Swapping Fool’s Gold for Real Gold

Swapping Fool’s Gold for Real Gold

Or, Luke 12:13-33

Or, “The Rich and Powerful Fool”

Or, “Redeeming the American Dream”

re·deem (rî-dêm¹) verb, transitive; re·deemed, re·deem·ing, re·deems

1. To set free; rescue or ransom: He was redeemed from the kidnappers…

2. To restore the honor, worth, or reputation of: You botched the last job but can redeem yourself on this one.

Redeeming the American Dream

The American Dream“This American system of

ours . . . gives to each and every one of us a great opportunity if

we only seize it with both hands and make the most of it.”

Al Capone (1899–1947), U.S. gangster.

re·deem (rî-dêm¹) verb, transitive; re·deemed, re·deem·ing, re·deems

1. To set free; rescue or ransom: He was redeemed from the kidnappers…

2. To restore the honor, worth, or reputation of: You botched the last job but can redeem yourself on this one.

Redeeming the American Dream

The American DreamAmerica has been a land of dreams. A land

where the aspirations of people from countries cluttered with rich, cumbersome, aristocratic, ideological pasts can reach for what once seemed unattainable. Here they

have tried to make dreams come true…”

Daniel J. Boorstin (US

Historian, “The Image”, 1961)

1929 2011 5+ Million

Swapping Fool’s Gold for Real Gold

Fool’s Gold

Real Gold

He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." Luke 12:15

The Rich and Powerful Fool

Can You Be Rich, Powerful AND a Fool?

Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” …God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. Psalm 53:2



Lk. 12:16-19 A rich and powerful manThen he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods.”’

And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!



Lk. 12:16-19 A rich and powerful man…

Lk. 12:20 Yet he was a fool!“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’




Lk. 12:20 Yet he was a fool!

Lk. 12:21 Because he ignored God.“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Luke 12:21





Lk. 12:21 Because he ignored God.

His view of life was distorted…

His Reality“I don’t have room for all my crops.”

“I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones.”

“Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat…”

I’ll say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come.”

God’s RealityThe earth is the LORD'S, and all it

contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. Psalm 24:1

The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; everything in the

world is yours—you created it all. Psalm 89:11





Lk. 12:21 Because he ignored God.

His view of life was distorted…

His Reality“I don’t have room for all my crops.”

“I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones.”

“Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat…”

I’ll say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come.”

God’s RealityThe earth is the LORD'S, and all it

contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. Psalm 24:1

The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours; everything in the

world is yours—you created it all. Psalm 89:11

Insanity• “My life, my

things, my way…”

Sanity• “The earth is the

Lord’s,…”

MINING FOR FOOL’S GOLD

Greed-Poisoned Reality

"Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed…" Luke 12:15

iron pyrite – the most abundant mineral in the earth’s crust

Pleonexia - greed, insatiableness, avarice, covetousness; pleon (earnest; more) & echo (to have; hold)



No time for reality-check


"Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, he is like a man building a house…and that house and could not be shaken, because it had been well built. Luke 6:47-48




Oblivious to the truth"Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed…" Luke 12:15

God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you!’

He must have known this was

coming!

Why would he fail to prepare for

it?

He was indifferent /

oblivious towards God




Oblivious to the truth

Fantasy Reality: ME"Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed…" Luke 12:15 Nothing Wrong Here

• “…take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' Luke 12:19

Practical Atheism

• This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God (Lk.2:21) Den’s Story





Fantasy Reality: ME"Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed…" Luke 12:15

• Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes

He Missed a Lot!





Fantasy Reality: ME

Control-Freakism


24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?





Fantasy Reality: ME

Control-Freakism

Misplaced Trust


27 “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!”

• Who do you trust?The heart of the issue





Fantasy Reality: ME

Control-Freakism

Misplaced Trust


29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

• Who do you trust?The heart of the issue

God Is Rich!

…city was pure gold, like clear glass. Revelation 21:18

THE RICH AND POWERFUL FOOLNobody plans on becoming a “powerful fool”.

No believer plans on losing their priorities.

It all began with ingratitude…

'I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many

years to come…"' Luke 12:19

"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is

required of you…' Luke 12:20




Entitlement: the American WayFor even though they knew God, they

did not honor Him as God or give thanks… Romans 1:21

For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; Romans 1:26

Whiners Demanders GREEDY




Reverse it by becoming “Rich toward God”"So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Luke 12:21

Real Gold: “Rich Towards God”Hi-Value

Relationship

• how much more valuable you are than the birds! • Luke 12:24

Stop Worrying, Start Trusting!

• and do not keep worrying.• Luke 12:29

Hi-Value Kingdom

• "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. • Luke 12:31

SWAPPING FOOL’S GOLD FOR REAL GOLDIs Not…

How to hate winners

How to become a looser and love it…

The advantages of shirking responsibility.

The joys of poor stewardship…

It IS…How to Win Beyond Winning

How to Win, No Matter How Great the Opposition.

Listening to God before you screw it all up!

How Can You Be a Rich, Powerful Fool?“The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God’”

Clearly this guy’s problem

Too Much Greed had Poisoned Reality

It all began with IngratitudeNobody plans on becoming a “powerful fool”.

This is NOT:Hate the winners.

How to become a looser and enjoy it.

The advantages of shirking responsibility.

The joy of poor stewardship.

It IS:How to Win Beyond Winning

How to Win, No Matter How Great the Opposition.

Where God Gets to Say Something Before It Happens

Grateful HeartRich Toward God & Others

Enjoys love relationships

Forgives, knowing how much forgiveness was received

Gives praise

Redemptive

Called “Childrn of God”

Ungrateful Heart

Greedy, snarling, territorial, stingy.

Turns away from love

Gets bitter, tracks scores

Demands priase.

Descructive

Called “Children of the devil”

Ultimate Directions

Grace

Entitlements

Grace offends the“entitlement” thinkers

Documents

Swapping Fool’s Gold for Real Gold