Luke 12:15

The first weekend of this year, I shared with you the words that the Lord had impressed upon me at the end of 2008 as we were coming into a new year. I believe the Lord was not only speaking to me personally but also to us as a church. I believe that the Lord is speaking them just the same now as He was a few months back. Those words are simplify and focus.

We live in an environment here in America of great wealth. After nearly 233 years as a nation, we have experienced a significant increase in power, prosperity, and prominence. We, as a people, have become the strongest and wealthiest nation in the world. Many attribute that strength and wealth to our capitalistic economic system. There is no doubt that this has played a large role in the wealth and strength we have.

However, one of the observable weaknesses of capitalism is that when it is met with commercialism, it produces consumerism, which leads to materialism. I know that’s a lot of isms, but capitalism, when met with commercialism, produces consumerism, which brings materialism. It has come to a point in our nation where many people equate personal happiness with the purchase and consumption of material goods. They believe that if they have these possessions, then they are happy.

Jesus, in Luke chapter 12, verse 15, warns us with His exhortation to beware of covetousness. This is an important message because the Bible reveals that covetousness is idolatry. It is a sin that the Lord will judge. In fact, turn in your Bibles to the book of Colossians. If you are in the book of Luke, turn to the right, just after the book of Philippians in the New Testament and just before the book of 1 Thessalonians.

Colossians chapter 3 contains important teachings from the Apostle Paul. In verse 5, he instructs believers to put to death covetousness in their lives because it is a form of idolatry. The wrath of God will be poured out upon those who engage in such behavior, as stated in verse 6. Paul further explains in verses 7 and 8 that as followers of Christ, we are to lay aside these sinful behaviors. We must put off the things we once walked in and instead walk in a new manner.

In verse 7, Paul reminds us that we once lived in these sins, but now we are called to put off all of them, including anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy communication from our mouths.

The word that Jesus uses in Luke chapter 12, which is translated in our English Bibles as "beware," carries a much stronger meaning in the original Greek. It means to actively guard against or to keep watch over. This word is in the present imperative tense, indicating that we are to be vigilant. We should view covetousness as something that aggressively seeks to overtake us, like an enemy trying to take control of our lives. Jesus instructs us to be on guard and to stay away from covetousness.

Paul, in Colossians chapter 3, also uses strong language when he tells us to mortify covetousness or put it to death. Covetousness is so destructive that we must actively guard against it.

If we ever find it in our hearts, if we ever find it within the walls of our lives, we are to put it to death. We are to slay this wicked heart of covetousness, as we read here in the Scriptures.

The question that I have, as I've been reading through this over the last week and considering these passages, is how are we to react and respond in a world in which covetousness is often presented as a good thing? How are we to react in a world, the world that we live in, where everything seems to be oriented towards covetousness and pushing us in that direction?

Jesus tells us in Luke chapter 12 that a man's life is not measured by what he owns. It may have begun as a joke or even a rhetorical phrase, but you've all heard that saying: he who dies with the most toys wins. Although it probably started as a joke, this last week I looked through a couple of different etymology dictionaries trying to find the origin of that phrase and couldn't really find it. I'm sure it started as a joke or just a rhetorical sort of thing, and yet in our day, it's almost like a driving motto in America.

We live in a nation, we live amongst a society that is pushing us in this direction, where we're trying to get as much as we can, driven by the desire to acquire possessions. Jesus says that a man is not measured by the things that he possesses, and yet if you look at our own nation, which is very much oriented towards materialism, you might think that this is exactly how an individual is measured.

In the 1930s, an author and historian by the name of James Truslow Adams coined the phrase "the American dream." Yet by 2006, CNN found that 54% of Americans believed or considered the American dream to be unachievable. In the 75 years from Adams in the 1930s until now, it seems that the definition of the American dream has shifted and changed. Now, the American dream has to do with things, possessions, and materialism.

Every single week, I jump around from different news websites and various sources, from the Associated Press to Reuters, and whatever it may be, and oftentimes I go to Gallup's website.

You all have heard of Gallup, the Gallup poll, and they keep a regular daily tracking poll, trying to find the heartbeat of our nation. I looked at it again just yesterday morning, and Gallup's daily tracking polls reveal that when asked to evaluate life, 55% of Americans say that they're struggling.

I recognize that we are going through a difficult economic downturn, and it has affected probably many of you here in this room. Yet, as we sit here at 1675 7 Oaks Road during the 9:30 service, we are among the richest people in the world. If you consider the wealth of the 6.5 billion people that live on this planet, you are in the top 5%. Although you may not feel very wealthy, especially if you look at the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the NASDAQ, or the S&P 500, you might think that you have lost 40% of your wealth, as some have. Still, we remain in the top 5% of the wealthiest people in the world.

Gallup reveals that 55% of Americans say that they are struggling as of yesterday morning, and 74% are dissatisfied with the state of the nation. In a nation founded upon the principle of the pursuit of happiness, only 40% say that they are happy. Think about that for a moment. Our founding documents, the Declaration of Independence, speak about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In a nation founded upon the ideal of the pursuit of happiness, only 40% say that they are happy.

We do recognize that happiness is pretty much a subjective feeling that changes from individual to individual. Yet, in our nation, just looking at the polling data, happiness also seems to be an elusive sort of thing for many people. As I consider this, I wonder: could it be possible that in our pursuit of happiness, we have been pursuing it in the wrong way, looking for it in the wrong place?

We have people singing songs like "I can't get no satisfaction." It seems that if you are looking for satisfaction in this world, that song is as true today as it was when it was written years ago. Many people are pursuing happiness and looking for happiness.

And yet, most people in America today say the American dream is unachievable. The idea of the American dream has shifted to a completely materialistic focus. When Adams coined the phrase "the American dream" and defined it back in 1931, it had nothing to do with materials or possessions. It had everything to do with opportunity and liberty.

Here we sit, 75 years later, and things have changed in the hearts and minds of so many people. They say, "I just don't think it's achievable." This sentiment is especially strong among people under 30 years old. While 54% of Americans as a whole say the dream is unachievable, it rises to as high as 65% among those under 30. Most people feel they cannot get any satisfaction, cannot get ahead, and cannot attain what they believe they are supposed to have. Man measures himself by what he has, and we see this across our entire nation.

Just this last week, there have been protests in front of the AIG building in New York. Most of us in this room this morning probably agree that the amount of bonuses given seems to be gross excess. Yet, we must admit that if we take some time to examine it, the rage, anger, and outrage that so many people feel is built upon covetousness. I know that for some of you, this may be hard to hear, but it is true. If we sit down and honestly consider it, that rage that arises when we look at something someone else has and say, "That's not fair," is indeed covetousness.

Jesus tells us to beware of covetousness and to guard against it. Why? Because Paul reveals to us that it is idolatry. We may think of ourselves as progressive, having moved far from those ancient peoples who carved images out of rocks and gold and bowed down to them. We believe we are not like those primitive peoples; we have progressed. However, we still have idolatry, and it manifests in the form of covetousness. Paul tells us that this form of idolatry will be judged, and the wrath of God will be revealed against such covetousness.

And that's why Jesus would say, "Beware of covetousness." He would remind us of this very important truth: a man's life is not measured by the abundance of the things that he possesses. Yet, it would almost seem that the mindset in America today truly is, "He who dies with the most toys wins." We've probably all seen that bumper sticker: "He who dies with the most toys still dies."

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon asks, "What's the point of amassing all of this wealth to myself if, after I die, it's handed over to a fool?" In Solomon's case, this was absolutely right. When he died, his kingdom was taken over by his son Rehoboam, and ultimately, everything that Solomon had amassed was divided, leading to the nation splitting apart.

Could it be possible that we, as Americans, in pursuing happiness, have been pursuing it in the wrong way? In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount a verse that you've likely read before, and many of you have probably memorized: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

Now, what was Jesus talking about when he said "all these things"? Just prior to that, he said, "Take no thought" or "Do not be anxious" or "Do not be worried" about what you're going to wear, what you're going to eat, or where you're going to sleep. After all, these are the things that unbelievers or Gentiles seek after and worry about. But you have a Father in heaven who knows the things that you have need of, so don't be anxious about those things. Instead, he says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added."

If you would turn back to Colossians chapter 3 once again, we looked there at Paul's exhortation to you and me that we put to death covetousness in our lives because it is idolatry and it shall be judged. Prior to that, in Colossians chapter 3, verse 1, notice what the apostle tells us: "If you be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God."

Verse 2 says to set your affection on things above and not on the things of the earth. Jesus says to seek first the kingdom of God. The Apostle Paul tells us to seek those things which are above and to set our affections upon those things that are above, not on the things of the earth.

King David, back in Psalm 62, verse 10, says, "If riches increase, set not your heart upon them." Essentially, if riches increase, do not trust in them. This is what King David conveys in Psalm 62:10.

We, as a people, especially here in California, are learning this lesson in a significant way. From 1999 to 2006, the amount of wealth in the United States grew exponentially. Many in our nation were recipients of that great wealth, including the state of California. As of 2006, California was the fifth largest economy in the world. At the height of the economic boom, the state took a lot of the money that was invested in pensions and various benefits available to people and invested those funds. Their mindset mirrored that of the people in Isaiah's day, who believed that tomorrow would be like today and much more abundant.

Consequently, those in our state took all this money and gambled it; they invested it. Then everything fell apart. By September of 2008, it seemed that everything had bottomed out and was headed toward a significant crash. Now, as we sit in 2009, the fifth largest economy in the world, the state of California had a $42 billion deficit last year. We are headed toward another $8 billion deficit this year, just in the month of March already.

Many of you know that come April 1st, April Fool's Day, the sales tax will increase by a full percentage point to help balance the budget and fix the problem. We are all so very excited about this. If we had listened to David's counsel, we may not be in this predicament. If riches increase, do not trust in them. Why? Well, look at what Solomon says in Proverbs.

Flip over to Proverbs 23, verse 5. Jesus says to seek first the kingdom of God. Paul instructs us to seek those things that are above and to set our affections upon them. David reminds us that if riches increase, we should not set our hearts upon them. Solomon, in Proverbs 23, verse 5, states that riches certainly make themselves wings and fly away like an eagle toward heaven.

In his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Timothy chapter 6, verse 17, to charge those who are rich in this world not to be high-minded nor to trust in uncertain riches. I believe that the Apostle Paul would speak this to you and me as well, because we are among the top 5% of the wealthiest in the world. He would charge us, as the rich of the world, not to be high-minded nor to trust in our uncertain riches. Rather, he says to trust in the living God, who gives us all things richly to enjoy.

Yet, we as a people are often oriented toward covetousness. We look at what other people have and think it is not fair that they possess those things. This leads to feelings of upset and anger, and we desire what others have. Such attitudes can cause division, wars, and fights. James tells us, "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires to attain?" We lust and we have nots.

We live in a nation that desires so much, with a strong urge to acquire. We observe the divide between the haves and the have-nots. Since 2009, there has been a kind of class warfare that we haven't seen in about 40 years, and it is reaching a boiling point. I have been surprised as I watch different news trends and read through articles over the last several weeks, noting the height of anger building and building. It feels as if we are on the verge of a blowout.

I mentioned the passage in Isaiah chapter 19. One of the things that reveals the Lord moving upon a nation in judgment is civil disorder and civil unrest. We are just on the verge of it here in our nation. I believe that one of the things pushing it more than anything, pushing that pressure cooker to pop, is covetousness. That's why Jesus would say, "Beware of covetousness. Don't allow it to overtake you."

Yet the enemy, our adversary, the devil, has oriented all of advertising in such a way to draw us in, to make us want more and covet more. Have you ever noticed that? All of advertising causes us to realize, "Boy, I don't have that. I need that." I don't just want it; I need that. The ShamWow or whatever it may be. I don't know. I have to have it.

Last week, in our study of Stephen and his testimony before the Sanhedrin in Acts chapter 7, you remember that Stephen mentioned Abraham. We took a few minutes to consider the life of this man, the patriarch of the faith, the father of our faith, Abraham. In Hebrews chapter 11, we read of Abraham in verse 9 that he, when he was here in this life, recognized that he was a pilgrim. He was a sojourner on this earth.

Hebrews 11:9 states, "By faith, Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise." Verse 10 says, "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker was God." Abraham, when he lived his life here on this earth, moved where God had called him to go. Yet he lived like a pilgrim there and looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Down in verse 13, we read, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises but having seen them afar off and were persuaded of them. They embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. Truly, if they had been mindful of the country...

From whence they came out of, they might have had an opportunity to have returned. But now, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Wherefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city.

Abraham, an example to us in the faith, believed God, and it was accounted unto him as righteousness. In following God by faith, he left everything that he had in this world and lived his life as a sojourner, recognizing that this life was not all there was. He understood that there was another life that God had prepared for him, not here upon the earth, and so he searched for and looked forward to that life, that city. As a result, we read that God was not ashamed to be called his God.

In Matthew chapter 6 and also in Luke chapter 12, Jesus says to His disciples, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." For this very reason, we are told by God to seek first the kingdom of God. The things that you treasure, the things that you desire, that's where your heart will be.

Several years ago, a gentleman who was in the Marine Corps told me that the Marines have a saying: "Where the head goes, the butt follows." It's kind of a martial arts sort of thing. If you take someone's head and push it down, they're probably going to go down. But in Christ, I have a saying for you: "Where the head goes, the heart follows." So, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. That's why Paul would tell us to set our minds on things above, not on the things of this earth.

Paul also said in the book of Philippians, chapter 3, verse 18, that many walk, of whom he has told us often and now tells us even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ. There are many who live in such a way that broke Paul's heart and caused him to weep on their behalf because they were enemies of the cross of Christ. Those who are friends of the world, James tells us, make themselves enemies of God. Paul goes on to say...

In verse 19, it says that those who walk in this way, making themselves enemies of the cross of Christ, have their end as destruction. Their end is destruction, whose God is their belly, whose glory is in their shame, and who mind earthly things. The person whose attention or focus is set upon earthly things, the things of this world, is told in the Bible that their end is destruction and that they are enemies of the cross of Christ.

But you and I are to be different. Verse 20 states, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from whence we also look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned into His glorious body according to the working whereby He is able to subdue all things unto Himself."

You see, there is to be a contrast between the believer and the unbeliever. There should be a difference. If you were to look at the outward appearance of the believer versus the unbeliever, you may not see a huge difference between them. However, there is to be a difference of heart, and there is to be a difference in the things that motivate them. The unbeliever has made themselves an enemy of God, an enemy of the cross of Christ, because they are a friend of the world. But the believer is a friend of God. They are citizens of heaven, and therefore they should look expectantly for the coming of the Lord and His kingdom, desiring His coming.

Knowing that when He comes, we are going to be transformed in the twinkling of an eye, in an instant, this corruption will put on incorruption, and this mortality will put on immortality. When we see Him, we will be like Him. How many of you are really looking forward to that? Let me tell you, recently I've really been looking forward to that. I hurt my back a few months ago when we were moving. I've been going to the chiropractor for the last couple of weeks, and boy, I'm really looking forward to that incorruption.

There is to be this contrast. The focus and attention of the enemy of God, as spoken of here in Philippians chapter 3, is upon their belly. Their God is their belly, and their focus is upon their own appetites—not just for food, but for whatever.

This world has much to offer, but their glory is in their shame, and they mind earthly things. We live in a nation that promotes this as the ideal, rather than something that should be died to and crucified. Our society is so focused on wealth, prosperity, power, and prominence, especially regarding those who did it their way—who pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps. They are the masters of their own destiny, the captains of their own ships. We look at that and exalt it as the good thing to do. They mind their own belly; their God is their belly. They focus on earthly things.

However, our citizenship is in heaven, and we are to be different. How are we different? God has given the believer a new heart. Five hundred years before Jesus came, the prophet Ezekiel said in Ezekiel 36:26, "I will give you a new heart, and I will place a new spirit within you." Why do we need a new heart? Around the same time, the prophet Jeremiah stated in Jeremiah 17:9 that the heart of man is desperately wicked. We need a new heart.

Jesus said in the Gospels that our wicked heart desires the things of this world. Out of our wicked heart come evil thoughts and evil actions, and we lust for what this world has to offer. In one of the letters of John, we read that all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, and this world is passing away. Everything that worldly men are invested in, attracted by, gravitating towards, and holding onto is going to burn anyway. Every bit of it. Peter tells us it will burn and melt with fervent heat, along with all the elements.

Yet, man is so drawn to those things and desires them. As the church, as the body of Christ, we are to be different. Back in Luke chapter 12, after Jesus warned us to beware of covetousness, He told us that a man's life is not measured...

By the things that he possesses, he speaks to his disciples and those listening to him that day a parable. In Luke chapter 12, verse 16, he spoke a parable unto them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully." He thought within himself, saying, "What shall I do because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?" He said, "This will I do: I will pull down my barns and build greater barns, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.'"

But God said, "Thou fool! This night your soul shall be required of you. Then who shall those things be which you have provided?" So is he that lays up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God.

Four things I want us to consider in this parable. The first thing is there in verse 16, where we read that the ground brought forth plentifully. It's interesting to me how quickly we attribute success to ourselves. If a person is successful, if they've received great gain, then it's their own doing. They did it; they were the captain of their ship.

In the book of Isaiah, chapter 10, we read about the king of Assyria. God had prepared the king of Assyria and the nation of Assyria to be those that would judge the children of Israel. God was going to use the king of Assyria, and their sole purpose was to judge the children of Israel. However, the king of Assyria didn't see it that way. He didn't recognize God's hand or God's doing.

In Isaiah chapter 10, verse 13, we read about the king of Assyria. It says, "For he says, 'By the strength of my hand have I done this, and by my wisdom, for I am prudent. I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed the treasuries. I have put down the inhabitants of valiant men, and my hand has found the nest of the riches of the people. As one that gathers eggs that are left, I have gathered.'"

All the earth was still; there was none that moved a wing, opened a mouth, or even peeped. The king of Assyria, in his pride and arrogance, with a cavalier mindset, declared, "I have done this. My hand has done this. My wisdom, my prudence, all of my power has brought about this great victory." But that's not really the case.

In verse 15 of Isaiah chapter 10, God said in a prophecy to the king of Assyria, "Shall the axe boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw magnify itself against him who saws with it? As if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself as if it were not wood." God says, "Who do you think you are? Do you really think that you could do all of this in your own strength? Do you really think it was your hand and your strength that brought this about?" As a result of that, in Isaiah chapter 10, verse 16, God said, "Assyria, I am going to judge you after I'm done with you."

Here in Luke chapter 12, we read in a parable that the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. It wasn't the rich man; he had a fruitful field. He was blessed to have a fruitful field. However, notice the second thing we see in this parable: how many personal pronouns are used. In verse 17 of Luke chapter 12, he thought within himself, saying, "What shall I do because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?" He said, "This will I do: I will pull down my barns and build greater barns, and there will I bestow my fruits and my goods. I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have much goods.'" Ten times this man says "I" or "my." Obviously, his attention was upon himself and his life, and as a result, he was self-deceived.

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians chapter 10 to take heed when you think you stand, lest you fall. Paul, in Galatians chapter 6, says, "If any man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself." This man was self-deceived because he believed that all of this was his doing and for his pleasure.

Everything that he had was his own doing and for his pleasure, and he was not thankful to God. One of the indictments we see repeatedly given by God to the children of Israel in the Old Testament is that God says, "I've blessed you, and yet you've never been thankful."

We see that it was the ground that brought forth the fruit plentifully. This man was self-deceived, only looking at himself. The next thing we see is God's response in verse 20. The man said, "I'm going to build bigger barns. I'm going to bring as much stuff as I can in there so that I can be at ease, that I can eat, drink, and be merry." But God said, "You fool! This night your soul shall be required of you. Then whose shall these things be which you have provided?"

In God's eyes, the rich man was a fool because he was more focused upon his goods and his life than on his God and the next life. It is a danger that we can also become more focused on this life and the goods that we have than on the God who gave us those goods and the life that He has prepared for us.

Not only do we see in this parable that the ground brought forth the fruit plentifully and the man's self-deceived thought that it was all his doing and for his pleasure, but we also see God's response to that. Look at Jesus' application in verse 21. Jesus applies this parable to you and to me: "So is he that lays up treasure for himself and is not rich towards God."

Now, this may offend you, but I want you to remember beforehand that this is Jesus' word and not the word of Miles. Notice what it does not say. It does not say you're a fool if you lay up treasure, because I think you can establish a very good biblical basis for saving. However, if you're more focused on your savings, your goods, or the things that you have, and you're not rich towards God, you're not invested in the bank of eternal securities. The Bible says you're a fool because you're only focused on the temporal, and all of this is going to burn. It is foolish to set your mind only on the things of this earth and not on the things of God.

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. We need to take heed and beware of covetousness because covetousness is destructive. Jesus goes on to say, after He gives this parable, down in verse 22, "Therefore, because of all this, I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, neither for your body, what you shall put on. The life is more than food, and the body more than clothing."

Consider the birds of the air. They neither sow nor do they reap, which neither have storehouse nor barn, and God feeds them. How much more are you better than the fowls? Which of you, by taking thought, or which of you by worrying, can add one cubit to your stature? If you then be not able to do that thing which is the least, why do you take thought or be worried about that which is the rest?

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin, and yet I say unto you that Solomon, in all of his glory, was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which is today in the field and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

This last week, I spent most of my time studying from home as I was taking care of Ethan. I was able to study at the house, and one of the days, in fact, it was Friday, I was sitting in my living room and looking out the window at my beautiful garden of weeds in my backyard. How many of you can relate? In my beautiful garden of weeds, I was looking at them and saw my giant, slobbery St. Bernard dog running around. I also saw these little black and yellow finches, and one of them was sitting on one of the weeds, sitting on this dandelion, and he was eating the seeds from the dandelion.

Consider the birds of the air. Have you ever done that? Have you ever just taken the time and done what the Scripture says and considered the birds of the air? As you're toiling and spinning and worried about all the things that you have, trying to get this and trying to get that, have you ever taken a moment to sit down and just consider the birds of the air? They don't plant, or reap, or gather into barns.

That bird didn't plant those weeds. If he did, I'd have words with him, but he didn't plant those weeds. He didn't plant that so that it would grow and bring forth seed, nor does he gather all that stuff into barns and keep it. He wakes up in the morning, goes, "Boy, I'm hungry," and he finds his daily bread. God gives him his daily bread. God takes care of the birds of the air. Are you not much better than they? You are the children of God.

He also says to consider the lilies of the field. Just around this time of year, every year along the freeways, we have these golden poppies sprout up. I guarantee you, if you go and walk around by those golden poppies, you won't hear them saying, "I did it." Consider how they grow. They don't toil and they don't spin, and yet I say to you that even Solomon, in all of his great glory, was not arrayed like one of them. If God clothes the grass, which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, will He not so much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

And seek not what you shall eat or what you shall drink, neither be doubtful in mind. For all these things do the nations, or the Gentiles, seek after, and your Father knows that you have need of these things. But rather seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Look at verse 32: "Fear not." Reach over and underline that in your neighbor's Bible. Fear not! You see, there's a lot of people right now in America, because of everything that's happened, especially over the last six months, who are very fearful and very afraid. What was it? Seventy-four percent of Americans are concerned with the state of the nation. People are afraid, and yet God says, "Do not be afraid. Fear not, little flock." Why? For it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Don't be afraid.

He gives a very interesting application in verse 33: "Sell what you have."

Give alms. Give to the poor. Provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not, where no thief approaches, neither moth corrupts. For where your treasure is, there your heart shall be also.

His application is to lay aside all this stuff. Don't be focused upon this life. Set your affection on things above. Seek first the kingdom of God. Be mindful of heavenly things. Store up your treasures in heaven, where the thief does not come in and steal, the moth does not come in and destroy, and rust does not destroy. Store up your treasures in heaven, because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Perhaps you're wondering, why are we going through this? Why aren't we in the Book of Acts? Well, of course, as Josh mentioned in the announcements this morning, beginning tomorrow, we're going to have this big 38 cubic yard dumpster here. It's kind of a step of faith. I don't know if anybody's going to put anything in it. Perhaps nobody will; perhaps we'll have to empty it three or four times in the week. I don't know, but for the next week, it's available for you.

It's an opportunity. An opportunity to do what? To lay aside every weight that's been ensnaring you, that's been holding on to you. To purge out the old leaven. It's basically springtime, so maybe a little spring cleaning. An opportunity to lay aside those weights, to put away the strange gods that are among us.

I mentioned this at the beginning of the year. In Genesis chapter 35, God spoke to Jacob and said to him in verse 1, "Arise and go up to Bethel." What does Bethel mean? The house of God. God wanted to fellowship with Jacob; He wanted to commune with him. So He says, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there, and make an altar unto God, the God that appeared unto you when you fled from the face of Esau, your brother."

So Jacob went and said to those in his household and to all that were with him, "Put away the strange gods that are among you and be clean, and change your garments."

Arise! You see, God spoke to him and said, "Arise, you go up to Bethel." He recognized that God was speaking to his whole household, and so he said, "Let us arise, and we will go up to Bethel, and I will make there an altar unto God, the God who answered me in the day of my distress and was with me in the way in which I went."

They gave unto Jacob all of their strange gods which were in their hands and all their earrings that were in their ears. Jacob hid them under the oak which was at Shechem. They brought all those things and threw them away. They purged out the old leaven; they got rid of the strange gods. They laid aside every weight that was holding on to them. Why? So that they could enter into a more fuller fellowship with God. They would be released from those things and be able to simplify their lives, focusing on the one thing that matters.

Notice the result: "And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob." You see, God was glorified; the fear of God was glorified among the nations when the people of God obeyed and did what God had told them to do.

This is just an opportunity for you to lay aside any of those things that maybe you've accumulated. Perhaps you've even measured yourself by all of these things that you have. Maybe you have a collection of something; I don't know. You've measured yourself by saying, "Look at all these things I have."

In 2004, I was able to move to Germany, and just about everything I owned fit in two bags. Just the other day, I was pulling into my garage, looking around, and wondering, "Where did all this stuff come from?" What a difference a few years makes! Sometimes we just acquire all these things.

You're probably like me; when I go through stuff, it drives Andrea nuts. I think, "I'm probably going to need this. I'll keep it; I'll just put it in a box." How many of you have boxes full of things you're probably going to need someday? You don't need it, and neither do I.

Maybe you need to do like I have to do and say, "Andrea, would you throw this away for me, please? Don't let me see it; just throw it away." Sometimes you just have to do that. Maybe you have a shoebox of junk or a junk drawer in your kitchen filled with all this stuff.

You know what's amazing? The thing that I found when you get rid of stuff is that it is freeing. All of a sudden, it's...

Gone! It's like, oh wow, thank you. It drives Richard nuts, but my office is always a mess. It's because I have all these papers that I think I probably need. However, I need to be able to just let it go and say, "You know what? I don't need this."

You see, God desires to set us free. He wants to set us free from the things that bind us up and hold on to us. This week, you have an opportunity to get rid of it, lay it down, let it go, and find out if it truly is as freeing as the Scriptures say it is. Just as Jesus said in Luke chapter 12, perhaps you're wondering why the church is having a rummage sale. Well, verse 33 says, "Sell what you have and give to the poor." If we have things that are worthy to be sold, then we'll just keep them and put them over there to sell next Saturday. You can come down and buy new junk, but I encourage you not to. We'll let all the other people in the community come and take it.

Beware of covetousness, church. The enemy, our adversary the devil, holds the advertising industry. He is the prince of the power of the air, and he has done a very good job of deceiving our nation and our people into this whole materialistic focus. Yes, capitalism is great, and private enterprise is wonderful, but when it shifts into a consumer mindset where happiness comes from what I can get and what I have, it's not scriptural. God desires to set us free, and His word shows us clearly how He does that. Christ has come to set us free. Amen!

So come on out and dump your junk. Let's stand and pray. Father, I do love Your word. Lord, You desire fellowship and relationship with us, and You reveal to us in Your word just how that is possible through Your Son. Thank You for making the way open and for setting us free. Lord, I pray that we would take responsibility and lay these things down so that we would be free to follow and serve You with a zealousness and passion that we've never experienced before.

The difference is that they would recognize that You are our life, and that our focus would be upon You, Lord. I pray that we would be freed from the entangling entrapments of this world.

Lord, I ask that You would help me to continually set my affection upon You and to trust You for my daily bread, just as the birds of the air do. Help us to trust You to be the one who clothes and takes care of us, just like the flowers of the field.

For, Lord, Your Word makes it very clear that those who trust in You experience a blessing. Teach us to trust, we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.