Whose Will They Be? • Luke 12:13-21 • Sunday, August 3, 2025

The True Measure of Wealth: Reflecting on What Really Matters

In a world obsessed with material possessions and financial success, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters. We often find ourselves chasing after wealth, believing it will bring us security, happiness, and fulfillment. But what if we've been measuring wealth all wrong? What if the true measure of riches isn't found in our bank accounts or the size of our homes, but in something far more valuable?

Let's consider a powerful parable that challenges our conventional notions of wealth and success:

A rich man's land produced an abundant harvest. Faced with this surplus, 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 parable cuts to the heart of a fundamental truth: our lives do not consist in the abundance of our possessions. The rich man in the story was solely focused on accumulating more and more, believing that his wealth would guarantee him a comfortable and worry-free future. But he failed to recognize two crucial realities:

1. Our time on earth is limited and uncertain.
2. Material possessions have no lasting value beyond this life.

The parable ends with a sobering question: "The things you have prepared, whose will they be?" It echoes the wisdom found in Ecclesiastes, reminding us that all our earthly accumulations will eventually be left behind, possibly to those who haven't worked for them and may not use them wisely.

So, if material wealth isn't the true measure of riches, what is? The answer lies in being "rich toward God." But what does this mean, and how can we achieve it?

Being rich toward God isn't about the amount of money we give to charitable causes or religious institutions. Instead, it's about how we invest our most precious resource: our time. Our lives consist of a finite number of moments, and how we choose to spend those moments reveals what we truly value.

Here are some ways we can be truly rich toward God:

1. Prioritize time in God's presence: Regularly set aside time for prayer, meditation on Scripture, and worship. This isn't about checking off a religious duty, but about cultivating a genuine relationship with our Creator.

2. Engage deeply with God's Word: Don't let your Bible collect dust on a shelf. Dive into its pages, wrestle with its teachings, and allow its truths to transform your heart and mind.

3. Invest in Christian community: Spend time in fellowship with other believers, encouraging one another and growing together in faith.

4. Serve others with love: Look for opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ in your community, serving those in need and sharing God's love in practical ways.

5. Share your faith: Be willing to have meaningful conversations about your beliefs, sharing the hope you have in Christ with those around you.

When we invest our time in these ways, we store up treasures in heaven – treasures that moth and rust cannot destroy, and thieves cannot steal (Matthew 6:20). We build a legacy that extends far beyond our earthly lives, impacting generations to come.

Consider this powerful truth: No amount of money can buy a second of time. Once a moment has passed, it's gone forever. This realization should motivate us to use our time wisely, investing it in things of eternal value rather than solely pursuing temporary pleasures or material gain.

As we reflect on the true measure of wealth, we're reminded of the immeasurable value God places on each of us. The apostle Paul beautifully expresses this in Ephesians 1:7-10:

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ."

God's investment in us is nothing less than the life of His own Son, Jesus Christ. Through Christ's death and resurrection, we have been redeemed – bought back from sin and death at an incalculable price. This demonstrates the immense value God places on our souls, far beyond any earthly treasure we could accumulate.

In light of this incredible truth, how should we respond? By recognizing that our souls – and the souls of those around us – are of utmost importance to God. When we align our priorities with God's, we begin to see the world and our place in it through a different lens. We start to value what God values, investing our time and resources in ways that have eternal significance.

As we close, let's challenge ourselves with these questions:

- How am I currently measuring wealth and success in my life?
- Am I investing my time in pursuits that have eternal value?
- What changes do I need to make to become truly "rich toward God"?

Remember, you will live forever – the question is where you'll spend that eternity. By investing in your relationship with God and allowing His love to flow through you to others, you can build a legacy that extends far beyond your earthly life. You can become truly wealthy in the eyes of God, storing up treasures that will last for eternity.

May we all strive to be rich in what matters most, using our time wisely and valuing what God values. In doing so, we'll discover a richness of life that far surpasses anything this world can offer.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Paul Pett

(Content generated by PulpitAI from sermon transcript)