Bible Study September 13, 2012

Hey Gang,


We continue this week in our study of Apologetics with our final series of lessons entitled The Case for The Christian Life. This week we consider our lives in light of eternity and will be challenged to consider how much GREED is really a part of the Christian Life. Could greed be a good thing?

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“The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind.” – Gordon Gekko

What is Greed?

• The Bible say that it is a desire for what we don't have.

Can greed be good? What does greed give? What does greed take away?

• Most important incentive for people to work hard, get a good education, start a business, or invest in a company. Live a prosperous – comfortable and full life. ----Root cause of stealing, hoarding, plundering and treason. Alan Greenspan told congress in 2002 that “infectious greed” was the current cause of the business crises. Bank leaders were embellishing balance sheets and falsely inflating stock values. They were creating a false sense of security.
• A motivation for more.
• Temporary satisfaction.
• No contentment.

Doesn’t John 10:10 tell me to enjoy life’s abundance?

• Human nature tends to value the wrong things in life: to eat, drink, and be merry – things, without eternal worth.
• Should I feel guilty for enjoying life here on earth, is that bad? – If we place God first rather than the accumulation of wealth, then we will use whatever He allows us to have, no matter how little or much, to glorify Him.

Where does wealth fit in to the Christian life?

• All from God and all for the glory of God – we should sow generosity – help the poor (riches in heaven).
• Is it wrong if I worry about money? – Jesus tells us that we should not be anxious to accumulate wealth because however much we obtain, it will not prolong our lives.
• Is it wrong to horde what I’ve earned and accumulated? – It becomes a picture of where we put our trust – focus – value and treasure.
• Is there a balance between wise planning for the future and generous living now? – Our focus should be on Godly living – not on living an easy life. A person’s life that’s caught up in what he owns is not rich toward God.

Our lesson this morning is pretty clear that Greed is a problem! Ephesians 5:5 says, “For a greedy person is really an idolater who worships the things of this world.” Simply stated, a lust for possessions and a life in Christ cannot coexist. A person can have one or the other but not both. Either we love God or we love money.


In this week’s lesson we continue to make our case for the Christian life. As a Christian apologist we should be able to explain to others why accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the best of all possible choices. In today’s lesson we will consider the Christian life in light of eternity. If you do, there are only two choices – to lose or to win.

In the parable of the Rich Fool, we learn what life is not and that the pursuit of the greedy is a lose-lose situation.

I. SEE WHAT LIFE IS NOT – LUKE 12:13-15
The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 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.”


Most of us will divide our parent’s estates. How can we make that a loving time rather than a family feud? How can we push greed out of it?

• When two brothers tried to draw Jesus into an argument over inheritance He responded with a valuable life lesson. “One’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.” The late philosopher, Eric Fromm, divided people into two categories. There are those who add themselves up in terms of what they possess, and there are those who use themselves up in a process of being. The Scripture makes it very clear that there is more to the Christian life than gathering stuff.

Why do we act as though stuff can fulfill us?

• We have all heard the Shakespearian phrase, “All’s well that ends well.” Unfortunately, many people today are so plagued with a myopic view of the moment that they never consider much of anything beyond their immediate circumstance. This leads to misguided values and poor choices. What can we say about a society where people often camp out in front of a store in order to be the first to purchase the latest toy or gadget? The plight of consumer debt in our country certainly gives testimony to how much value we place on stuff.

Do we need to provide an inheritance for our children or will this make them greedy?

• I am reminded of a story I read about Charles Francis Adams, a nineteenth century diplomat that had promised his son they would go fishing. He later wrote in his diary – “went fishing with my son today, we didn’t catch many fish, it was kind of a wasted day.” Come to find out, his son, also kept a diary and entered this, on the same day. “Went fishing with my father today, it was the most wonderful day of my life.”
• The greatest inheritance we can give our children is a living relationship with God and doing His work.

II. A LOSE-LOSE SITUATION – LUKE 12:16-21
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “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. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 “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?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”



What was the rich man’s dilemma? Why do you think he tried to solve it like he did?

• Wealth, small barns, work holism, greed, or what?
• Waste and self indulgence seemed more his goals than wise financial management.
• “You can’t take it with you” is a familiar saying that most of us have heard. Jesus drives this point home in this second text, Luke 12:16-21, by reciting a parable. The story is about a farmer whose dilemma is finding a way to store the abundance of his crops. His intent was to store the bounty of his harvest and take life easy. Jesus called him a fool for failing to consider that his life could end at any moment.

So, this parable is not a commentary against wise financial planning – why not?

• The man’s intent wasn’t merely to provide for his later years.
• He held on to his wealth, storing it away so he could stop working and waste away his days.
• The man’s outlook on life and the behavior that resulted put him in a lose-lose situation.
• His physical life ended and his pursuit was wasted.
• The man assumes that his life consists in the abundance of things he possesses – his crops.

Was God’s answer to the man harsh or helpful? How do we tell the difference between being greedy and providing for our retirement or long-term care?

• The man was a fool because he looked at life against the wrong backdrop; he concerned himself only with the things of this world.
• He devoted all his time and energy to getting ahead in this world.

How do we build riches toward God? Where is your treasure? (1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19)

• The most effective way to overcome greed is to begin using what we have for the good of others. – 1 Timothy 6:18 says, “Be rich in good works … give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others.”
• No, we cannot take it with us. Nor should we want to. When we find that we are blessed beyond our own needs it gives the Christian opportunity to share Christ with others through the ministry of serving and giving. When we do this, we begin to understand that our true identity is in Christ and not in how much stuff we accumulate.

Bottom line: If your plans for the future focus on self and not on God and others – you are no different than the rich fool.



In Philippians, Paul gives us an example of a win-win situation in the Christian life. Let’s read.



III. A WIN-WIN SITUATION – PHILIPPIANS 1:21-26

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.



Complete Paul’s incredible statement: “living is Christ and dying is gain.” How do we show that in daily life?

• Paul’s purpose was bigger than himself.
• He lived his life with a concern for God and others.

If your motto is “living is Christ,” what changes might you need to make?

• No matter what happened, Paul would win. He could die and it would be a blessing, because he would be with Jesus forever. He could live and continue serving God, discovering new things about Him. Paul knew that there were people that could still benefit from his life.
• Paul’s attitude and life epitomized life lived in light of eternity.

How does one live life in light of eternity? What do you want to accomplish before you die?



In Philippians, the Apostle Paul brings the Christian life into sharp focus.

• For 2,000 years Christians have revered the life of Paul, not for accumulating great wealth or fame but for using his unique skills and talents for the advancement of the gospel of Christ. The Apostle Paul lived his life with a kingdom focus. His heart’s desire was to be with Christ, but not before he had exhausted every effort and opportunity to serve Christ here on earth.

When you get to where you are going will you be where you want to be?

• The Christian life allows us to approach eternity with clarity and confidence. Eternity is not something that we stumble upon at the end of life. It is the desire of our heart, the focus of our life and ministry here on earth.

Make the kingdom of God the focus of our life and God will do 2 things:

1. Provide “all things necessary for life and body – Luke 12:31

2. Give you “the kingdom” or all things necessary for the soul. – Luke 12:32

“The thing about money, Bud, is that it makes you do things you don't want to do.”               – Lou from Wall Street

Don Robinson once wrote, "One of the weaknesses of our age is our apparent inability to distinguish our needs from our greeds." I would have to agree with this, wouldn't you? Be in prayer this week as we examine our own lives in light of eternity - Do you have everything you need? 

See you on Thursday! 

In His Love, 

David