Purpose: Demonstrate the dangers of covetousness.
I. We often call Jesus Christ the "Master Teacher" and rightly so.
II. He used many different tools in his teaching.
A. Illustrations.
B. Visual Aids.
C. Personal Conversations.
D. Questions and Answers.
III. Probably the most effective tool was the parable.
A. Definition.
1. "Para"-->beside, or alongside.
2. "Ballain"-->to throw or cast.
3. So definition is to throw alongside.
4. Inspired definition in Mark 4:30.
B. Purpose.
1. To teach the truth.
2. To make the truth easy to understand.
3. To make the truth easy to remember.
4. To cause one to admit to the truth without realizing that it applies to him.
IV. We must make sure that we interpret parables correctly.
A. We must look at the context in which it is being delivered.
B. We must remember that a parable was designed to deliver one main lesson.
C. The parable may deliver numerous incidental lessons but we should not try to make every little fact mean something.
V. Today we are going to look at the parable of the rich fool.
A. Read parable.
B. I thought that, in studying this parable this morning, we would look at some of the reasons that God called this man a fool.
C. He was a fool because:
1. He was a materialist.
2. He ignored his responsibility to God.
3. He ignored his responsibility to fellow man.
4. He did not include God in his plans.
A. It is not a sin to be rich.1. Abraham was rich (Genesis 13:2).
2. David was rich, Solomon was rich.
B. Being rich becomes a sin when we put wealth before God.
1. We have to be willing to leave all of our material goods if it were ever necessary.
2. We see this concept illustrated in Mark 10:17-22.
a. The rich young ruler was not willing to give up his wealth for Christ.
b. This does not mean that we must give up all of our wealth to follow Christ.
c. Jesus knew this man's heart and was testing him. 3. Matthew 6:21-->where your treasure is there your heart is.
C. Prosperity is often a test.
1. Proverbs 3:8-9.
2. 1 Timothy 6:7-10.
a. We should be content.
b. We will take nothing out of the world when we leave.
c. Being rich often brings on temptations.
3. Poverty can be a test also.
A. Read "I's" and "my's".B. He forgot that everything belongs to God (Psalm 50:10-14).
C. Nebuchadnezzar.
1. Daniel 4:30-34.
2. Nebuchadnezzar was too proud.
3. He did not give God the credit.
A. When we are blessed, we are expected to help those who are less fortunate.1. Galatians 6:10.
2. James 1:27.
3. Matthew 22:37-39.
B. Christ went around doing good.
1. Acts 10:38.
2. 1 Peter 2:21-->he is our example.
A. He did not realize that riches will not last forever if your heart is not right with God.1. 1 Peter 1:24.
2. 1 Timothy 6:7.
B. He forgot that he could die at any moment (Hebrews 9:27).
1. He was not rich toward God (Luke 12:21).
2. He had allowed the cares of the world to overcome his duty to God (Luke 12:31).
3. He trusted in riches and not God (Mark 10:24-25).
II. He was a fool because he was a materialist, he ignored his responsibility to God and fellow man, and he forgot that he could die at any moment.
III. We need to make sure that we do not allow the love of material things come in the way of our relationship to God.
IV. Matthew 6:33-->Seek ye first the kingdom of God.
-- Ralph Price, February 2000 --
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