Well, we can turn back to our reading in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 12.
You can read again at verse 15, where Jesus said,
! He said to them,
Take care and be on your guard against all covetousness,
for one's life does not consist in the abundance of one's possessions.
We're going to think about the whole of this section from verse 13 to verse 34,
but it's really based on that verse, verse 15,
where it speaks about the reality that our lives are not just based on the abundance of one's possessions.
It's not about all that we have in the sense of possessions.
Because tonight we come to give thanks to God in a particular way,
as we think of the service this evening being a harvest thanksgiving service.
But many of us, I'm sure, who gather here this evening,
we're not involved directly in the harvest, as it were.
We're not depending on what we produce for ourselves,
like maybe a generation in the past did.
So maybe we lose sight of the very fact that we have so much to give thanks for.
We expect to have food on our table.
We take it for granted that we'll have clothes in our homes and the warmth that we enjoy.
We can become distracted in many ways.
But we want to focus this evening on that sense of thanksgiving,
recognising that we have so much to give thanks for,
that maybe it's not directly our labours that are provided for us,
but the labourers who are out there working day and night,
that we might have food on our table and clothes to wear in the homes that we have.
So we come this evening to give thanks to God for all that we have.
And perhaps when we think of harvest thanksgiving,
we can maybe think of particular people who come to our mind.
We think of farmers.
We think of those who produce crops in our own nation,
and indeed many nations of the world,
how much we have on our tables before us that come from all corners of the world.
So we think of farmers.
We think maybe of those who go to sea and take goods to us,
or catch our goods fishermen,
and all of those involved in that kind of work.
They have to deal with all kinds of things in their work.
And many of them are wise to their surroundings.
They're wise to what's going on.
And that's what we're looking at here this evening in many ways,
is this parable of the rich fool.
He was obviously someone who was good at what he was doing,
producing a harvest.
He was wise in that.
And he was seeing a harvest that was great,
and he was wanting to multiply this and to build bigger barns.
But in it all, he lost sight of what was truly important,
and that was his soul.
And I guess in many ways,
we can lose sight of what's truly important in life as well,
especially when we take things for granted.
And we often need reminding,
and reminders given to us to have our focus right.
So as we give thanks,
it always leads us to come back to thanksgiving to God.
But when you think of those involved in harvest,
whether it's farmers, fishermen,
they've often got wise sayings,
just little sayings that they have,
that they've learned and seen over their years of experience.
A farmer once said,
an empty barn needs no roof.
Well, that's just looking at,
if there's no harvest,
there's no point in a roof in the barn.
We need to have a harvest for that to be so.
A fisherman once said,
there's a time to fish
and a time to dry the nets.
So there's a time for all things.
And there's wisdom in all of these things.
But when you look at the harsh reality
of these kinds of lifestyle,
you wonder,
well, where is their hope?
Where is their hope when it comes to
the harvest that's going to come
or the catch that they're going to get?
It's often true that they could say,
well, it's a life,
a profession of hope.
We hope we have a good harvest.
We hope we get a good catch.
But as we were thinking about recently,
the word hope,
it has those two different ways of looking at it.
We can have a worldly hope
where it's based on the uncertainty of things,
or we can have it when it's looking to the Lord.
Because when we're saying,
when our hope is that we have a good catch
and it's in a worldly sense,
then there's no room for thanksgiving.
When our hope is in a harvest
without thinking that God's providing it,
there's no room for thanksgiving.
But our hope is in the Lord.
And so tonight,
as we come and give thanks for all that we have
and all that we enjoy,
our hope is in the Lord who provides,
whether it's in plenty or in need,
it is still the Lord who provides.
And it's the Lord who gives us wisdom.
And when you look in the Bible,
and especially maybe the book of Proverbs,
you find there many wise sayings.
One of my favorites is this,
and it ties in with what we're looking at this evening.
Proverbs 30, verse 8 and 9.
Give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much
and disown you and say,
Who is the Lord?
Or I may become poor and steal
and so dishonor the name of my God.
There's wisdom in these words.
Give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
And that's really what Jesus is teaching here
in this parable of the rich fool.
He's reminding us of what's important.
He's teaching us of the wisdom
or lack of wisdom that we can find
in having too much or too little
and reminding us of what is truly important.
You see, this passage is reminding us
it's not all about having
an abundance of possessions.
It's about having a perspective
on what is important in our lives.
A harvest thanksgiving
almost immediately assumes
that there is plenty to give thanks for.
But it's not always the case.
For some, this may have been a good year
and there's much to give thanks for.
But for others,
it's been a difficult year.
A year of sorrow.
A year of hardship
in many different ways.
Maybe we struggled
to make ends meet.
But do we not still
have a reason to come
and thank the Lord
for his goodness to us?
That he is the one
who never leaves us
or forsakes us.
And so Jesus is here teaching
in this parable
about verse 15 there.
Take care and be on your guard
against all covetousness
for one's life
does not consist
in the abundance
of one's possessions.
He's teaching
to be careful
whether it's in our plenty.
And then as he goes on
to speak to them
as we go on in this chapter
not to be anxious
in our need
but to remember the Lord
who is able to bless
and especially to bless
with a treasure
that never fades.
So we want to look
on these things this evening.
Too much, first of all,
distracts.
Too much takes our eyes
of the Lord.
So here in chapter 12
Jesus is teaching
to this large crowd.
He's preaching to them.
Thousands have gathered.
They're trampling over
one another.
He's preaching the gospel
to them.
He's preaching
of the importance
of their soul.
He's preaching
of the importance
of their need of God
to fear the one
who kills the soul,
the devil.
He's talking about there
to fear the judgment,
to fear all of these things,
to see the seriousness
of life.
But in the midst of this
there's an interruption
from a man.
And that's what we see
in verse 13.
And this interruption
you'd think
he's got an important
question to ask
on eternity
or his soul
or what is important
in life
but we see
what is important
to him
with the thing
that he asks
of Jesus.
Someone in the crowd
said to him,
Teacher,
tell my brother
to divide the inheritance
with me.
After all
he's been hearing
the most important
thing he has to ask
of Jesus
is to settle
this dispute
so that he can
have more.
So that he can
have his inheritance.
Here he is
listening to Jesus
preach
on the most
important thing
in life
his soul
and this is
what is important.
But how easy
it is
to be
distracted
away
from what is
the most
important thing
and not just
our own soul
but the soul
of others
around us.
All that matters
to this man
is self.
his own
prosperity.
He's after
his inheritance.
He's after
what he wants
that he thinks
will fulfill
his life.
And that's
what he brings
to Jesus.
So he's looking
for more.
But when you
ask yourself
this evening
what kind
of harvest
have you
had
this year?
Have you
managed to
get all
that you
wanted?
Are you
thankful
or are you
deciding
more?
You see
it's easy
for us
to end up
like this
man.
To get so
distracted
away from
the important
things in the
gospel and
to think
about
ourselves.
To put
ourselves as
number one.
Are we
thankful
or are we
deciding more?
We have to
be careful.
And this
goes right
back to the
beginning of
the scriptures.
You think
about Adam
and Eve
in the
garden.
They had
everything
that they
needed.
All the
trees in
the garden
were theirs.
Bar one.
there was
one that
they were
told not
to touch.
What did
they do?
They weren't
content until
they would
have that
one as
well.
That's the
kind of
parable that
Jesus is
teaching here
as he
teaches of
the rich
fool.
As he
goes on to
explain about
the one
who had
plenty and
was building
bigger barns.
Never
content.
Always
wanting
more.
And when
you look
at the
rich
fool
produced
plentifully
what did
he start
saying in
verse 18?
I will
do this.
I will
tear down
my barns
and build
larger ones
and there
I will
store all
my grain
and my
goods
and I
will say
to my
soul
you have
ample
goods
laid up
for many
years.
Relax
eat
drink
and be
merry.
You see
the word
I
is all
that we
see there.
He's got
his own
plans.
His life
is the
abundance
of one
one's
possessions.
And he's
thinking
about himself.
But what
does the
Lord say
to him
in verse
20?
But God
said to
him
fool
this night
your soul
is required
of you
and the
things you
have prepared
whose
will they
be?
This
man
is a
fool.
And so
are we
fools
if that's
what we're
putting
first.
The
abundance
of our
possessions.
Psalm
107
the last
verse
verse 43
let all
the wise
take note
and learn
the Lord's
love
does not
cease.
The wise
take heed
of the
Lord's
love.
the fool
just
looks
to
himself.
So we
have to
be careful
of the
abundance
of good
things that
we have
that we
don't lose
sight of
what is
truly
important.
A
preacher
called
George
Truitt
in
America
in the
early
1900s.
He was
quite a
famous
preacher
in his
time.
And he
was
alongside
all kinds
of different
people
ministering
around
Texas.
Texas
was quite
a wealthy
place
at the
time.
The oil
had started
flowing and
there was
so much
money and
wealth in
that place
at the
time.
And he
got invited
along to
a very
wealthy
man's
home in
Texas.
And they
enjoyed a
meal together
and after
the meal
the host
led George
outside and
he started
looking around
and showing
him all
that he
had.
He
pointed in
one
direction
and there
was the
oil wells
that were
producing
the oil
at that
time where
his wealth
was coming
from.
And he
said 25
years ago
I had
nothing.
Now all
that you
see is
mine.
He looked
in another
direction
where herds
of cattle
were and
bragged
they're all
mine.
He looked
another
direction and
looked to
the fields
that were
full of
grain.
that's
all
mine.
He
looked in
the last
direction
and saw
the forest
behind him
and says
that's
all mine
too.
And he
paused
expecting
George
through it
to have
something
to say
to him
in a way
of
congratulations
on making
so much
wealth
for himself.
But instead
George put
his hand
on his
shoulder
with one
hand and
pointed up
towards the
heaven
with the
other
and he
said to
the man
what do
you have
in that
direction?
And the
man's
head hung
and he
confessed
I hadn't
thought
about that.
He had
everything as
he looked
around.
Plenty
of wealth.
In his
own eyes
everything he
needed.
But the
most important
thing
was missing.
What did
he have
in the
heavens?
He was
a fool
too
because he
had no
consideration
of that.
So as
we think
of all
that we
have
we have
much
to give
thanks for.
Let us
not lose
sight
of the
Lord.
Let us
not lose
sight
of our
soul
that is
so precious
above
everything
else.
Too
much
distracts.
But as
you go
on in
this we
see too
that we
could think
too little
can leave
us in
despair.
And Jesus
turns his
focus now
to his
followers and
especially
the disciples
after he's
explained
this
parable to
them as
he spoke
in this
parable
to them.
In verse
22 down
to verse
34 it's
headed there
do not
be anxious.
so the
opposite
problem
of having
too much
is worrying
that we've
got too
little.
You see
greed can
never have
enough
but worry
is afraid
it will
never have
enough
either.
Greed can
never have
enough
worry is
afraid it
will never
have enough.
And so
worry is
something that
can come
quite naturally
to us.
We think
we're
anxious
about
our
harvest
we're
anxious
about
what
we have
we don't
have
enough
we're
struggling
and when
you think
of the
disciples
here we
know that
they had
left
everything.
In Mark
chapter 10
verse 28
Peter said
to Jesus
we have
left
everything
to follow
you.
So they
had left
behind so
much and
they didn't
have a lot.
They wandered
around village
to village
town to
town
sometimes
going
hungry.
But what
Jesus says
to them
is do
not worry.
Do not
worry.
It's easier
said than
done isn't
it if we're
struggling.
Do not
worry.
But Jesus
here reminds
them why
they should
not worry.
We can
give thanks
for all the
Lord has
given us in
the past
year.
And can
we honestly
say that
God
has failed
us.
Is there
a point
where you
say God
let me
down.
We can
probably say
it of
ourselves
in the
sense of
I have
failed
the Lord.
But can
we say
the Lord
has failed
me.
We might
find ourselves
in situations
where we
don't
understand.
We find
hard.
But the
God
that we
read of
in the
scriptures
he
doesn't
fail
us.
Because
he says
I will
never
leave you.
I will
always
be with
you.
And so
as you
go through
verse 23
down to
verse 34
Jesus is
here explaining
reasons we
have not
to worry
not to be
anxious.
In verse
23 it
says for
life is
more than
food and
the body
more than
clothing.
Jesus is
saying here
do not
be
anxious
because
life is
so much
more than
this.
It's not
all about
what you
eat or
what you
wear or
all of
these
things.
That's
not what's
important.
Don't
be anxious
about that.
Then in
verse 24
he says
consider
the ravens
they neither
sow nor
reap.
They have
neither
storehouse nor
barn and
yet God
feeds them.
Of how
much more
value are
you then
than the
birds?
God
views his
people as
so important
as so
precious to
him.
You are
much more
valuable to
him than
all the
birds.
And so
he's saying
do not be
anxious.
I care
for you.
I love
you.
And then
he speaks
about our
lives.
In verse
25,
which of
you by
being anxious
can add a
single hour
to a
span of
life?
If then
you are
not able
to do a
smaller thing
as that,
why are
you anxious
about the
rest?
We cannot
add to
our lives.
We worry
about our
lives,
maybe worry
about getting
older.
All of
these things
can cause
anxiety.
But God
is saying
do not
be anxious.
You cannot
change that.
You cannot
add to
your
life span,
but he
is in
control.
So we
trust him.
Then it
goes on
in verse
27.
He speaks
there of
the lilies.
Consider the
lilies,
how they
grow.
They
neither
toil
nor
spin.
Yet
I tell
you,
even
Solomon
in all
his
glory
was
not
arrayed
like
one
of
these.
The
Lord
has
so many
precious
things in
this world.
He says
consider the
lilies.
Look at
the
lilies.
How
beautiful
they
are.
And
how
precious
we
are
to
him.
These
lilies
have a
glory
to
them.
And
the
Lord
is
saying
do
not
be
anxious
because
when
you're
trusting
in
me
you
have
a
glory
that's
mine
as
well.
And
he
goes
on
then
to
speak
of
the
care
that
he
takes
in
verse
28.
But
if
God
so
clothes
the
grass
which
is
alive
in
the
field
today
and
tomorrow
is
thrown
into
the
oven
how
much
more
will
he
clothe
you
or
you
of
little
faith.
Is
that
us?
Are
we
those
of
little
faith?
Are
we
trusting
!
God
who
provides
for
us
to
clothe
us
to
feed
in
all
of
these
things.
Then
in
verse
30
he
says
for
all
the
nations
of
the
world
seek
after
these
things
and
your
father
knows
that
you
need
them.
God
knows
everything
that
we
need
and
he
provides
he
will
give
it
to
us
as
we
need
but
he
gives
it
to
us
as
we
seek
his
kingdom
first
verse
31
instead
seek
his
kingdom
and
all
these
things
will
be
added
to
you.
So
he's
reminding
us
here
to
trust
him.
It's
not to
say
that
we
get
everything
that
we
desire
but
that
he'll
give
us
what
we
need.
If
you
read
Alistair
Begg's
online
daily
reading
today
was
a
great
reminder
in
the
midst
of
Thanksgiving
!
Habakkuk
chapter
3
and
he
quoted
verse
17
and
18
from
Habakkuk
chapter
3
which
says
though
the
fig
trees
should
not
blossom
nor
fruit
beyond
the
vines
the
produce
of
the
olive
fail
and
the
fields
yield
no
food
the
flock
be
cut
off
from
the
fold
and
there
be
no
herd
in
the
stalls
yet
I
will
rejoice
in
the
Lord
I
will
take
joy
in
the
God
of
my
salvation
as
the
beg
went
on
to
say
this
on
that
verse
Habakkuk
was
imagining
a
situation
that
would
amount
to
great
devastation
for
an
agricultural
society
no
fruit
no
fruit
produce
yields
flocks
or
herds
meant
a
completely
broken
economy
and a
chronic
shortage
of
food
yet
Habakkuk
says
that
even
if
confronted
with
that
scenario
our
greatest
concern
should be
neither
pestilence
nor
plague
but that
the work
of God
would be
revived
ultimately
Habakkuk
said
he would
be found
singing
trusting
the
sovereign
work
of the
Lord
the
God
of
salvation
was
all
he
needed
for
joy
it
doesn't
depend
on the
abundance
of
great
possessions
but that
our joy
is in
the
Lord
and that
he is
the one
who has
blessed
us
maybe
we feel
a sense
of fear
and
anxiety
about
the
future
about
what
lies
ahead
but
even
in
that
we
don't
want
little
to
leave
us
in
despair
but
to
see
that
God
cares
and
God
knows
so
he
says
do
not
be
anxious
so
too
much
can
distract
too
little
can
leave
us
despairing
but
thirdly
in
this
we
see
that
God
gives
us
what
we
need
he
gives
us
what
we
need
as
Jesus
rounds
off
this
section
he
does
by
reminding
us
what
is
of
greatest
importance
and
should
be
our
greatest
delight
in
life
to
be
part
of
the
kingdom
of
God
fear
not
it
says
in
verse
32
little
flock
for
it
is
your
father's
good
pleasure
to
give
you
the
kingdom
he
gives
what
we
truly
need
the
fool
who
wanted
to
build
bigger
barns
his
soul
was
required
of
him
the
one
who
is
anxious
we
can
have
a
sense
of
despair
and
lose
sight
of
God
but
Jesus
here
is
teaching
us
keep
our
eyes
on
what
is
important
fix
our
eyes
on
him
and
his
kingdom
because
that
is
the
most
precious
thing
of
all
and
he
goes
on
to
describe
it
in
the
way
of
our
treasure
he
says
in
the
middle
of
verse
33
that
there
are
money
bags
that
do
not
grow
old
with
a
treasure
in
the
heavens
that
does
not
fail
where
no
thief
approaches
and
no
moth
destroys
so
we
have
something
that
God
is
able
to
give
and
it's
not
the
abundance
of
possessions
that
counts
it's
this
treasure
in
heaven
but
he
leaves
them
with
a
challenge
in
verse
34
where
your
treasure
is
there
will
your
heart
be
also
and
so
where
is
our
heart
where
is
our
treasure
tonight
are
we
looking
for
the
abundance
of
possessions
are
we
anxious
in
little
things
or
are
we
seeking
first
the
kingdom
of
God
that
adds
everything
else
for
us
where
your
treasure
is
there
your
heart
will
be
also
David
gives
us
a
great
lesson
in
Psalm
37
about
this
and
he
says
in
verse
3
set
thou
thy
trust
upon
the
Lord
and
be
thou
doing
good
and
so
thou
in
the
land
shalt
dwell
and
verily
have
food
delight
thyself
in
God
he'll
give
thy
heart's
desire
to
thee
thy
way
to
God
commit
him
trust
it
bring
to
pass
shall
he
there
is
wisdom
for
us
trust
the
Lord
do
good
delight
thyself
in
God
trust
him
he'll
bring
it
to
pass
as
we
give
thanks
to
God
for
a
harvest
as
we
give
thanks
to
God
for
all
that
we've
enjoyed
from
his
hand
in
this
past
year
let's
not
be
distracted
by
too
much
let's
not
be
anxious
in
too
little
but
let
us
trust
the
Lord
let
us
continue
to
do
good
for
he
will
provide
delight
ourselves
in
God
he'll
give
our
hearts
desire
commit
our
ways
to
him
he'll
bring
it
to
pass
let
us
do
that
as
Proverbs
said
give me
neither
poverty
nor
riches
but
give me
only
my
daily
bread
otherwise
I may
have
too
much
and
disown
you
and
say
who
is
the
Lord
or I
may
become
poor
and
steal
and
so
dishonor
the name
of
God
Lord
give us
our
daily
bread
for that
is what
we need
and we
find that
as we
seek
the
kingdom
of God
and
everything
else
will be
added
to
us
let
us
pray
Lord
our
gracious
God
we do
thank
you
that
you
are
a
God
of
abundance
you
could
give
us
the
cattle
on
a
thousand
hills
and yet
you
give
us
what
we
need
and
so
help
us
Lord
that
our
desires
would
not
be
for
an
abundance
of
great
possessions
but
instead
that
we
would
just
keep
praying
Lord
give
us
our
daily
bread
help
us
to
be
satisfied
with
all
that
you
give
and
all
that
we
have
for
you
are
a
God
who
never
fails
us
too
much
could
distract
us
too
little
could
leave
us
anxious
but
our
daily
bread
will
keep
us
looking
to
the
kingdom
of
God
where
we
find
everything
else
added
to
us
so
Lord
teach
us
in
all
of
these
things
give
us
your
wisdom
that
we
would
not
be
the
fool
who
seeks
to
build
bigger
barns
but
that
we
would
not
be
overly
anxious
either
and
so
we
would
turn
away
from
you
in
either
of
these
ways
that
we
would
fix
our
eyes
on
Jesus
looking
unto
him
so
hear
our
prayers
!
pardon
our sins
is all
we ask
in his
precious
we're
going to
conclude
by singing
to God's
praise
in
Psalm
4
the
Scottish
Psalter
version
Psalm
4
Psalm
bestowed by thee, more gladness I have found than they even then when corn and wine did most with
them abound. I will both lay me down in peace and quiet sleep will take, because thou only me to
dwell in safety, Lord does make. We'll sing these verses to God's praise. We stand to sing.
Who will show us any truth? Is that which can we say?
Let all thy tantrums shall I, Lord lift us away.
Upon thy heart is so tidy, for gladness I have found.
And they even when corn and wine did most with them abound.
I will both lay me down in peace and quiet secret day, because thou only me to dwell in safety.
Lord does make.
Now may grace, mercy and peace from God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore. Amen.