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Our Beliefs Drive our Actions

Why do you do what you do? What motivates you? What drives your desires and actions? 

  • Our Beliefs drive our actions.  And along with that, our ultimate allegiance drives our choices!
  • Even the most sanctified person will feel the tension here. For they know that they fall short all the time. They are challenged by their mixed motives, internal drives, and passions 
  • True and evident sanctification involves a daily routine of doing battle with remaining sin that dwells within along with pursuing obedience all the while knowing perfection in this life is impossible (sorry to be the bearer of bad news to you…but we are sure you already knew it).
  • Yet, we are to seek to Love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27 and Mt 22:36-40). This is, in part, evidenced by how you and I are to love our neighbor. 
  • Being a part of the Kingdom of Heaven means that we treat other people with compassion and kindness (remember…we are to love our neighbors as ourselves).

Let’s look at a parable that may help us see how this principle is worked out and derive 4 stewardship lessons from the rich fool.

The Rich Fool

Luke 12:13–21 The Parable of the Rich Fool 

[13] Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” [14] But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” [15] 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.” [16] And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, [17] and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ [18] 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] And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ [20] 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] So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (ESV)

Broader context of this passage deals with anxiety and contentment. This is Luke’s passage that he says, “do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat…For life is more than food…”

The main lesson we derive from the rich fool is that building your kingdom is a hopeless endeavor. True significance comes when we seek to build God’s kingdom. But continue reading below for 4 stewardship lessons from the rich fool

 

4 Stewardship Lessons from the Rich Fool

1. We must work to avoid Covetousness (vs 15)

  • The two verbs in verse 15 point to two realities of the human heart
    • “Take care” means that we must be intentional and proactive in our efforts to avoid covetousness (can we say…offense?). If you are not being intentional or proactive in watching for the onset of covetousness then I can almost guarantee that covetousness has already taken root in some area of your heart.
    • “Be on your guard” The sin of covetousness is seeking to invade/conquer your heart/life. This implies defense. 
  • Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””

2. Wealth is always temporary. After death, money has no benefit to its owner. (20)

  • Life and the amassing of money is like a carnival where you have to purchase non-refundable tickets. You must use the tickets up before you leave or they will be wasted. When you have more tickets than you can spend, the only wise thing to do would be to share/give them to others who will be able to use them. Don’t wait until the carnival is over before you try to give them away. 
  • You will die someday. Your wealth will be passed on to children or others who did not work hard for the wealth. Don’t waste your life pursuing money for no reason other than to boost your ego. 
  • Matthew 6:20–21 [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. [21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (ESV)

 

3. God will judge your stewardship. Will you pass the test?

  • Notice that while the rich fool was not talking to God, God was not absent. God spoke up and passed his verdict on the selfishness of this poor steward. 
  • The cost of greed, covetousness, and interference to the heart of God was DEATH! God takes our stewardship very seriously. How we handle money reveals our heart’s ultimate allegiance. 
  • Luke 12:48b “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”

 

4.True Wealth is not measured primarily by bank balances or net worth statements. True riches are measured through kingdom generosity. Rich toward God! (vs 21)

 

These 4 stewardship lessons from the Rich Fool will help us navigate our stewardship journey even better. Next episode, we will examine what it means to be “rich toward God.”

 

Next Steps

 

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