This is the manuscript of the seventh sermon in the "7 Deadly Sins" series.
Scripture Reading:
Luke 12:15-21 NIV Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’ “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 whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Introduction
Well today we are coming to the seventh of the seven deadly sins in the list compiled by Pope Gregory I. We have one more sermon in this series and it is “The Deliverer from Sin”, and we know that’s Jesus. But that’s next week.
Let me remind you again that these seven deadly sins aren't specific sins but categories of sin that are attitudes that affect character and conduct, and they are continually condemned in Scripture. Let me also remind you that according to the Bible all sin is deadly, unless we repent, and the Lord forgives and cleanses us.
Romans 6:23 NIV For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The complete list compiled by Pope Gregory is
Pride
Anger (Wrath)
Envy (Jealousy)
Impurity (Lust)
Gluttony (Lack of Self-Restraint)
Slothfulness (Laziness)
Avarice (Greed)
We started with pride, which is the beginning of all sin, then we talked about anger which if not controlled is a sign of weakness, which can lead to personal harm, rob you of self-esteem, can impair your thinking or attitudes, and can lead to evil actions. Next, we discussed envy or jealousy which expresses itself as a covetous feeling toward another person’s attributes, possessions, or stature in life. Next was impurity or lust which we defined as a powerful desire, a craving, abnormal appetite, not only for physical but for spiritual satisfaction, an eagerness to possess or enjoy; unlawful desire of carnal pleasure; evil propensity; depraved affections and desires. Next was gluttony or lack of self-restraint which we said is the sin of excess and intemperance. It is unrestrained self-indulgence, and inordinate extravagance. Gluttony seeks to satisfy our senses and our greed while disregarding the needs of others. The sixth sin was slothfulness or laziness. We said that slothfulness is excessive physical laziness or the failure to utilize one’s talents. Slothfulness is avoiding work. Slothfulness is found in the workplace, schools, government offices, churches, everywhere, and we concluded that every one of us should always do our best. Maybe being slothful is more about our relationship with God. Jesus Christ has commanded us to be active and effective witnesses for him. We should work as though God were our employer.
Ephesians 6:7-8 NIV Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
Today, the last sin category on the list is avarice or greed.
Text: “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions’” (Luke 12:15 NIV).
Avarice much like the word slothfulness is not a word we use very often today. Instead, we use the word greed. Avarice the last of the seven deadly sins is related to the last of the Ten Commandments:
Exodus 20:17 NIV ““You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Coveting is the beginning of greed, which is the inordinate desire to grasp and possess material goods. It can lead to deceit, theft, envy, jealousy, murder, war, and selfishness.
“The Midas touch” has become a desirable virtue rather than a detestable and seriously sad sin. Many wish they had the “Midas touch.” but they forget that the moral of the fable was to teach foolishness of greed.
The story of King Midas is a famous bedtime story for children.
In the story, King Midas is known for his touch turning everything into gold. Midas was a wealthy king, but his greed for wealth led him to make foolish decisions. Midas realized the consequences of his wish and pleaded with Dionysus to take back his gift. Dionysus agreed to help Midas on the condition that he would learn from his mistakes. Dionysus instructed Midas to wash in the river Pactolus, which would remove the golden touch and restore his daughter, who he had turned to gold when he touched her along with everything else that he had turned to gold with his touch.
The moral of the Midas touch fable is that people should not be greedy because it can lead to downfall. The story teaches that greed can steal happiness and that people should be grateful for what they have.
Let me give you some examples of greed from scripture
Jacob wanted Esau’s birthright
Jacob offered to give Esau a bowl of stew in exchange for his birthright (the right to be recognized as firstborn) The birthright of the eldest male child in the ancient Near East conferred upon him the headship of the clan and a double share of the inheritance and Jacob wanted it.
Genesis 25:29-34 NIV Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
King Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard.
1 Kings 21:1-4, NIV Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.” But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.
His wife Jezebel got involved and this is what happened
13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.
Ananias and Sapphira held back money from the sale of land because of greed.
Acts 5:1-10 NIV Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
In our text for today, we have Jesus’ words from the introduction to the familiar parable of the rich fool who tore down his barns to build bigger ones—all because of greed. “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions”. Jean read the entire parable in our scripture reading this morning.
I. Greed usually means someone must suffer. Esau lost his rights as first born, Naboth lost his life, Ananias and Sapphira lost their lives.
A. Greed is based on expediency. Whatever it takes to make a dollar becomes all right. A criminal who traffics in illegal drugs believes only in caring for himself and his own comfort. He does not care about the lives that are destroyed or the thievery it takes for a junkie to maintain his habit.
People who sell alcohol seldom show concern for traffic victims,
broken homes, battered wives and children, or alcohol-related crimes.
B. Car thefts, burglaries, embezzlement, assaults, shoplifting, robbery, and most murders have their origin in greed. All of these crimes cause someone else to suffer.
Gambling can also be based on greed when the purpose is hoping to gain more with little effort. Although there are some who experience gambling as something rewarding and fun, it can become highly addictive and potentially ruinous. The Bible doesn't call gambling a sin as such, although the Bible warns against the love of money and get-rich-quick schemes.
1 Timothy 6:10 NIV For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
C. Suffering is caused by the cheating, lying, and the deceit involved in practicing greed. Con games are played on people, especially the elderly, and vulnerable every year. Law enforcement reports a growing number of older or more trusting Americans being taken in by con men.
II. Greed is a quest for more than just necessities.
A. There are at least five items we need in order to live a reasonably happy life.
They are food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and a means to get enough money to purchase the first four. Having the best-tasting food, the finest clothes, the nicest home, the nicest car, and the most expensive medical specialist is not necessary for living a full and happy life.
B. Advertising and marketing experts create desires for things we don’t need. The sleekest sports car is hardly a necessity. Jewelry, electronic equipment, sporting equipment, recreational vehicles, and brand-name clothes can all become traps of greediness. Technology is something that tempts me.
Jesus said in our text that “a man’s life does not consist in the
abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).
You remember what Jesus told Satan when he tempted him by showing him the kingdoms of the world?
Matthew 4:8-10 NIV Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
III. Greed is a sophisticated form of idolatry.
A. Most Christians would destroy a man-made figure of some god that was being worshiped. We do not believe in idolatry. Yet greed is a man-made god that commands our money, time, and we even sometimes sacrifice our families to it.
Some people will eventually give up friends, parents, spouses,
church, and Jesus Christ in the pursuit of possessions. A father will work on Saturday, Sunday, and late nights to have extra money for Christmas and will thus neglect his children and spouse. Some wives will push their husbands and husbands their wives to earn more money in order for them to keep up with friends or their own selfish goals.
Amos the prophet condemned wives who pushed their husbands toward greed. The same could also go for husbands.
Amos 4:1-3 NIV Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, “Bring us some drinks!” The Sovereign Lord has sworn by his holiness: “The time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks. You will each go straight out through breaches in the wall, and you will be cast out toward Harmon,” declares the Lord.
The picture is of indulgent and self-absorbed women, it could just as easily be a man, feeding their own appetites. It would have been bad enough if these women paid no attention to those in need. But they go further, they oppress the poor and crush the needy. They are not concerned for the welfare of their husbands. They only care for their husbands to provide them with drink. Furthermore, they are complicit in the injustice being perpetrated upon the poor of Samaria (Israel) by their husbands who are presumably the ruling class of Israel, who are using their influence to enrich themselves, rather than serving the best interest of their country. Rather than using their influence positively, their wives are full partners in perpetrating injustice. Now that is a real picture of greed.
Conclusion
The seven deadly sins that we have talked about these last two months rob us of the “good life.” They are subtle satanic lies that will destroy us. The good life is found only in Christ. God does not condemn these seven attitudes because he wants to spoil our fun. He forbids pride, anger, envy, impurity, gluttony, slothfulness, and avarice because these pursuits destroy life.
Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Almighty God, We have sinned against you, through our own fault, in thought, and word, and deed, and in what we have left undone. For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us so that we may serve you in the newness of life, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Sermon Audio
No comments:
Post a Comment