November 19, 2004am    What Not to Do on Thanksgiving     Luke 12:13-21

 By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

Intro:  Giving of thanks suggests some action on our part.  True thankfulness always causes us to do something to express it.  How did the rich man express his thanksgiving?

Scripture Text:  Luke 12:13  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; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 16 And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 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 all my grain and my goods. 19 And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things 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 anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

Which is more important?  Is a person’s inheritance or the relationship and friendship of a brother more important?    Thanksgiving focus is often on the material world.  Jesus puts the material world into proper perspective.  V. 13-14 We are warned of Greed becoming the focus of one’s life.  Would it be better to have an abundance of possessions or abundance of presence?  Is life about how much you can get?

Here is the illustration: Hear the parable of the Rich Man who was a fool. 

There once was a rich man.  Rich people in the days of the Lord were thought to blessed by their God.  If they were wealthy and their fields produced healthy crops and their wife and their children were well fed and clothed then their god was answering their prayers and giving them the rain and abundance that they desired. 

God had blessed the man already and now had blessed him some more.  He already had barns but they weren’t large enough to hold his bumper crop.  What should he do with his extra crops?  What were his options?  He could try to eat all of the excess.  He could can it or freeze it.  He could build bigger and bigger barns and try to store it all for his retirement.  He could buy more bonds and stocks and try to get more.  What did he decide to do?  He decided to build bigger barns and keep it all for himself so that he could just sit back and relax and take it easy for the rest of his days. 

 

Here lies John Racket

In his wooden jacket.

He kept neither horses nor mules.

He lived like a hog.

He died like a dog.

And left all his money to fools.^[1]

“Money does not necessarily solve problems; it created new problems for this farmer. It is not a sin to be wealthy, but it is a sin to make wealth your god (Col. 3:5).  Note the emphasis the farmer gave to himself (“I” and “my”). Wealth can be a window through which we see God ( 1 Tim. 6:17 ) or a mirror in which we see only ourselves. It can make us generous or selfish, depending on what is in our hearts”.^[2]

I.  What did the rich man have to be thankful for?

            A.  Physical possessions - enough for many years.  These were all blessings.

            B.  Fame – one of the most successful farmers in the land

            C.  Retirement - didn't have to lift a finger from now on

            D.  Pleasures - hunt, fish, golf forever.  Eat, Drink, and Die?

 

II.  What did the rich man not have?

            A.  Gratitude or thanksgiving to God (I Cor. 4:7)

            B.  Humility - self-made man (more we have - less thankful

            C.  Priorities to put God first.

            D.  God

E.     Godly treasures - plenty of earthly treasures for the rest of life.

F.     Charity.  He did not care for others he could have helped. 

G.    Life.  He died and left it all behind. 

 

III.  What did God say?  He always has last word.  (What the Rich Man said.)

            A.  Let me come into your heart.  (I've lots of time.)

            B.  Offer thanks unto Me, for all this  (I'm self-made.)

            C.  Jesus said, I love you and gave my life for you, will you give

                        yourself to me?  (I don't need, I don't want to change my plans for you.)

            D.  Come into my church, be baptized, faithfully serve me – (I have

                        more important things to do.  I don't need something to

drain me or my savings.)

            E.  Seek me first and I'll take care of the rest.  (I don't need you...I have plenty.)

            F.  Put God first... Tonight you must die.  Who is really in control of

                        your life?   (I am now gone.  Now, I know You are truly God.) 

 

Why not to do on Thanksgiving?  Top Ten Things not to do!

1. Don’t forget God.
2. Don’t take your possession for granted.
3. Don’t eat and run.  Take time out for others, remember He took time for you.
4. Don’t forget those who have blessed you.
5. Don’t forget to be a blessing.
6. Don’t take your life for granted.  This may be your last Thanksgiving.
7. Don’t forget to pray and give thanks.
8. Don’t worry be happy, because God is in control of you. 
9. Don’t pull down your barns for bigger without consulting God first.
10. Don’t forget to be prepared for eternity.