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Good News: A RICH Life! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the October 8, 2023 sermon, “Good News: A RICH Life”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 12

“This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:21 (NIV)

Today I continued a series from the gospel of Luke as we gaze deeply into God’s Word to find the good news of Jesus shared with us by Luke the physician.  As Jesus is teaching about the kingdom of God, He is interrupted by a guy that wants Jesus to solve a family financial dispute.  Jesus seems to see through the heart of the matter and addresses the issue of greed by telling a story of a man whose crops produced an abundant harvest.  The man thought he had it made and could take life easy but God proclaims the man is a food because he only stored up for himself and was not rich toward God.  As we look at the surrounding context of this story, we discover what it looks like from God’s perspective for us to live a life that is . . .

  • Righteous: — (Luke 12:1-3)

    • Jesus begins this chapter of Luke with a warning regarding the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.  In fact, He will state elsewhere that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees you will never enter the kingdom of God.  Being rich toward God requires that we live a righteous life, not by our own power, might, or ability but by the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus.

  • Instructed: — (Luke 12:22-31)

    • After telling the parable of the rich fool, Jesus goes on to instruct His disciples about why storing up for ourselves without being rich toward God is a foolish thing.  The instruction that we need when it comes to using wisely all that God has entrusted us with centers around Him as the source of all good things.  Being rich toward God requires that we live an instructed life so that we know and do what pleases Him.

  • Compassionate: — (Luke 12:32-34)

    • As Jesus continued instructing His disciples, and us, He made the application of our contentment leading to a compassionate sharing with those in need.  When we learn to value people more than we value the stuff of this world, we learn to seek that which benefits others even at our own expense.  Being rich toward God requires that we live a compassionate life that makes all that we have available for God’s use.

  • Humble: — (Luke 12:35-40)

    • Jesus fully understands the humility required to serve others, especially if we think we ought to be in charge.  In fact, Jesus showed us the full extent of His love, and His humility, when He loosened His grasp on heaven to come to earth as the sacrifice for our sin.  His life was lived as a servant of all even to the extent of washing the feet of His disciples.  His expectation for us is that we would humble ourselves to become a faithful servant that is watching for the return of our Master.  Being rich toward God requires that we live a humble life so the He is the One who lifts us up to be seated with Him in the heavenlies.

Today, how will you live a RICH life?