Count the cost
And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Luke 12:15
Today’s message looks a little different than usual. It’s based off of a thought that I had. I think the thought really started whenever we were having a lot of fires out here in Texas and a town was burnt down not far from us. It’s the stark reality of how quickly things can change. A true reminder of how fragile life really is and of the One Who holds it in His hands.
Fires were popping up everywhere, and then one came close to home. I put a few important things in the truck just in case it made a turn to head our way. We see in these times that what we grab for is what really matters to us. It made me realize that at the end of the day all we really have as far as outwardly is concerned, is the clothes that are on our backs. Inwardly all that we have after we no longer have breath, is our souls . We must decide what’s truly important, what really matters. The picture above is one that I took from our yard the day of the fire.
So, if the whole world crashed around us today, what we really have left is our hope in Jesus, or we don’t. That is what we must base everything else upon and build on that, because all else is sinking sand. He is a firm foundation on which to stand and build. All else waxes and wane’s. Things come and things go. God gives and He takes away - and every good and perfect gift is from Him. That is why we aren’t to worship stuff, but we are to worship God; the Maker of heaven and earth.
If the economy crashed tomorrow and the cash system was no good, what would your worth be? It be no good if this is what you base it upon… Fortunately that isn’t our worth or what God bases it upon. We must set our mind on things eternal as He does, and then we aren’t constantly looking to everything else to appease. Your worth is set by your Maker, not by what you possess outwardly. It is what you possess inwardly.
Money and possessions aren’t the problem, our hearts are. Money is necessary and I have something I’d like to share on that maybe next time. How we use our money, time and talents are important and we are expected to use, and to use wisely. But all of our hope must be in Jesus, for He is immovable. He never changes and though everything else does, He remains the same. He will never fail us, though things and people do. That is why we look to Him for the hope and guidance we need.
One day all of this is going to be burned and gone. He is making all things new. It’s a proven fact that we can’t take any of it with us. So again, if it was all gone tomorrow, where would your hope be? One day it will be.
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:2-3
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19-20
Most importantly: 👇
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21
If you want to know what you serve and where your heart and affections really are, just look at your desires. What do you think on most (lack or gain), dwell on and where do you spend most of your money and time….. Time spent is where it’s at, whether it be in mind or body.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matthew 6:22-23
What do you focus on and stare at?
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24
We can’t ride the fence or be in two places at one time. One will have the best of us and rule, while the other one will fall to the way side. It’ll weigh out…. If we don’t serve God, fear God, and worship God, then nothing else matters; nothing else can save us. It’s all in vain without Him.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:25-26
Stop worrying. Do Prepare. But leave the rest to Him. The horse is made ready for battle but real victory rest in the Lord.
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
We simply choose and choice is powerful.
Luke 1 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”
15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.
17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 ‘Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.
19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Bigger and better ain’t always where it’s at. Invest. Sow. Share. Cast your bread upon waters but don’t hoard to your own demise. The bigger the build; the bigger the fall. A haughty, arrogant, foolish spirit before pride and confident in one’s self rather than in God will come before ones fall…. We are to use what we’ve been given and wisely, but our life is more than just what we possess. Big is good, but only if we honor Him with our gain. A lady in the Bible was way richer than all the rich men put together. Why? Because she had little, yet was willing to give it all. They gave out of their abundance and it was easy. So we see God doesn’t view us in through the lenses of wealth alone but our hearts, and how we use what we’ve been given.
We aren’t to fall asleep awaiting His return. Everything we do down here matters and everything we do is preparation for that day, or lack of. It’ll be a sad day for some. If we only build for this life, we are only setting ourselves up for failure. We are only managers and stewards of it all. We are to invest and use our time, money and gifts wisely. We are to use it for His glory. Otherwise we build an empire that will one day be torn down, or we do nothing and get nothing in return. We must think long term; eternally. Think about it!
Build on an Eternal foundation because unless THE LORD BUILDS , we only labor in vain for that which we do. He calls us to be doers but who and what are we working for? We have many plans but it has got to be built on Gods standards if we want them to stand. So unless we are in alignment with Him, then we are going the wrong direction. A good mans steps are ordered by The Lord. (Psalm 37:23)
It’s not a sin to prepare. I believe that it’s a sin not to and if you look at the 5 virgins parable you’ll see this. It’s “how” we prepare. Everything can be stripped away tomorrow and all we have is our souls and our salvation. That is why we must choose whom or what we will serve. What we possess has us or we have it. I am thankful that Jesus is my living hope. Amen.
