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VersusThe American Dream
-vs- The Kingdom of God
…TWO WAYS TO LIVEAnyone remember your two options?
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as _________ but as _______, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Ephesians 5:15-17
unwise wise
2 Ways to Live• So, what comes to mind when someone
talks about “The American Dream”?• Is it …
How about…
Or… maybe this is more to your liking…
Now here’s the Answer…“American Dream Helper”
If Only…Or Not
“Versus”• This series is designed to help distinguish
the boundaries between what the world tells us and what God has to say on several subjects
• The world would have us believe that there is a rainbow of choices, or worse, the world is all grayscale when it comes to the choices before you as to what is right and what is wrong
Here are some alternate Titles
DREAM
VersusREALITY
Man’s Way
VersusGod’s Way
Wise
• Having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right
• Possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion.
• Let’s see if we can take a discerning look at the “American Dream”
• Part of discerning is asking good questions.
• One might ask, “Is the American Dream all wrong?”
Actually, the American Dream has it’s roots in Biblical truth
• Proverbs 10:4“Lazy hands make a man poor,but diligent hands bring wealth.”
• Prov 21:5
“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”
• Originally, The American Dream was thought of in terms of a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility achieved through hard work.
• In the definition of the American Dream by James Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.
• The idea of the American Dream is rooted also in the United States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights" including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
• The discovery of gold in California in 1849 brought in a hundred thousand men looking for their fortune overnight and a few did find it. Thus was born the California Dream of instant success. Historian H. W. Brands noted that in the years after the Gold Rush, the California Dream spread across the nation:
• The old American Dream . . . was the dream of the Puritans, of Benjamin Franklin's "Poor Richard" . . . of men and women content to accumulate their modest fortunes a little at a time, year by year by year.
• The new dream was the dream of instant wealth, won in a twinkling by audacity and good luck. This golden dream . . . became a prominent part of the American Dream only after Sutter's Mill.
• Today the “The American Dream” is being interpreted from an entitled people with the predisposition that it should also come “fast and easy!
• Soooo…. The long answer to a short question is, That It depends what you mean by “The American Dream”.
• If we use the historically intended ideal, it is not wrong in itself…
…Its just not enough
See if you can find the problem…
Luke 12:16-21
And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.
See if you can find the problem…
"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. 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.“
See if you can find the problem…
"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?’
"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
The Problem…
Rich toward Self -vs-
Rich toward God
The Historical American Dream• Not bad per se (in and of itself)…just not
enough…too limited a vision
Prov 23:4Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.(Show understanding, show discernment and show discretion)
American Dream
Col 3:1-2Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
The Kingdom of Godvs.
Focus:Prosperity, Freedom, “The Here and Now”
Focus:Here… and Beyond
American Dream
James 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
The Kingdom of Godvs.
Focus:Good life now
Focus:Good life for Eternity
American Dream
Ps 127:1Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.
The Kingdom of Godvs.
Focus:Labor for prosperity now
Focus:Labor to honor God
American Dream
1 Cor 15:58Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
The Kingdom of Godvs.
Focus:Labor for prosperity now
Focus:Labor to honor God
American Dream
Proverbs 3:9Honor the Lord with your wealth,with the first fruits of all your crops;
The Kingdom of Godvs.
Focus:Wealth to enjoy life
Focus:Wealth to bless God, others and ourselves
American Dream
Ps 90:12Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
The Kingdom of Godvs.
Focus:Fear death and try to forget
Focus:Remember death and live every day numbering our days and living them wisely
American Dream
The Kingdom of Godvs.
Focus:Decide by… Getting what you want
Focus:Decide by… What will please God
Eccl 2:24-26A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.
To the one who pleases God…
Here is an example of one who pleased God.
1 Kings 3:5-15God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
"Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for — both riches and honor — so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."
Coming Soon…
• WEEK 3 - “The World That would Have Been: Paradise Lost”
• WEEK 4 - “Good News of Great Joy: The Kingdom at Hand!”
VersusThe American Dream
-vs- The Kingdom of God
