“MONOPOLY”



MONOPOLY

Luke 12:13-21

Games People Play Message Series

November 13, 2016

Pastor Nathan J. Thompson

Monopoly is a very popular and fun game that many of us may remember growing up with. I know that we often played it as a family; then as we grew older we often played it with our friends. It is also game Kim and I often played with our children.

Monopoly is a game that taught us some basic lessons about counting money; being a landowner by buying property; paying taxes; losing everything to the person who had the monopoly on certain properties (with the most houses and hotels.) It is a game where clearly the one with the most financial assets at the end is the winner.

This basic philosophy of life found in this innocent game was true in our society in the early 1900’s when this game was developed just as it continues to be true today. The common belief (philosophy) that the more money I make; the more things I own shows how successful I am; shows that I am truly a winner.

The American dream is that any person with good vision and strong work ethic can be a financial success. It just means developing (inventing) something people want or need; either that or investing in the right business ventures; stocks; land for farming (developing).

Because hey if you had been an initial investor in Google you would already be part of a monopoly in this growing tech sector. If you had just a small investment in Microsoft when it was starting you would be a millionaire today. It is a dream we can all have in our world today.

Jesus however told a parable about this dream of a monopoly. In Luke 12 he tells the story of a rich man whose farm land yielded an abundant harvest. In fact he was blessed with so much abundance that he didn’t even know what to do with it all.

Therefore he said, “This is what I will 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.’”

Ah isn’t that the dream we share? If my investments will do well; if my 401-K remains strong; if my business can be sold for a good profit; if the farm land (real estate) I own keeps its value; if that family inheritance comes through; if I win the lottery...

Then I can hopefully retire early; can comfortably retire where I won’t have to worry about changing my lifestyle. Then I can hopefully retire to that home on the lake; can spend part of the year in the south; can travel and see our country (world). Ah, that will be the good life.

However in Jesus’ parable God says to this rich man, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded of you. Then who will get what you prepared for yourself?” And Jesus concludes with these words, “This is how it will be with those who store up things for themselves but are not rich toward God.”

The important thing this man (with all his wealth/abundance) had not prepared for was the reality of death. Even though he had great plans for bigger barns; even though he had an excellent investment strategy he had completely neglected the most important life plan. He had neglected to build his life (his purposes) on faith in God.

I think it is interesting in the Christian church today that studies have found that the largest group of inactive people are not the younger 18-30 year-olds. Rather the largest number of inactive people are the empty nesters and those retired. In other words people in their late 40's and older.

These studies show that this inactivity is often because this age group has more money than ever; as a result they are often willing to spend it on second homes, travel, pleasures for themselves. Some rationalize that after focusing on their kids; after volunteering in the church when their kids were younger it is now their time to focus on themselves—on their happiness and pleasure.

Yet the most dangerous thing about this lifestyle is how easy it is then to forget about God; to ultimately lose one’s relationship with him. It is so easy to let those really fun activities become more important than regular worship; than prayer; than deepening faith; than living as God’s servant. It is easy to rather become a servant to our free and easy lifestyle.

Yet the most dangerous thing is what Jesus reminds us of in his parable—so many people today are not preparing for death and for where they will spend eternity. So many are neglecting the most important priority in life which is to live for and serve Jesus everyday.

So many are forgetting that God is the owner; God is the source of all their abundance and blessings. That is why he tells us that we are blessed to be a blessing. Only God can help us keep our life priorities in the right place.

Therefore how about you today? Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior? Are your life-priorities completely centered in him? Either that or are you caught up in the life-game of Monopoly where you think that money and things will make you happy? Remember Jesus is the only way to true life now; the only way to true life for eternity.

Imagine for a moment this morning that you started a company and built it to the point where it is very profitable. Then imagine you have five kids whom you’ve provided for their whole lives. You’ve fed and clothed them; you’ve helped them get an education.

All five kids say, “Mom, Dad, would you invite us into the family business? We know you worked all your lives to prepare this successful company so we’d like in.” You in turn look at your adorable children and say, “Who would I rather share my business and profits with than my kids?” Therefore you invite all five of them into the family business.

Then suppose you find out 10 years later the reason your company is no longer profitable; the reason it’s going to have to close its doors is because your five kids bled cash out of your company into their personal accounts.

You discover they started doing this the first year you invited them to join the business. How do you feel as a Mom and Dad if you’ve been robbed by your own flesh and blood? Losing the business is a tough enough pill to swallow yet the knowledge that your own family stole from you; when it’s family can there be a deeper hurt?

Yet that is how God must feel each day. He is the owner of everything we have; we are simply called to be stewards. That is why God says in Malachi 3, “Bring the whole tithe into my storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord. ‘See if I won’t open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings so much for you, that you won’t be able to take it in.’”

Have you ever heard of John D. Rockefeller? Well, in his day he would tell people the secret to his financial success. He would say, “When you get money, give 10 percent away. Then save 10 percent for yourself and your future. Finally, have fun spending the 80 percent.” This is truly a Biblical concept and it does work.

Financial counselor Ron Blue says there are five things Americans do with their money. He prioritizes these things in order; the order shows where our heart is. It really is an ownership mentality, not a stewardship mentality. He says that most people when they have money:

First, spend it so they can really live. Second, pay monthly bills and consumer debt. Three, pay taxes. Four, save what they can. Five, give what is leftover. As you can see this doesn’t at all follow God’s plan. God’s plan is just a reversal of this list:

First, I will give back to God. Second, I will give to myself by saving for the future. And third, I will give to myself now. Notice that two of these three go directly to you. The amazing thing is that even as we give to God it comes back to us with blessings that are amazing.

Proverbs 3:9-10 reads, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of your crops; then your barns will be overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

Why should we give to God first? It allows us to express our thanksgiving to God for the privilege of earning what we have earned. It’s like saying, “Thank you, God, for the privilege of the education you have given me. Thank you for the country I live in. Thanks for saving me.”

It graphically reminds me that I am a steward; not an owner. When I’m dead I’m dead; there is no U-Haul going to heaven with me carrying all my stuff. It strengthens my faith as I watch how God transforms my life and makes me new.

There is a worship song by Tommy Walker, “That’s Why We Praise Him,” that says, “He came to live, live a perfect life. He came to die so we’d be reconciled. He gave his everything. That’s why we praise him. That’s why we sing. That’s why we offer him our everything.”

Friends, when someone lays down his life for you; when he wipes the slate clean of all your sins; when he invites you into his family; when he secures your eternity; when he promises to bless your life; when he gives you his everything and then he asks you to honor and show gratitude to him—what do you think your response should be?

Let us remember each day that we are not the owners; that real life and happiness are not found in monopoly thinking. Let us rather listen to God’s call to be a faithful steward of all his abundant and gracious gifts.

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