My Finances (Chantilly Sermon)
May 24, 2026
Luke 12:13-21 CSB – Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Friend,” he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”
16 Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’
21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
A Protest and a Warning
Luke 12:13-15 CSB – Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
Luke 12:14 CSB – Friend,” he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?”
Luke 12:15 CSB – He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”
1 Timothy 6:6,8 CSB – But godliness with contentment is great gain.
If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
That describes Jesus.
1 Timothy 6:9 describes us: But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction.
Luke 12:15 CSB – “Watch out and be on guard against all greed…
John 12:7-8 CSB – Jesus answered, “Leave her alone…. 8 For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
Luke 12:15 CSB – because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”
Joy in your life is not determined by the abundance of your stuff.
We must shift America from a needs to a desires culture, people must be trained to desire, to want new things even before the old have been entirely consumed. We must shape a new mentality in American. Man’s desires must overshadow his needs. – Paul Mazur, Lehman Brothers, Harvard Business Review
Luke 12:16-21 CSB – Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’
21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
7 Symptoms of Money-Sickness.
- Boasting
Luke 12:16-17 CSB – “A rich man’s land was very productive….‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops?
James 1:17 CSB – Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…
- Worry
Luke 12:17-18 CSB – He thought to himself, ‘What should I do,… I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years.
- Money-Comfort
- Stinginess
- Overspending
Luke 12:33 CSB – Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
- Discontentment
- Stockpiling
Luke 12:19 CSB – Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’
Luke 12:33 CSB – Sell your possessions and give to the poor.
Lessons from the Foolish Farmer
- Wake Up to the Brevity of Life
Luke 12:20 CSB – God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’
Psalm 90:12 CSB – Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.
- Be Rich Toward God: Godliness with Contentment
Luke 12:21 CSB – “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
1 Timothy 6:9-10 CSB – But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 CSB – But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. 8 If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
- Be Rich Toward God: Live Generosity Daily
James 4:14b CSB – For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.
