Gtcotr/ss122825
This morning we will be reading from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 16.
There are currently no trillionaires in the world. However, last month just over 75% of the Tesla shareholders approved a pay package totaling 1 trillion dollars for it’s CEO, Elon Musk. His current net worth is estimated to be only about 700 billion. Soon he may become the world’s first trillionaire.
Mathematically speaking, a trillion dollars is a lot of money. If you had a trillion dollars, you could spend one million dollars every day and it would still take you 2700 years to spend it all. Can you imagine what it would be like to be that rich? What would you do?
I bet I know … Jesus said you’d do pretty much the same thing you’re currently do with the $5 you have in your pocket.
What we do with what we have is what we will do with more. (Luke 16:10) This principle doesn’t only apply to money, it applies to our time, our talents, and the opportunities we are given.
About 1000 years before Christ, that’s approximately 3000 years ago, the richest and wisest man in the world did something unexpected. Instead of simply enjoying his wealth and trusting his own wisdom, King Solomon humbled himself, lifted his voice, and declared his dependence on the God of creation.
As well, King Solomon asked God to hear the prayers of everyone who sincerely called on Him; forgive their sins; and heal them. You can read Solomon’s prayer of dedication in 2 Chronicles, chapter 6.
When King Solomon finished praying, God answered him by sending fire down from heaven and consuming the sacrifices. Those in attendance were overwhelmed by the presence of God and began proclaiming the mercies of God. It’s hard to find someone God has not helped and blessed at some point in their lives.
You see these ladies … they all have children … and without clean water them and their children will get sick and some of them will die?
God supplied this life-giving water to them yesterday in the name of Jesus … they too have a testimony about the goodness and mercy of God.
These aren’t just nameless, faceless people … they are moms and dads, sons and daughters, real people with real lives living in a real world with real problems and real opportunities. When they give their lives to Jesus, their sins are forgiven and they are just as saved as just as welcome into heaven as you are. Every person has the potential to hurt and to be happy just like you do.
Money does not exempt us from problems and the lack of it does not mean God cares less.
Something unexplainable happens when an individual, rich or poor, humbles themselves and turns things they cannot manage over and into the hands of God. And, something tragic happens when they don’t.
God answered Solomon’s prayer that day and the word God spoke at that time is still one hundred percent true today. God told Solomon:
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
This word is truth and truth knows no time barrier. This truth is just as true today as it was 3000 years ago. Jesus made a point of this truth by giving an account of two men in:
Luke 16 NLT
19 ¶ Jesus said, “There was a
certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who
lived each day in luxury.
20 At his gate lay a poor man
named Lazarus who was covered with sores.
21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
·
The poor man’s problem is not the rich man’s
fault. Don’t read what is not said – this is observation … Jesus is
communicating a greater truth.
·
Jesus does not say the rich man was a bad
man, only that the rich man did not feel the need to trust God.
· Spoiler alert – they both die!
22 “Finally, the poor man
died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died
and was buried,
23 and his soul went to the
place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with
Lazarus at his side.
24 “The rich man shouted,
‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his
finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
25 “But Abraham said to him,
‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and
Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.
26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’
·
This is observation, not causation -
causation will come in a moment.
· Eternal decisions must be made before we die …
27 “Then the rich man said,
‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home.
28 For I have five brothers,
and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses
and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’
· That’s what the rich man knew – repentance and turning to God while on earth is the key to eternal peace and comfort.
31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
What is the difference between these two men?
In the eyes of men it was the wealth, station or status of life, but in the eyes of God it had nothing to do with money, power or position.
Notice the rich man was not charged with ill will or criminal activity through which he gained his wealth. Jesus didn’t charge him with anything untoward. Yet upon his death the rich man went to a place of eternal torment … not for what he had done, but because of what he had failed to do. Simply put, the rich man failed to acknowledge and include God in his life. He left God out.
Late in the conversation between the rich man and Father Abraham, we find the reason he went to the place of torment.
Luke 16:30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ ”
Repentance requires humility. It’s humbling to admit we have been wrong or that we need forgiveness or help, especially when we seemingly have everything we need or all we want. Elon Musk’s wealth cannot purchase him one moment with God or one second of eternal comfort … why? Because it’s free to all, even Elon. Just let something we cannot manage come along and see how quickly we realize we need help.
The rich man wanted his brothers to know they needed to acknowledge and embrace God. Perhaps the rich man was concerned because maybe they were also wealthy and men of pride, power, and position.
Some of us are destined and fortunate to be rich in this life, while others will live poorly. It may not be your fault but there may be something you can do about it.
I have seen good people suffer injustice and unjust men go free. I have seen rich men in prison and poor men on juries. Both experience joy and pain.
The lesson I take away from this account is that I cannot depend on the wealth of this life to sustain me in the next. God resists the proud but He gives grace to the humble.
Humility is an attitude of the heart. Humility is not weakness and it is not just being quiet or refraining from being braggadocios.
Humility is recognizing and accepting one’s dependence on God – in this life and in the life to come. When we do that, it is easy to repent and turn to Him.
What would it take for you to humble yourself and pray? What would it take for you to seek God’s face and turn from depending on your own wisdom and resources to depending on Him? What would it take for you to repent and turn to God?
Jesus said: “If they won’t listen to the Bible, (Moses and the prophets), they would not listen if someone was to come back from the dead.” Of course He was talking about Himself and His future resurrection.
I want to invite you to participate with me and our Church family in a humbling experience in 2026 based on 2 Chronicles 7:14.
I am going to encourage us all year to pray instead of complaining. Complaining is unfruitful and annoying to others. Cursing the darkness does nothing, we must light a lamp.
It is my hope that when you first have that thought or first hear yourself begin to complain about someone or something, you will instead hear a still small voice reminding you to pray first. Then if you just have to say it – say it but end the sentence with, “and I prayed for them …” lol
Then - - - I want to invite you to:
First Monday Prayer, Fasting, and Praise
·
Fast one meal on the 1st Monday of each month in 2026
·
Take those few minutes and humble yourself in prayer
o
Your Family
o
Our Church
o
The Nation
·
Join me at 6:30pm on campus or online for 30 minutes of Praise,
Worship and Prayer
