Scripture Reading: Luke 12:13-21
"You Can't Take It With You"
Intro.
1. Sometimes “you can’t take it with you” is used to rationalize self-indulgence and extravagance.
2. Which inheritance concerns you the most: Material or spiritual?
3. Are you planning to take something with you beyond the grave? cf. Psa. 49:10-13
a. Some try to control their children, their estate, their business, etc. from beyond the grave (cf. Eccl. 2:18-19).
b. Let’s do some spiritual estate planning (Luke 12:13-21).
I. WE CANNOT TAKE ANYTHING MATERIAL WITH US BEYOND THE GRAVE, Lk. 12:20 (Job 1:21).
A. We Brought Nothing With Us into Life, Eccl. 5:15; 1 Tim. 6:7.
1. Ought to cause spiritual priorities, Eccl. 5:12-14 (Jas. 1:9-11).
2. Ought to cause contentment, 1 Tim. 6:8 (Phil. 4:11-13, 19).
B. We Will Not Take Anything Material With Us, Psa. 49:16-17 (Lk. 16:19, 22-23). Rich man fades away in his pursuits (Jas. 1:11).
1. Money won’t redeem our soul, Psa. 49:5-9.
2. Only God redeems from the power of death, Psa. 49:15.
C. We Will Not take the Praise and Honor of Men with Us, Psa. 49:18-20 (Jno. 12:43).
II. WE WILL TAKE SOME THINGS WITH US BEYOND THE GRAVE.
A. We Will Take Our Identity, Lk. 16:22-24; 23:43.
1. Our character and conduct, Matt. 25:34-40.
2. Our consciousness, Matt. 25:21 (Lk. 16:23-31).
B. We Will Take Our Memory, Love, Emotion, and Awareness, Lk. 16:27-28 (limited, cf. Job 14:21; Will not affect earth events, Eccl. 9:5).
C. We Will Take the Results of Our Lives, 1 Tim. 5:24-25.
1. Our words, Matt. 12:34-37.
2. Our works, Rev. 14:13 (1 Cor. 15:58).
a. Good, Rev. 14:13; 1 Tim. 6:17-19.
b. Evil, 1 Tim. 5:24-25.
III. OUR PRESENT IMPACTS OUR ETERNAL FUTURE (Rom. 14:12).
A. Hope Beyond Death is Unique to Mankind, Eccl. 9:5-6; 12:13-14.
1. True hope is only in Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 15:19; Jno. 11:25-26; 1 Pet. 1:3-4.
2. Our soul rests in hope (like David’s and Christ’s), Psa. 16:9-11.
-Hope of resurrection unto eternal life (hope in God, Acts 24:15).
B. We Will Leave a Legacy When We Die, Heb. 11:4.
1. Our reputation (name; Prov. 22:1). cf. Mk. 14:9; Jas. 5:10-11
2. Our influence (Dorcas, Acts 9:36, 39).
3. Our children, Psa. 71:17-18 (78:5-7).
4. A legacy of faithfulness, service, duty and confident hope, 2 Tim. 4:6-8.
Conclusion
1. What a wonderfully comforting truth that God is mindful of us and has prepared a place for us to live now and forever, Psa. 8:4-5; Jno. 14:1-3.
2. We have a choice: Hoard up treasures for ourselves on earth or be rich toward God (Lk. 12:20-21).
3. Be wise about life and death and obey Jesus now.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted February 15, 2021