Bible Teaching

Calvary Temple Teaching Library

Covetousness Pt.5

Let's turn to Luke, chapter 12. We'll take a little more time here on this subject that is so pertinent to the hour that we're living in.

Everywhere we look we're being inundated with all of the external things that will finally make life worth living, that will finally satisfy you. This will end the quest for satisfaction. We're sold that [idea] every day from every side, and the Scripture says that godliness with contentment is great gain. Amen? No greater treasure; nothing will ever satisfy you but to be content in the presence of God, content with the knowledge of His love for you, content in the sovereign distribution of His graces. Those manifest themselves in the material realm, in the spiritual realm. You know, the graces of God, the sovereignty of God--He's given us all different gifts (callings and gifts). We all fit into the body differently. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, the uniqueness of who we are, and that's ordained of God. So many of us spend our whole life trying to be something that we're not instead of being thankful for what God has given us. Amen?

So we try to fill that void with the different ambitious endeavors, and if we can acquire this or that, that will then satisfy us. After the quest we finally obtain it, and we say, "Is that all there is? Is that all there is? Surely I thought that was going to do it!" For some of us, it's wealth. For some of us, it's different accomplishments in life in our vocation--"If I can finally get that corner office, that will do it." And you get the corner office and you're still not satisfied. There's still somebody over you telling you what to do. And you say, "Yes, but if I could become"--his name just went out of my mind; the computer guy--"[Bill Gates], then nobody would tell me what to do." Then you get a note from the IRS. And there's always somebody (right?) that you're going to answer to.

We've talked about that dilemma, and what we're really dealing with, when Jesus speaks here in Luke 12, verse 15, and He says, "Life does not consist of the abundance of things"--the material [things]; in our situation many times, the spiritual. It's amazing to me, being around so long in different churches, to see the ambition in churches. If I'm not in the worship group or if I'm not singing a solo or if I'm not playing an instrument, if I'm not somehow before the people, if I'm not teaching Sunday School--we want to promote ourselves. There's ambition and many are discontent, and because of that there's strife. There's nothing that causes strife in churches more than the music departments. People that want to receive their gratification, their fulfillment, in the Martha spirit (in what we're doing), and we need to learn to be content as Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus and imbibing that better part of the knowledge of God, the riches of hearing, "Well done, good and faithful servant." What do you think it's going to take today to satisfy you? For some of us it is a bigger bank account, we think. For some of us it's a nicer home. For some of the singles it's getting married. For some of the married, it's getting single [Pastor's humor]. You think that'll fix it--"Then I'll finally be happy"--and the Scripture makes it so clear to us that godliness with contentment is great gain. Our whole life is a quest to be like God and to be content in the process.

So I want to take that phrase and build on it a little bit this morning: being rich toward God. Are you rich toward God? You see, that's what's going to satisfy you. Are you rich toward God? In this pursuit, in the quest for godliness, Christlikeness, are you content in the process? Let me ask you a question this morning: Are you content in the progress? I don't know about you, but it's not fast enough for me. I am sick and tired, after thirty-seven years (somewhere in that area) of looking at myself through the mirror of God's Word and saying, "Is that all of the progress You've made?" But you know what? God is ordering my steps. I have to believe that. And you know what? I should be better off than I am right now, spiritually; I should be more spiritual than I am. And all of my failures, I look at and I think, What if I'd done the right thing there?--and all of the wasted pursuit. As the years start winding down, should Jesus tarry--I can think back on a number of occasions, thinking this as I was starting to get a little bit older. You don't think about it a whole lot until you get around forty, and you're over the hill, middle-aged. Then you start thinking, Well, I've got twenty-five good years left, and I've really blown it. I have not done in these last ten years what I should have done since I was thirty years old.

Thirty sticks out in my mind. Thirty years old was a big birthday for me; one that is probably most vivid in my thinking. I can still remember it because of this: I thought, Jesus began His earthly ministry at thirty, and in three years look what He did. What can I do for Jesus in the next three years? Some of you were around here when I was thirty years old. I worked hard for what I thought was the Kingdom of God, and we did a lot of stuff in three years. Those that were around here then, Steve and some others, they're still tired from what we did in those three years. And when the three years were up, we had accomplished a lot, and I was no more satisfied, because a few years later I began to realize that what was motivating me was not love of God but spiritual ambition, trying to fill that void of inferiority, insecurity, fear. Trying to somehow satisfy ego and pride, but in a religious way, in a spiritual way. The point that I want to make this morning for those of you that are on that same road: that lust can't be satisfied either. If you're redirecting your covetousness into the religious area, it won't satisfy you, because I'd achieved a lot and the world was there for my taking. That's when, as I've shared with you many times, the Spirit of God spoke to me as clearly as I've ever the heard the voice of God, out of Jeremiah 3: "I've brought you to a fork in the road. Choose the old paths." It changed my life. It changed many of yours. We began to look back and pursue godliness and to pursue contentment and to pursue a daily cross. At the end of any day I don't think I'm ever more satisfied than when I've died the most to self--the nights that I lie down and as I'm just dozing off, there was so much less of that day about me and more about Jesus and more about the family (the Body of Christ). Losing everything and yet possessing everything. That's the walk that God is calling us to, and we continually battle everything in our members that says, Don't believe; don't do it. Because all that's in the world is (say it) lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16).

We're being constantly bombarded, externally and from the sin that's in our members, to eat, drink and be merry, to say to our soul, "Soul, you've done a good job. Now take your rest; take your ease." Most of us here are not at that place where we've accumulated so much that we don't have to work anymore, but many of us are taking our ease. Most of us are here in an area that's very well off. Nobody here is in need of anything in this fellowship.

Chapter 12--let's get over there. I got off course; now I've got to see what I can do. I want to spend a little bit of time, and in this twelfth chapter--I'd like you to read this twelfth chapter this afternoon if you haven't already, and look at the context of these verses that we've been talking about and see the narrative of how Jesus began this twelfth chapter talking about the leaven of the Pharisees. And He says, "The leaven that I'm talking about is the hypocrisy." Now, if we're going to talk about covetousness, if we're going to talk about idolatry (and that's what covetousness is), we have to realize that the thing that's keeping many of us bound in our covetousness is our hypocrisy, the unwillingness to deal with who we really are--this compulsion to portray ourselves as more spiritual than we really are. And Jesus brings about the admonition for them to come into the light and to allow the revealing of their hearts. ". . . Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing [verse 2 of this chapter] covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known." If we're really going to be able to take a look at our hearts and answer the question, Is covetousness something that has a hold on me, you're going to have to come to the light and not worry about your image, because you see, that's what feeds this covetous spirit.

He goes on and He says, "The problem with you guys [Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees] is that you're afraid of men's faces. You're comparing yourselves by yourselves. You're always looking for status. You're looking to be esteemed of men." "And to be highly esteemed of men [He goes on in the sixteenth chapter and says] is an abomination with God." In other words, if you're high on men's list, you're low on God's. So those of you that are really proud of yourselves at how well you're able to fit into the world and be accepted, then maybe they don't know who you are, or maybe you don't know who you are. You see, many of us have lied to ourselves and said, "The reason I'm accepted here is that I'm just a hard worker. I'm a nice guy. I just treat everybody right, and therefore they all like me. They like my diligence, and they like how I hustle and how I'm able to make things happen. Because of that they respect me, and they give me the honor and the esteem." One of two things is happening. Either you don't know what they're saying about you behind your back, or you're one of them. If you're doing things by the spirit, according to the Word of God, if you are becoming the light that you should be and the salt that you are commanded to be, they're going to hate you. They hated Him; they're going to hate you. There is no fellowship between light and darkness.

Now, if we're coveting the praises of men, if we're coveting those positions, and we don't know it and we're living a life of hypocrisy, then you tell yourself this: Well, I'm just putting all of this light out, and they just really don't know who I am. I'll say it again: maybe you don't know who you are. "Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees." "Don't fear men," He goes on to say in this context--look, verse 5--". . . [But] Fear him, which after he hath killed [the body--has the power to kill the body] hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him." If we're going to deal with covetousness, we need to first of all deal with, Is there a fear of God in our lives? Because what it all comes down to, beloved, is contrasting where our real treasure is, when we deal with covetousness, because where your treasure is, that's where your heart is (what you really love). So we want to answer this question as we go on into this twelfth chapter: Is there a fear of God?

Those that come to God must believe that He is, and that He is a [say it] rewarder (Hebrews 11:6). If we believe that God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him, then what are we worried about trying to add to ourselves for if God is going to reward us? If God is alive, if God is a rewarder, then why am I trying to take to myself? You see, the Pharisees propagated God but sought success in their own strength, sought to elevate themselves. [They] couldn't follow the humility of Jesus in the teaching that said if you want to save your life, you have to lose it; if you want to increase, you must decrease; if you want to gain, you must give. So in this power of covetousness, can I ask you a question? Are you giving or taking? Are you seeking to become less or seeking to become more? Are you seeking to become the greatest among us by acquisition, by exaltation, by promotion, or by truly becoming the servant of all?

You see, this spirit of covetousness that I'm talking about is that very power that tries to promote ourselves (self-promotion). We always think about covetousness just in material things, and the spirit goes way beyond that, beloved. It has to do with position; it has to do with reputation and all of those other aspects of self-promotion. So Jesus, in the context of this, is saying, "You need to direct your fear to God. Stop worrying what men think about you. And if you will not confess Me before men, I'll not confess you before the Father which is in heaven." That's the Matthew passage (Matthew 10:32-33). The Luke passage says the angels of God, the messengers of God, but we're talking about the promotion before Father. Verse 9 brings some great weight to this thing, and it talks again about this spirit of covetousness, because to promote self is to deny God. We talked about that the other day, that really there is no greater slap in the face of God, as we look at the context of this. The Scripture says seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things will be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). Why are you taking thought for what you're going to eat or drink or for your raiment [clothing]? Your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things. Look at the ravens. They don't sow, they don't reap, and yet your Father feeds them. There's not a sparrow that falls to the ground that He's not aware of. Even the hairs of your head are numbered. If God is that intimately involved in our lives, then why aren't we satisfied? If we're discontent, then we're saying God is not just, God is not there, God doesn't care. Verse 9, "But he that denieth me before men [he that shames Me by saying, "I have to go provide for myself; I have to take care of myself because it's obvious my Father is not going to do it] shall be denied before the angels of God [or the Matthew passage, before the Father]."

Then starts this passage that we've been dealing with. Verse 13, "And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me." Jesus says in verse 15, ". . . Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Good contrast here; something that I wanted to speak toward. "Master, go talk to my brother, because I want more of the stuff." Can I ask you a question? When it comes right down to it, would you rather have the stuff or your brother? I can see some of you are taking a long time to think about that. We're not talking about a natural inheritance necessarily, but you know, take a little time and do a study on the inheritance of God. Do you know what that inheritance is? What is the inheritance of Christ Himself? It's the Body of Christ. We're called His inheritance and He is called ours. Now, it appears to me that some of us are forsaking this inheritance to go get more stuff. How much of our time and energy is spent up in the pursuit of things, this spirit of avarice, this covetous spirit, to the point of denying even our natural family, our responsibilities in the home, the fellowship that we have with the Body of Christ? If we're not careful, it's something that we can hide behind and call it--"Well, it's our responsibility. It's my responsibility to provide for my children." You have one thing that God tells you to provide for your children. Fathers, what's your job? "Well, my job is to provide food, put food on the table." No, that's God's job. God said He would provide the food. Yes, you will live by the sweat of your brow, but let me just remind you of something this morning: you're not the source. "Take no thought . . . for your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things." You have one job; you have one thing to leave your kids: an inheritance (the ability to know God, to walk by faith); to teach your children, to instruct them, in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. That is your primary job in life!

How many of us, calling it our "responsibility" when it's really covetousness, are seeking to give our children stuff instead of God? Things instead of character? Treasures where thieves can break in and steal and moths and rust can corrupt? We've talked about it time and time again, and we live in this affluence where the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches and the lusts of things are entering in and choking the Word of God out of our lives! Can I ask you a question? When was the last time your kids had to believe God for something? When was the last time some of your kids worked for something, not even believed God, just did something for it and didn't just have it handed to them? "Well, they did good. They only semi-destroyed the house this week. They almost picked something up and put it away." Choking the Word of God. You see, the Word of God is more than Bible memorization. Where is the knowledge of contributing to the society, starting with your home? Where is the knowledge of being a giver (that it is more blessed to give than to receive)? You want to leave your kids an inheritance? There is no greater inheritance than to believe and practice giving instead of receiving! How proficient are you at that? How proficient are your children? I wonder if maybe we've been vexed by this spirit of covetousness more than we think. "Well, I'm not really covetousness. We just live in this affluent area, and we just all have the wherewithal to have stuff." Yes, we do and that statement is not incorrect. And there's nothing wrong with stuff. Let me ask the question again: Are you rich toward God?

When Jesus brought the rebuke to this man, what He said was, "Thou fool, this night [verse 20] thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" He's not talking about who's going to get the inheritance and are they worthy. What He is saying is--Timothy [1 Timothy 6:7] made it very clear: "You brought nothing into this world, and it is certain [I like that choice of words] that you will take nothing out." What's waiting for you when you leave? What are the riches that have gone up before you and that have been laid up in the heavens? "Then whose shall these be?" Let me tell you something. "Well, I'm just working, and I just want my kids to have it better than I had it." That's something fairly natural from every generation, especially some from the secular realm that I've spoken of--the Great Generation. I personally believe that my parents' generation was one of the greatest generations in the history of our nation. There were some great ones (some of the founding fathers, some that pioneered the West), but this generation of those that went through the Great Depression, that fought the World Wars (World War II especially), Korea. I told you about the one time I was walking, I think I was down in Tysons Corner and I was coming out of one of the stores. I was getting ready to leave, and I saw a fellow coming in a wheelchair. Somebody was pushing him, so I stopped to hold the door for him. I turned around, and he had one of those caps on that said World War II, Korea, Vietnam. I was holding the door and he said, "Thank you." I said, "Is that hat for real?" He said, "It sure is, sonny." (I like that.) And so I said, "No. Thank you!"

Sometimes we look and find it hard to understand why parents, or in some of your cases grandparents, seem to be so frugal. I've made fun of my mom and dad, that they wouldn't spend more than $10 for a pair of shoes. I've told the story about that pair of shoes that I bought for my dad. He said, "Man, these things don't even hurt your feet." I said, "Shoes aren't supposed to hurt your feet." He never had a pair of shoes that didn't hurt his feet, never had a pair of shoes that fit. It wasn't about fit; it was about cost. And he had a lot of money at that time, but they grew up in the Great Depression. They knew that it could take wings and fly away. They knew what it meant to live without. My grandma to this day--Grandma is cool, man. They're getting ready to go on a cruise to Hawaii. She's ninety-five. I told her to leave the bikini at home. Grandma is cool, and she's got this one phrase. Many of you have heard it. Regardless of whatever the thing is, she says, "We'll make do." You just make do. Then she's got one phrase that's a bad one, and I've shared with her--she says, "This too will pass." And I said, "Grandma, there's something coming that won't pass: the Judgment. You're going to be facing eternity. This ninety-five years is just as a vapor." Her mind, she's still just sharp as a tack.

When is the last time you've done without? It's not about the abundance of things. It's being rich toward God. The abstinence, the disciplines, only need to be put into effect (and I'm talking about your life personally and your children) if you can't say you're rich toward God. "Yes, we are." Okay then, let's ask another question: Is that account bigger than your earthly account? We started the teaching off, and I was talking to you about [the fact] that I have thirty more years and I'm looking at my life now and I'm thinking, What a waste; how much I've wasted! There's an old song, "Wasted years, wasted years. Oh, how foolish." So I look and I think, How much longer do I have? I wonder how much longer I have if the Lord tarries (practically)? You can go anytime, just whatever God chooses, but just practically. So I'm looking and I think I've got twenty to twenty-five more productive years; it's all I have left. If Jesus tarries, how much of that is going to be wasted on myself, or can I be made richer toward God? Can I be more like Him and content in the pursuit?

So as we're looking and answering these questions, when the rebuke came, "You fool," look at the contrast: "So is he that layeth up treasures for himself, and is not rich toward God." The contrasting is, What are you laying up for self (temporal), and what are you laying up for the eternal? Keep your finger here in the twelfth chapter for just a second, and look over at Hebrews. What does it mean to be rich toward God? I believe to understand that, we first of all need to understand that it means to be identified with Him. To be rich toward God is to be identified with Him, to be one with Him, to have our name written in the book [of life], to have that precious stone that someday will be handed to us with His affectionate term. I don't know what that stone is going to be, but just think, Jesus has an intimate gift to give you. You get your little stone that says Pooky on it, or something [like that]. For some of us, it might be [the name] Spooky. And it's the intimate--just between the two of you. To be rich toward God, to be embraced, to have communion, to have fellowship, to be one with Him, to be identified with Him. Hebrews 11, verse 25, "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible."

You remember we talked a little bit ago about the world and its cares and the solicitation and seduction that's going on, and they're trying to distract us. The world will ask the question to those of us that are living by faith and walking in the spirit, "Why can't we distract you? Look at all of this stuff! Why aren't you fixing your eyes on this?" And we're looking past all of it because we can see Him who is invisible. They can't see Him but we can. My course is set, and the treasure, the Pearl of Great Price, can't be comprehended by the natural mind, the carnal mind. And you know what? Many of us here fluctuate in and out. Many of us get distracted at times, but I want you to see the word there in that twenty-fifth verse. Look at it: choosing. This is about choice. Being rich toward God is about choice. It's not fate. The lust, the covetousness of this world, is not irresistible unless you continue to feed yourself with it and become addicted. Have you ever been addicted to anything, under its power, the compulsion? In a relationship, have you ever been addicted? You couldn't keep from having to see that person, call that person. Have you ever been addicted to a substance: heroin, cocaine, coffee, tea, Coca Cola? I had a buddy of mine back in the good days of Coke, when Coke was Coke. I don't mean cocaine, but that's where it got its name. That's why Coke caught on. But even after the cocaine days, they still had some powerful stuff out there. I had a buddy that was so addicted to Cokes that he had to have a six-pack before noon. It'll keep you wired though. Have you ever been addicted? Exercise (working out), shopping, the Shopper's Network? Have you ever been under the power of anything other than the Spirit of God? At what point are you on this scale of the world's control of your life, of things controlling your life versus being rich toward God?

Do you know you can be addicted to God? That's good. "Covet the best gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:31). Are you lusting and coveting the best gifts? Do you want to know what it really means and to see the benefits of flowing purely in the spirit to where you could speak a word in season, you prophesy and it comes to pass, words of knowledge that are absolutely right on the mark that deliver people's lives, the gifts of healing in operation to where you can be moved by the Spirit of God and lay hands on the sick and see them recover, the power of the gift of the working of miracles to where you can call fire out of heaven if necessary? Why don't we covet those things? "Covet the best gifts, and yet I show you a more excellent way. Love one another" (1 Corinthians 12:31-13:1). Are you coveting the ability to lay your life down and become vulnerable and to love and become the servant of all? Where your treasure is, that's where your heart is. What's dominating your life? Choose to suffer affliction with the people of God, the great cloud of witnesses, rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. It's pleasurable. Don't let anybody tell you it's not. And yet, do we understand that this life is a vapor? "The rich man received his reward, and being in Hell he lifted up his eyes. Is there some way that that poor beggar could come and just touch my tongue to quench this fire?" Which realm do you want to be rich in? Are you willing to accept the sovereign working of God in your life and accept that right where you are and what you have is where God wants you at this moment and be content with everything? But more godliness--"I just need to be more godly." "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches . . ."--the identification with Christ, greater riches.

Can I ask you this? Listen. Greater riches is being seen in the right clothes, the right neighborhood, being seen of the world. Is that what it's all about? Or people knowing that you're one of them? "Here he comes again. All he talks about is Jesus. All he talks about is the fact that God loved us and died for us and that He's coming again and that there's going to be a day of reckoning and judgment and everybody's going to give an answer for every idle word and that you can never be happy if you don't die to yourself." The reproach of Christ. What's the greatest treasure: to be identified with Jesus or to be identified with the world?

We went out to see the kids out camping [Youth Group camping trip]. It was such a nice day we took the Ferrari out for a ride. You don't even have to be a car guy to notice that thing. Every male that has at least a pinhead worth of testosterone turns [his head to look at a Ferrari]. You don't even have to like cars. Or the reproach of Christ? As we came back from the meeting, we went over to Chick-fil-A where we could try to get some literature out [referring to handing out ministry literature at a local fast food restaurant where people bring cars to show]. As we were handing the literature out, this one guy that we handed it to, he even called somebody afterwards. Because I saw him again last night over at the Corvette thing in Manassas. There's a thing over there; they had three or four hundred Corvettes. We were there trying to get some literature out (at Chick-fil-A we did). I ran into this guy again. He said, "I called and checked up on you." Because we shared some stuff that got this guy's head reeling. He said, "I called this guy that I knew and said, 'What do you know about that preacher?''' The guy responded and said, "He's the real deal." He said, "He must be; he put me to shame. I was out there just enjoying cars, and he [Pastor Scott] was out there sharing Jesus with people. He was doing more than I was, come to think about it, and yet I was calling to check up on him."

Who are you wanting to identify with: the Ferrari crowd, the Escort crowd? Who's this lady that's going to jail or should go to jail? Yes, Martha Stewart. Are you a Martha Stewart crowd? Is she the one that has the matching curtains and you can't see your bed because it matches the wallpaper and stuff? ("I know that thing is in here somewhere.") You've got the wallpaper and the curtains and the bed, and your wife has these pajamas [with the same pattern] on, and you're going [Pastor imitates someone who looks disoriented]. So who do you want to identify with? The reproach of Christ. Is that your boast: that the world hates you? You see, we've got stuff like the world, but we don't identify with them. The line is very clear. When we show up, they know. You see, the difference is we possess it; it doesn't possess us. Are you rich toward God? Is your contentment in the pursuit of God, in godliness, in holiness?

We'll end this morning with this. Endured (Hebrews 11:27)--here's another key word. Choosing and endured. You've got to finish the race. You can't endure unless you see Him that's invisible. The ability to stand against this seduction that's in the world is the ability to look beyond it and see Him that's invisible, to have your eyes fixed. Colossians 3, seeking those things that are above where Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. What's important?

I talked to [Pastor] Robbie Friday after--there was an emergency hearing; it was a done deal and all of the custodies were signed over. He was really hurting. I called him up and was just sharing some things with him. I told him not to mistake the pain, the hurt, the sorrow, for a lack of faith. You see, faith doesn't make the emotions go away. Faith causes you to make the right choice. It still hurts but you make the right choice. Faith calls things that are not as though they were. Faith does not accept what's seen as the final verdict, but you still see your family restored and worshipping Jesus. And even if they don't, you chose the greater of the treasures. The reproach of Christ--the willingness to lose everything that in the natural is your greatest treasure to bear the reproach of Christ, the identity of Christ, to be a seeker of the Kingdom first! Because as you go back to this twelfth chapter of Luke and you continue to read through this chapter, verse 49 says, "I am come to send fire upon the earth [Matthew says a sword]; and what will I, if it be already kindled?"

I asked you if you were rich toward God, and this is a very powerful verse that you're going to want to meditate on. Verse 50, "But I have a baptism to be baptized with . . ." Have you been baptized with this great treasure of the fire of adversity, the baptism of life unto God, death to self? The baptism of reproach to identify with Him Who is eternal? "But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on the earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. [Or in some cases, four against one.] The father shall be divided against the son . . . the mother against the daughter . . ." "I'm doing this [Jesus said]--My presence, because they hated Me and they're going to hate you." There is no friendship or fellowship between light and darkness. You cannot serve God and mammon! Beloved, you cannot serve God and material things. You cannot serve God and desire to be accepted of the world's system, to be one of the boys, to be highly esteemed of men, because the moment you are, it's a reproach with God. What are you coveting? Where is your treasure? Will you be satisfied with being called one of them and rejoice in it?

Father, we thank You for that call on our lives to be separate. As we redirect our thinking this morning, we know that it's not wrong to have things. It's wrong to trust in them for safety, for status, for contentment, for self-worth. It's not wrong to be rich if we're richer toward God. Are we content in our pursuit of godliness, or have we said, "My Lord delayeth in His coming. Take ease." Or is there burning within us a fire to prepare for Your imminent return? Maybe we are involved in the temporal, but we are not distracted, for our eyes are fixed on Him that's invisible. We long, we sigh, we covet Your return. We long for the day when everything that is natural would be burned up and baptized in Your righteousness. We live for nothing that is temporal, and we seek to be like You. And in our pursuit, Your blessings have made us rich, rich with friends, rich with Your presence, richer than most men on the earth, as we live in this community. Our nation would tell us we're middle class, but by the standards of the world, we live as royalty. We are the filthy rich and yet not content. We think we deserve better. Father, forgive us and let us say, Thank You. Thank You for Your presence. Thank You for the privilege of being identified and bearing the reproach. We only call it reproach because You have called it. We call it treasure, reward, if somebody can see a little bit of You in us. Let us decrease that You might increase. Let us be rich toward God, we ask, Father, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Let's stand before the Lord. As Gary plays for us just one moment, let the Holy Spirit solidify in your heart that Word that He had for you today. It was different for all of us, but somewhere the Lord spoke to you this morning. Somewhere He put His finger on your heart and said, "Choose." Choose. Choose to be rich toward God--identified. Ultimately, you will never be richer than to hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant." What are the treasures that we're really looking for? Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. I can live without anything but that. I can't imagine a day without knowing His presence. Everything else, but not that. What are the real treasures? How about family that loves God, both natural and spiritual? "My mother and My brother are those that do the will of the Father." What greater treasure than friends that have the common identity, that bear the same reproach and yet comfort you in your comfort, for they too have been comforted? What greater position than to be called the son of God, an ambassador for Christ? What's more rewarding than hearing the profound living Word of God come out of your mouth and touch somebody and see a life changed? Have you ever experienced anything more gratifying than that, than to see the Word of God come from your heart, through your lips, and change a life? There is no natural experience, there is no natural possession, that can even come close. Are you rich toward God? Have you forgotten what it's like to put your head on the pillow and be without fear, anxiousness, lust; to be dead to your own desires and in such contentment, know that you've been used up for God? "I've done exactly what Father would have me do today." Rich toward God. Let's sing it together and just thank Him for His love.

Father, as You've placed us here in the heart of Sodom and Gomorrah, we rest in Your grace that is sufficient for us. For there is none that can pluck us from Your hand and there is no temptation that can take us but such as is common to man, and with every temptation You make the way of escape, for we choose to be free. We choose the reproaches of Christ the greater riches. Use us, we ask, Father, for Your glory, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Before you go, turn to somebody next to you and say, "Choose the greater riches." Amen. Go in peace; God's love go with you.

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