Luke 12:13-21

Luke 12:13-21

1. Let us mark what a solemn warning our Lord pronounces against covetousness.
2. Let us mark what a withering exposure our Lord makes of the folly of worldly-mindedness.
3. Let us mark how important it is to be rich towards God.

"Let us pray for a thorough confidence in God's superintending providence over all our worldly affairs, and God's perfect wisdom in all His arrangements concerning us. If we have little, let us be sure that it would be not good for us to have much. If the things that we have are taken away, let us be satisfied that there is a needs be."

"Poverty has many disadvantages. But riches destroy far more souls than poverty!"

"When can it be said of a man, that he is rich towards God? Never until he is rich in grace, and rich in faith, and rich in good works! Never until he has applied to Jesus Christ, and bought of him gold tried in the fire! (Rev. 3:18.) Never until he has a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens! Never until he has a name inscribed in the book of life, and is an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ! Such a man is truly rich."

Questions:

1. Brothers and sisters, the advertising we are bombarded with in our world seeks to do one thing: make us discontent and want what is being offered. What are areas in our lives in which we are tempted to be discontented?

2. Ryle encourages us to pray for rich people due to the temptation of riches, do we do this? But this begs another question: are we those deemed rich? If you are living in the West like I am, this is very likely true. Are we aware of the dangers of the wealth we have and that more souls are destroyed by riches than poverty?

3. To be rich toward God is to be rich in grace, faith, and good works. Are we rich toward God? And why?