mistakes of the rich farmer luke 12:13-21 (the sin of covetousness)

Mistakes of the Rich Farmer Mistakes of the Rich Farmer Luke 12:13-21Luke 12:13-21

(The Sin of Covetousness)(The Sin of Covetousness)

Mistakes of the Rich FarmerMistakes of the Rich Farmer

Introduction: Introduction: A. The occasion – v. 13, 14, “divide A. The occasion – v. 13, 14, “divide

the inheritance with me.” Jesus didn’t the inheritance with me.” Jesus didn’t get involved with such, Jn. 18:36.get involved with such, Jn. 18:36.


B. V. 15, Warning: Be careful, B. V. 15, Warning: Be careful, beware of beware of covetousness. There’s a difference covetousness. There’s a difference between “live” and “have between “live” and “have possessions.” Do possessions.” Do wewe understand this? understand this?


C. C. Many are very small Many are very small withwith riches. riches. Others are very great Others are very great withoutwithout riches. riches.


D. D. Not condemned for being rich. Abra-Not condemned for being rich. Abra-ham, Job. God ham, Job. God prospersprospers His people. His people. Deut. 8:7-10, “good land, lack nothing.”Deut. 8:7-10, “good land, lack nothing.”


E. E. Not accused of dishonesty. Didn’t Not accused of dishonesty. Didn’t defraud anyone that we know of. Not defraud anyone that we know of. Not lazy. Worked with diligence. Probably lazy. Worked with diligence. Probably employed many people.employed many people.


F. F. He had to be an He had to be an intelligentintelligent man in order to man in order to be successful, but he was be successful, but he was ignorantignorant of many of many important things. Many times the problem is important things. Many times the problem is not “ignorant,” but “ignore”.not “ignorant,” but “ignore”.


G. G. He knew nothing of “He knew nothing of “generositygenerosity.” He .” He knew nothing of “knew nothing of “responsibility”responsibility” toward others. Eph. 4:28. toward others. Eph. 4:28.


H. H. The more the Lord multiplied His The more the Lord multiplied His blessings on him, the more his blessings on him, the more his covetousness (selfishness) grew. Are covetousness (selfishness) grew. Are we guilty?we guilty?


So what were the So what were the mistakes of mistakes of this rich farmer?this rich farmer?


1. V. 17, “1. V. 17, “He thought within himselfHe thought within himself” ” instead of consulting with God. How instead of consulting with God. How about me?about me?


2. V. 17, “2. V. 17, “I have no room to store my I have no room to store my cropscrops” but he ” but he diddid have “where” to store have “where” to store them –the world is full of needy people.them –the world is full of needy people.


3. V. 17-19, 3. V. 17-19, He was blind to the source He was blind to the source of his blessingsof his blessings – says “I”, “mine” – says “I”, “mine” repeatedly, does not give thanks to repeatedly, does not give thanks to God.God.


If we do not recognize God as the If we do not recognize God as the sourcesource of blessings, we will not use of blessings, we will not use them according to His will. them according to His will.


““I worked, I made it, it’s mine, and I’m I worked, I made it, it’s mine, and I’m going to spend it on myself.” This going to spend it on myself.” This means not looking beyond one’s own means not looking beyond one’s own self. What do we say?self. What do we say?


This is precisely the opposite of Luke This is precisely the opposite of Luke 9:23, “9:23, “let him deny himself, and take up let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”his cross daily, and follow Me.”


4. 4. He did not look beyond this worldHe did not look beyond this world. . Did everything on the basis of this life Did everything on the basis of this life in this world. Millions do the same.in this world. Millions do the same.


5. V. 18, “I will do this” – 5. V. 18, “I will do this” – made a made a decision in favor of himselfdecision in favor of himself, without , without taking into account the need of others.taking into account the need of others.


All he thought of was larger barns, in All he thought of was larger barns, in order to have more for himself. Store order to have more for himself. Store (keep) instead of giving, helping, (keep) instead of giving, helping, distributing.distributing.


6. 6. He lived only for the outward manHe lived only for the outward man (not for the inward man): v. 19, “(not for the inward man): v. 19, “take take your ease; eat, drink, your ease; eat, drink, and and be merry." 2 be merry." 2 Cor. 4:16-18.Cor. 4:16-18.


7. 7. He was boastful about how long he He was boastful about how long he would livewould live. “. “You have many goods laid You have many goods laid up for many years.” Prov. 27:1; James up for many years.” Prov. 27:1; James 4:13-15.4:13-15.


Notice the Notice the contrastcontrast between “many between “many years” and “this night.” Ps. 39:4-6, years” and “this night.” Ps. 39:4-6, “t“that hat I may know how frail I I may know how frail I am.” am.” 9090::10; 10; 103:15, 16.103:15, 16.


He was not the owner of his He was not the owner of his barnsbarns, , much less of much less of timetime. He thought he had . He thought he had control over both. Eccl. 8:8.control over both. Eccl. 8:8.


8. 8. He said “my soul” but the Lord took He said “my soul” but the Lord took itit. Ecles. 12:7. He said “my goods” but . Ecles. 12:7. He said “my goods” but he lost all of them. Ecles. 2:18, 19.he lost all of them. Ecles. 2:18, 19.


9. 9. He thought (and the world thinks) he He thought (and the world thinks) he was a “Successful manwas a “Successful man, wise, thrifty.” , wise, thrifty.” God says: “Fool” because God hates God says: “Fool” because God hates covetousness (selfishness).covetousness (selfishness).


Conclusion: Conclusion: A. A. He said “be merry,” but he was taken He said “be merry,” but he was taken to a world where there is to a world where there is nono pleasure. pleasure. Luke 16:24, “I am tormented in this Luke 16:24, “I am tormented in this flame.”flame.”


B. The lesson for us: B. The lesson for us: "So "So is is he who he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.“ Mt 6:19-21; 1 Tim rich toward God.“ Mt 6:19-21; 1 Tim 6:17,18.6:17,18.

mistakes of the rich farmer luke 12:13-21 (the sin of covetousness)

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