THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT
PROGRAM AIR DATE: 12-16-18
LESSON TITLE: "WORDLY RICHES"
WELCOME
TODAY WE ARE BLESSED WITH A WONDERFUL GIFT FROM GOD, THE BIBLE. THIS BOOK IS GOD'S LIVING WORD. IN ITS PAGES, WE ARE TOLD "FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND POWERFUL AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD." IT IS IN THIS BOOK OF BOOKS THAT WE FIND THE ANSWERS TO ALL OF MAN'S QUESTIONS AND NEEDS. THIS MORNING YOUR AREA CHURCHES OF CHRIST WELCOME YOU TO A PROGRAM COMMITTED TO THAT PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY AS WE PRESENT THE LIVING WORD. NOW HERE IS YOUR HOST, RAY SULLINS.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND WELCOME TO THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM ON THIS WONDROUS LORD' DAY MORNING. WE THANK GOD THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO BE WITH US TODAY, AS WE COMMIT THIS TIME TO OUR WONDROUS CREATOR. WHAT A GREAT PRIVILEGE WE HAVE TODAY TO JOIN IN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRAISE OUR GOD AND GLORIFY OUR SAVIOR. MAY WE EACH DO OUR PART TO MAKE THIS TIME ACCEPTABLE IN HIS SIGHT AND ACCORDING TO HIS WILL. NOW, LET'S APPROACH OUR FATHER'S THRONE IN PRAYER.
PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY OF LIFE FOR FATHER WE KNOW THAT ALL GOOD THINGS COME FROM YOU AND EVERYTHING WE HAVE PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY IS FROM ABOVE AND WE HAVE ALL THAT WE NEED BECAUSE OF YOUR LOVE FOR MAN. AND FATHER, HELP US THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY TO LIVE OUR LIVES IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE WILL FIND FAVOR IN YOUR SIGHT AND BE RECIPIENTS OF YOUR BLESSINGS NOW AND YOUR REWARDS ETERNAL. THESE THING WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AMEN.
WHAT A WONDERFUL PRIVILEGE WE HAVE AS CHRISTIANS TO LIFT UP OUR VOICES IN PRAISE TO GOD. FURTHERMORE, WHAT A SWEET SMELLING SAVOR THE FRUIT OF OUR LIPS IS TO OUR CREATOR. SO, THIS MORNING WON'T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AT THIS TIME AS WE SING TOGETHER OUR FIRST HYMN OF THE MORNING. THE NAME OF THE SONG "WHAT WILL YOUR ANSWER BE!"
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
I OFTEN THINK ABOUT HOW SPOILED WE ARE TODAY. WE GENERALLY FORGET JUST HOW EASY WE HAVE IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK VERY FAR BACK IN HISTORY TO SEE THOSE WHO STRUGGLED, SACRIFICED, SUFFERED, AND DIED SO THAT YOU AND I COULD HAVE THE FREEDOMS WE DO TODAY. FOR THE MOST PART, IT SEEMS LIKE YOUNGER GENERATIONS TODAY JUST DON'T SEEM TO REALIZE OR UNDERSTAND THE GREAT SACRIFICE THAT WAS MADE BY OTHERS SO THAT THEY COULD ENJOY THE BLESSINGS OF TODAY.
ISN'T IT THE SAME WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RELIGIOUS THINGS? THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MOMENT. THROUGHOUT RELIGIOUS HISTORY MANY HAVE ALSO STRUGGLED, SACRIFICED, SUFFERED, AND DIED. BUT WHY? FOR THE VERY SAME REASONS, SO THAT YOU AND I COULD HAVE THE FREEDOM AND BLESSINGS IN CHRIST WHICH WE DO TODAY.
WHENEVER WE START TALKING ABOUT SACRIFICE, THE OBVIOUS ONE IS THE GREAT EVENT WHEN JESUS WENT TO THE CROSS. IT IS ONLY BECAUSE OF THIS, THE GREATEST OF SACRIFICES, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BE IN CHRIST TODAY. WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF CHRIST'S BLOOD WE WOULD NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE SAVED, NOR COULD WE RECEIVE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. IN COLOSSIANS 114, WE READ, "IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS." ONCE AGAIN WE SEE THAT THE BLOOD OF CHRIST IS THE CLEANSING AGENT! HOW OFTEN DO WE REMEMBER THE GREAT SACRIFICE THAT CHRIST HAS MADE FOR ALL MEN.
BESIDES CHRIST, WE HAVE SO MANY DURING BIBLE TIMES AND SINCE, WHO HAVE BEEN WILLING TO PAY THE NECESSARY PRICE TO BRING US TO TODAY. ONE EVENT THAT STICKS OUT IN MY MIND IS FOUND IN SECOND CORINTHIANS 11:24-28. NOTICE WHAT PAUL SAID THERE, "FROM THE JEWS FIVE TIMES I RECEIVED 40 STRIPES MINUS ONE. THREE TIMES I WAS BEATEN WITH RODS; ONCE I WAS STONED; THREE TIMES I WAS SHIPWRECKED; A NIGHT AND A DAY I HAVE BEEN IN THE DEEP; IN JOURNEYS OFTEN, IN PERILS OF WATERS, IN PERILS OF ROBBERS, IN PERILS OF MY OWN COUNTRYMEN, IN PERILS OF THE GENTILES, IN PERILS IN THE CITY, IN PERILS IN THE WILDERNESS, IN PERILS IN THE SEA, IN PERILS AMONG FALSE BRETHREN; IN WEARINESS AND TOIL, IN SLEEPLESSNESS OFTEN, IN HUNGER AND THIRST, IN FASTINGS OFTEN, IN COLD AND NAKEDNESS; BESIDES THE OTHER THINGS, WHAT COMES UPON ME DAILY: MY DEEP CONCERN FOR ALL THE CHURCHES."
HOW MANY OF US WOULD EVEN ACCEPT ONE OF THESE TRIALS OR PERSECUTIONS AND STILL STAND STRONG FOR GOD. BRETHREN, LET'S ALWAYS REMEMBER THE GREAT SACRIFICE AND LOVE THAT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN, BY THOSE WHO LOVE GOD ENOUGH TO PROVE IT THROUGH ACTIONS. LET'S THANK GOD FOR THOSE EXAMPLES THAT WE HAVE THAT GIVE US THE ABILITIES AND FREEDOMS WE HAVE TODAY TO BE ABLE TO SERVE GOD IN PEACEFUL TIMES. WE NEED TO ALL COUNT OUR MANY BLESSINGS.
TODAY WE WILL CONTINUE OUR NEW SERIES OF STUDY ENTITLED, "GOD MADE FOOLISH THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD." OUR SPECIFIC TOPIC THIS MORNING IS "WORLDLY RICHES." SO PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US THIS MORNING AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG I WILL RETURN WITH THIS LESSON FROM GOD'S WORD. IT'S NOW TIME TO JOIN IN OUR SECOND HYMN OF THE MORNING, THE NAME OF THE SONG, "I'LL LIVE FOR HIM."
LESSON
BY RAY SULLINS
WE ARE SO THAT YOU HAVE CONTINUED WITH US NOW THIS MORNING AS WE GO TO GOD'S WORD TO CONSIDER ANOTHER LESSON IN OUR NEW SERIES THAT IS REALLY DEALING WITH THE CONCEPT OF WORLDLY WISDOM. AND TODAY WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON IS REALLY THE IDEA OF RICHES. AS WE LOOK AROUND OUR SOCIETY AND WE LOOK AROUND THE WORLD, WHAT IS IT THAT MAN REALLY DESIRES? IT SEEMS THAT MAN OFTEN DESIRES TO HAVE MORE, AND IN THE SENSE I GUESS, WE ALL WANT MORE. WE ALL WANT SOMETHING NEWER OR BETTER OR WE ALL WOULD THINK ABOUT THE FACT OF WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE TO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO WHATEVER WE WANTED TO DO OR BUY WHATEVER WE WANTED TO BUY AND SO RICHES ARE SOMETHING THAT WE ALL REALLY KIND OF DESIRE OR AT LEAST HOPE FOR. WE ALSO SEE THIS IN THE MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO BUY LOTTERY TICKETS OR THOSE WHO MIGHT FILL OUT DIFFERENT SWEEPSTAKES FORMS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO AGAIN KIND OF WANT THAT GET RICH QUICK CONCEPT OR PART OF LIFE THAT THEY MIGHT AGAIN HAVE WHAT? HAVE MORE STUFF. AND SO RICHES ARE NOT STRANGE TO US AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN STRANGE TO THE WORLD EVER AND CERTAINLY EVEN THE GREATEST NATIONS AND EMPIRES THAT HAVE EVER EXISTED HAVE REALLY GONE ALL THE WORLD, THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, CONQUERED THE WORLD IN ORDER TO GET PRECIOUS METALS LIKE GOLD AND SILVER, IN ORDER TO GET PRECIOUS JEWELS, IN ORDER TO GET PRECIOUS RESOURCES. WE SEE THAT THE THIRST OR THE DESIRE FOR THE THINGS OF THE WORLD OR THE THINGS OF LIFE IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE BEGINNING. AND FRANKLY WILL BE AROUND UNTIL THE LORD COMES AGAIN.
WITH THAT IN MIND THEN WE THINK ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF A QUESTION THAT JESUS ASKED THERE IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 16 AND VERSE 26. HE SAID THIS, "'FOR WHAT PROFIT IS IT IF A MAN GAINS THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSES HIS OWN SOUL?'" AND THEN HE SAY, "'OR WHAT WILL A MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS OWN SOUL?'" PROBABLY YOU UNDERSTAND AND BELIEVE THE SAME BUT I FEEL LIKE THAT MANY IN THE WORLD HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR SOULS! HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR VERY ESSENCE. THEIR LIFE FOR THE THINGS OF THE WORLD RATHER THAN IN SERVICE TO GOD. AND THAT'S A SAD THING BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT ONE FAILS TO REALLY COMPREHEND WHAT'S IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW WE'VE ALL BEEN AT FUNERALS BEFORE. MAYBE YOU HAVE BEEN AT FUNERALS IN RELATIONSHIP TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DIED AND WHO REALLY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH IN LIFE. BUT THEN YOU ALSO ARE AT FUNERALS WHERE INDIVIDUALS MAYBE HAVE BEEN RICH. AND YOU MIGHT SEE A FANCY COFFIN AND YOU MIGHT EVEN SEE THINGS IN THE COFFIN AND YOU MIGHT SEE THE FANCY HOUSE THAT THEY LIVED IN AND THEY MIGHT HAVE LEFT A LOT OF THINGS BEHIND. BUT THE QUESTION WOULD BE WHAT GOOD DO THOSE THINGS DO THEM NOW? AND ALTHOUGH YOU MIGHT SAY, 'WELL, THIS MAN OR THIS WOMAN ACCOMPLISHED THESE GREAT THINGS AND THEY HAD ALL OF THIS STUFF AND THEY HAD ALL OF THE ABILITY TO HAVE AND TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANTED TO DO AND THEY TRAVELED THE WORLD.' AND THEN YOU GO BACK TO THAT FUNERAL AND THAT INDIVIDUAL WHO MAYBE HAD NOTHING IN LIFE. AND YOU SAY, 'WELL, BUT THIS PERSON SERVED GOD AND NOW THEY HAVE THE PROMISE OF HEAVEN. THEY HAVE THE HOPE OF HEAVEN.' DO YOU SEE THE POINT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO LOOK AT THEN THIS MORNING AND THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH AS WE REALLY CONSIDER THAT, AGAIN, FROM EVERY AGE, FROM EVERY PERIOD, PEOPLE HAVE WONDERED THAT VERY QUESTION, AM I REALLY GOING TO SERVE MYSELF AND JUST SEARCH OUT AND SEEK THE WORLD AND ONLY GAIN THE WORLD AT THE EXPENSE OF MY SOUL? OR AM I REALLY GOING TO SERVE GOD? KNOWING THAT GOD IS GOING TO BLESS ME WITH THE THINGS THAT I NEED AND I'M GOING TO HAVE THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE AND GOD IS GOING TO CARE FOR ME AS A FATHER AND HE IS GOING TO BLESS ME AS A CHILD. WHAT IS THE CHOICE THAT WE WILL MAKE?
WELL, THERE WAS A CHOICE THAT WAS TRYING TO BE MADE BY A YOUNG MAN THERE IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 19 JUST A FEW CHAPTERS OVER FROM WHERE WE WERE A MOMENT AGO. AND YOU MIGHT RECALL WITH ME THAT RICH YOUNG RULER THERE WHO WAS DISCUSSED AS ONE WHO CAME TO JESUS WITH A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION. AND THE QUESTION THAT HE ASKED WAS WHAT DO I NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO OBTAIN OR TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE? I WANT TO LIVE FOREVER. ISN'T THAT WHAT THE WORLD WANTS TO DO? ISN'T THAT WHAT, IF WE WOULD SAY RICH PEOPLE WANT TO DO? IN FACT, WHAT WOULD A RICH PERSON PURCHASE OR BUY IN ORDER THAT THEY COULD LIVE FOREVER? ABOUT THE OLD STORIES OF THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH OR THE TREE OF LIFE. THOSE CONCEPTS THAT REALLY EVEN MAYBE SOME TODAY ARE STILL SEARCHING AND SEEKING OUT. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EVEN ON THE NEWS THE OTHER DAY THAT THE GENETIC MODIFYING OF CHILDREN TO AGAIN GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT? LIVE LONGER. TO NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE DIFFERENT DISEASES AND CANCER BUT TO SOMEHOW AGAIN TO DO WHAT? EXTEND LIFE. YOU KNOW WHAT WE'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND? IS THAT THERE'S AN APPOINTMENT FOR ALL MEN. AND WHAT THIS YOUNG MAN UNDERSTOOD WHEN HE ASKED THAT QUESTION IS THAT I'M NOT GOING TO LIVE FOREVER. IT'S APPOINTED FOR MAN TO DIE AND THEN THE JUDGMENT, HEBREWS 9:27. SO THEREFORE WHAT DO I NEED TO DO SO WHEN I DIE I'M GOING TO LIVE FOREVER. I'M GOING TO BE WITH GOD FOREVER. YOU SEE, HE UNDERSTANDS THAT EVEN AS A YOUNG MAN ASKING THAT QUESTION. ALTHOUGH MANY YOUNG INDIVIDUALS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO LIVE FOREVER SO THEY ARE NOT SO CONCERNED WITH THAT QUESTION. WELL, THE MAN WAS VERY WEALTHY ACCORDING TO WHAT THE STORY SAYS AND JESUS TELLS HIM ABOUT THE GREAT 10 COMMANDMENTS AND HE EVEN CLARIFIED THAT I'VE KEPT THESE THINGS FROM MY YOUTH. I'VE DONE ALL THE THINGS ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF MOSES. SO THEREFORE WHAT DO I LACK? IS THERE ANYTHING? THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT HE IS ASKING? IF YOU WILL NOTICE WITH ME, WHAT DID JESUS SAY? WHAT DID HE SAY THERE IN VERSE 21? HE SAYS, "'IF YOU WANT TO BE PERFECT,'" HE SAID, "'GO, AND SELL ALL THAT YOU HAVE AND GIVE TO THE POOR, AND YOU WILL HAVE TREASURES IN HEAVEN; AND COME, AND FOLLOW ME.'" WAS THIS MAN GOING TO LOSE HIS SOUL BECAUSE HE WAS WEALTHY? OR WAS THIS YOUNG MAN BEING TOLD BY JESUS HE MIGHT VERY WELL LOSE HIS SOUL BECAUSE HE WAS PUTTING IT BEFORE GOD? YOU SEE, THAT'S THE PROBLEM. IT IS NOT HAVING STUFF AND HAVING MONEY AND POSSESSIONS OR BEING BLESSED IN SUCH A WAY. CHRISTIANS ARE BLESSED BY GOD BUT THE PROBLEM IS WHEN ONE SAYS THAT THOSE THINGS COME BEFORE GOD OR I'M GOING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO HAVE MORE NO MATTER WHAT. HOW MANY PEOPLE MAYBE DON'T EVEN ATTEND SERVICES AND THEY DON'T GO TO CHURCH AT ALL ON SUNDAYS OR MAYBE MID-WEEK. THEY DON'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. AND WHY? BECAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS WORKING. WHY ARE THEY ALWAYS WORKING? BIGGER HOUSE, BIGGER CAR, BETTER CELL PHONES. THERE ALWAYS SEEKING MORE. BUT I HAVE TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY. ALL OF MY FAMILY'S GOT HAVE THE BEST OF EVERYTHING! WELL, DO THEY REALLY? ARE YOU REALLY WILLING TO SELL YOUR SOUL OUT OR THE SOULS OF OTHERS? FOR WHAT? THE POSSESSION OF LIFE! THE THINGS OF THE WORLD! THE RICHES! THIS YOUNG MAN EVIDENTLY WAS BECAUSE WHAT WAS THE REACTION AFTER HE TOLD HIM THAT? HE SAYS YOU CAN HAVE TREASURES IN HEAVEN BUT DO YOU WANT THOSE TREASURES? AND THEN IT SAYS, VERSE 22, THAT THE YOUNG MAN HEARD THESE THINGS AND THAT HE WENT AWAY SORROWFUL BECAUSE HE WAS VERY WEALTHY. HE HAD GREAT POSSESSIONS. IT SORROWED HIM BECAUSE THAT MEANS WITHIN HIS HEART HE WAS NOT WILLING TO PUT HIS FOCUS WHERE THINGS WERE MOST IMPORTANT: ON GOD, ON HEAVENLY THINGS. WHO IS IN HEAVEN? GOD. THE THRONE OF GOD IS IN HEAVEN, THE TREASURES OF HEAVEN, THE TREASURES OF SPIRITUAL THINGS. YOU SEE AGAIN OFTEN WHAT WE DO IS ACCORDING TO WHAT PAUL DEALT WITH MANY OF THE CHURCHES. WE LOOK TO THE THINGS THAT ARE TEMPORARY, THE FLESHLY THINGS. AND WE PUT OUR HOPES IN THOSE. WHAT HE REMINDS US OF IN COLOSSIANS AND OTHERS, WE'VE GOT TO PUT OUR HOPES IN GOD. WE'VE GOT TO PUT OUR HOPES IN THE CREATOR AND WE'VE GOT TO KNOW THAT WHEN THIS LIFE IS OVER THE ONLY HOPE THAT WE DO HAVE IS THAT PROMISE OF HEAVEN, THAT PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE. IS THAT NOT ALSO AGAIN THEN WHAT JESUS WAS TALKING ABOUT?
IF YOU WERE TO LOOK BACK AGAIN IN THE BOOK OF MATTHEW CHAPTER SIX, THE GREAT SERMON ON THE MOUNT, HE CLEARLY DISTINGUISHES THE CONCEPT OF TREASURES OF EARTH AND TREASURES FROM ABOVE. IN FACT, THERE IN VERSE 19 HE BEGINS BY SAYING THIS, "'DO NOT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES ON EARTH, WHERE MOTH AND RUST DESTROY, WHERE THIEVES BREAK IN AND STEAL.'" YOU SEE, EVEN THE THINGS WE HAVE IN THIS LIFE WEAR OUT, THEY GET OLD. YOU BUY THAT NEW CAR AND IT'S GREAT. SIX MONTHS LATER OR A YEAR LATER OR FIVE YEARS LATER, WHAT'S IT LIKE? YOU WANT THE NEWER ONE AND IT'S NOT AS GREAT AS YOU THOUGHT IT WAS. AND SO YOU BUY THESE OTHER POSSESSIONS. YOU BUY THAT HOUSE, WHAT HAPPENS? THINGS WEAR OUT. THINGS RUST. PIPES BREAK. THINGS DETERIORATE EVEN LIKE OUR BODIES AT TIMES. WE DETERIORATE EVEN PHYSICALLY. HE SAYS THE WORLD IS FULL OF WHAT? THE MOTHS AND THINGS THAT RUST, THINGS THAT DESTROY. SO WHY WOULD YOU PUT YOUR TREASURE IN SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW DETERIORATES AND PASSES? SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT STAND OR LIVE FOREVER? WHEN ON THE OTHER HAND, WHAT HE SAYS IN VERSE 20 IS THIS, "'BUT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN,'" BECAUSE HEAVENLY TREASURES ARE SPIRITUAL TREASURES. AND WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE HE SAYS THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MOTH NOR RUST AND THIEVES WON'T BREAK IN AND STEAL. IN FACT, WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE IN FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 15 AND VERSE 50 WE'RE TOLD THAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NOT MADE OF FLESH AND BLOOD. THE THINGS THAT ARE BEYOND THIS WORLD ARE NOT OF A PHYSICAL EXISTENCE BUT THEY ARE OF A SPIRITUAL EXISTENCE. THAT'S WHY THEY CAN BE ETERNAL. BECAUSE PHYSICAL THINGS DETERIORATE AND REALLY WIND DOWN AND EVENTUALLY DISAPPEAR. THE SAME WAY THAT WHEN WE DIE WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR BODIES? EVENTUALLY WE WILL RETURN TO THE DUST. WHY? BECAUSE THEY ARE MADE OF DUST. BUT WHAT DOES THE SOUL DO ACCORDING TO ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER 12? THE SOUL RETURNS OR THAT SPIRIT TO GOD WHO MADE IT. YOU SEE, THAT'S THE ESSENCE OF MAN. THAT'S THE ABILITY OF MAN THAT WILL LIVE FOREVER. AND THAT'S WHY IN FIRST CORINTHIANS 15 IT SAYS WE ALL WILL BE CHANGED IN THE MOMENT OF A TWINKLING OF AN EYE. FROM SOMETHING THAT IS CORRUPTIBLE TO THAT WHICH IS INCORRUPTIBLE. FROM THE MORTAL TO THE IMMORTAL WE WILL BE CHANGED TO A SPIRITUAL FORM WHERE WE CAN DWELL WITH GOD FOREVER. THAT'S WHY WE PUT OUR TREASURES IN GODLY SPIRITUAL THINGS AND NOT OF THE EARTH BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE EARTHLY THINGS ARE PASSING.
SO WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM THEN WITH THE RICH YOUNG RULER? WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH MANY MEN TODAY AND SOMETIMES EVEN OURSELVES WHAT VERSE 21 SAYS, "'WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO.'" THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU FOCUS ON THE THINGS OF THE WORLD THAT'S WHAT YOUR HEART DESIRES AND WHEN YOUR HEART DESIRES THE WORLD OR THINGS OF THE WORLD, EVEN IF THEY IN AND OF THEMSELVES ARE NOT BAD, WE HAVE ALLLOWED OUR HEART TO FOCUS ON THAT WHICH IS NOT MOST IMPORTANT AND THEREFORE WHO'S GOING TO GET THE SHAFT? GOD IS GOING TO GET THE SHAFT. SO IF WE PUT OUR TREASURES ON THINGS ABOVE AND UNDERSTAND THAT IS WHERE TREASURES IS AND OUR HEART FOCUSES ON THE SPIRITUAL WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO GOD AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR OUR SOULS? IT MEANS THAT OUR FOCUS IS RIGHT AND OUR FOCUS IS PROPER, THAT WE DON'T WALK AWAY SORROWFUL BECAUSE I'M GOING TO WORK AS MUCH AS IT TAKES OR I'M GONNA DO WHATEVER I HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE OR TO GET THIS OR TO HAVE THAT A BUY THAT. BUT I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY AND TO BE THE MAN, THE HUSBAND THAT I NEED TO BE BUT ULTIMATELY TO SERVE GOD. GOD COMES FIRST! I'M GONNA TEACH MY WIFE AND MY CHILDREN THAT EVEN THOUGH WE MIGHT NOT HAVE EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT WHAT WE NEED AND WE NEED TO SERVE GOD. BECAUSE GOD OFFERS THINGS BEYOND THIS LIFE.
YOU KNOW THAT REMINDS ME OF THE GREAT STORY THERE OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS WHICH MANY REFER TO AS A PARABLE THERE AND LUKE 16. AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PARABLE BECAUSE HERE WE SEE A STORY OF A MAN WHOSE RICH ALL OF HIS LIFE AND HE HAS EVERYTHING. HE WON'T EVEN SHARE THE CRUMBS FROM HIS TABLE FOR THIS BEGGAR LAZARUS. AND WHAT HAPPENS? THEY BOTH DIE AND ONE GOES TO TORMENT, THE RICH MAN, AND LAZARUS WHO CERTAINLY STRUGGLED IN HIS LIFE AND HAD LITTLE. NOT EVEN HAVING THE CRUMBS FROM THE RICH MAN'S TABLE HE GOES TO THE BOSOM OF ABRAHAM. AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL STORY BECAUSE WITHIN THE STORY IN THE EVENT THAT IS BEING DESCRIBED WE KNOW THAT THERE IS ALWAYS IS AN ELEMENT OF TRUTH IN ALL PARABLES AND ALL STORIES THAT WE FIND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. AND SO THEREFORE WE KNOW THERE'S AN ELEMENT OF TRUTH IN PERHAPS WHAT IS BEYOND THIS LIFE. AND AS THEY WERE THERE IN THAT SETTING IN THAT SITUATION? WHAT WAS APPARENT? WHAT WAS APPARENT WAS THAT THE RICH MAN HAS SOLD HIS SOUL FOR THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. JUST LIKE THE MAN WHO SAYS I'M GOING TO BUILD BIGGER BARNS AND PUT ALL MY STUFF IN MY BIGGER BARNS BECAUSE NOW MY BIG BARNS THAT I'VE GOT ARE FULL INSTEAD OF HELPING PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEED. BUT WHAT WAS CLEAR ABOUT LAZARUS? HE HAD LOVED HIS GOD. HE HAD SERVED HIS GOD. HE MIGHT'VE SUFFERED SOME ON EARTH BUT HE HAD HIS HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE BECAUSE NOW HE WAS ENJOYING THE BEGINNING OF AN ETERNAL REWARD THAT WAS AVAILABLE IN PARADISE AND ULTIMATELY WOULD BE GIVEN TO HIM AND ALL WHO ARE FAITHFUL WHEN THIS LIFE IS OVER IN HEAVEN ITSELF.
AND SO I CHALLENGE US TODAY TO NOT ALLOW THE RICHES OR THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD OR ANYTHING OF THIS WORLD TO KEEP US FROM GOD BUT ALWAYS SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO US INCLUDING THE GREAT REWARD OF HEAVEN AND THE MANSION THAT HAD BEEN PREPARED FOR YOU.
CLOSING COMMENTS
RAY: LET ME THANK YOU AGAIN FOR CHOOSING TO BE WITH US TODAY FOR THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM. I HOPE AND TRUST, THAT TOGETHER WE HAVE ALL BENEFITED FROM THIS SERVICE TO OUR LORD. LET ME ALSO INVITE YOU TO JOIN US EVERY LORD'S DAY MORNING AT 7:30 AS WE GIVE THIS TIME TO OUR CREATOR.
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MAY WE NEVER ALLOW THE RICHES OF THIS WORLD TO KEEP US FROM BEING WHAT GOD WANTS. LET'S ALL PUT GOD FIRST IN EVERYTHING, KNOWING THAT THOSE WHO DO SO WILL REAP BOUNTIFUL REWARDS!