spite of all we say—liberal, conservative, Republican, Democrat, high, middle or low income--we practice the same value system as the world around us. In spite of all our arguments we have decided that the greatest good in life is a bigger (or better tasting) slice of this life’s pie, a pie to which we have every right to claim as our own!

I’m not claiming immunity! I struggle with the same issues as every one else. Our problem is, though, that we’ve decided that the extras are what make life worth living and make us truly significant. We have the highest amount of disposable income for the average American in U.S. history so we are far from suffering. We are suffering—we are suffering from " the more to have"—greed.

So here is the point that Jesus is driving home to us: Our significance doesn’t depend on our stuff! He said, "Real life is not measured by how much we own." Our stuff is not what makes you important or life worth living! Either we get that or we don’t!

Yet to make his point clear, he tells a parable in Luke 12:16-21. "A certain man had graduated from college and started a small business in the late 1980’s. He was young but with a start up loan from the bank he felt that he was on his way. His business was small but his dreams were big. He met a young woman who was more than he ever dreamed could be his. She was beautiful, kind and loving. Life was simple with only a few extras but he knew that because of her he was a rich man.

He made some wise investments and profitable decisions. Stocks split and sales grew in spite of the troubled times of the mid-1990’s. His family grew also. Two children were added to their simple home and suddenly "enough" became "not enough." It called for improvements. So they moved up from two bedrooms and a trip to Silver Dollar City to four bedrooms and trips to Disney World. They went from a compact car to an SUV. They were even looking to invest in rental property in town and a condo at the beach.

Something happened to "enough" and to simplicity along the way. They had always intended to go to church. The kids needed it but Sunday was their only day together. What once was "enough" became the need for more. Life was complicated but he had things and those things made him feel good. In fact he felt really rich.

He wanted to expand—his investments, his business, his sales, his dreams. He felt if he could just make this one big move, this one deal, then he would have it all. Then he would have enough to spend time with the kids, with his wife and kids to go to church—to live a little.

They were all pretty wired. He was stressed from the long days and late nights putting this one deal together. He’d been drinking too much and he knew it. He yelled at the kids and his wife. They went to bed in tears and while he didn’t show it, he was crying inside. He turned off the computer in the study, deciding that his plan was perfect for the board meeting in the morning. He needed to rest but he noticed he felt a little funny when he lay down. She was already breathing deeply. He kissed her on the forehead and promised he would make up with her in the morning. In his mind he vowed, "I’ll treat her like she deserves after tomorrow."

He never got a chance. The pain came quick and sharp. He couldn’t stop it. He knew that he was having a heart attack. He couldn’t speak but he listened. This is what he heard God say, "You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get it all?"

And Jesus said, "A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God" (v. 21).

In this message we have discovered an essential principle that we must accept if we are going to keep our perspective about our stuff and our significance. That principle is that God cares if I have what I need every day that I live. Our problem, though, is that we have decided that it is not what I need but "more than" what I need that really makes me valuable and significant. The point that Jesus is making is that we are worth more than what we possess. He then told a story with which we can relate to make his point sink into our hearts. What, though, is practical about this? What can I do to keep my stuff and my significance in perspective?

First, we need to open our heart to God to change our values. This isn’t easy or quick and doesn’t offer us simple solutions. We need to start by asking, "God, where have I confused the value of my stuff with what I am really worth? Show me where I have confused my possessions with my value in your sight. Show me what’s really important."

Second, allow God’s grace to help you accept what you cannot change. You alone are powerless over the economy or, in some cases, over your economy. You can’t change the past or predict the future.

Third, we need to resist at all costs the temptation of letting things determine our worth—constantly letting God’s truth penetrate our values.

Finally, become a good steward of all that I possess. Choose to use what he has given me in such a way that it makes good sense. To use it in such a way that honors Him and shows that I am grateful. Jesus said, "Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no holes in them. Your treasure will be safe—no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be" (Luke 12:33-34).

Are you keeping your stuff and your significance in perspective? How do you feel when you look at what you think is yours? Believe me, whether it’s a lot or a little or somewhere in between, life is more than that. Start believing it and living it, because it just makes good sense.

Sunday, August 21, 2005 a.m.

Dr. Bruce Tippit, Pastor

First Baptist Church

Jonesboro, Arkansas

btippit@fbcjonesboro.org