Intimacy versus wealth and fame
1. People born between the years of 1588 and 1617 are known as the “puritan generation.”
2. From 1674-1800 there was an age group known as the “enlightened generation.”
3. From 1767-1791 we have what has been called the “compromise generation.”
4. We can go back for at least 500 years and see how various generations have been described.
5. In fairly recent times researchers have had a lot to say about “generation X.”
6. There is now “generation” Y plus two more additional generations for researchers to study.
7. Those born between 1988 and 1999 are known as the “Internet generation.”
8. Babies born between 2000 and 2020 are being called the “new silent generation.”
9. Generation Y is beginning to draw attention because its earliest members are now in their 20’s.
10. Researchers have found that many in generation Y want two things: wealth and fame.
11. This generation is interested in things like Donald Trump’s apprentice program.
12. Generation Y is the generation that knows about celebrities living in 6 million dollar homes.
13. What these young people often see is what they often want.
14. A Pew Research Center poll was conducted with young people from the Y generation.
15. 81% of the 18-25 year olds believe getting rich is the most important or 2d most important goal.
16. 51% said a similar thing about becoming famous—this is the # 1 or #2 goal in their lives.
17. Many who have this mindset ultimately see their self worth as synonymous with their net worth.
18. That is, if they obtain rich and fame, they are a really worth something. They matter.
19. If rich and fame are not attained, they are losers and their lives are of very little value.
JESUS DID NOT HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT BEING FAMOUS, BUT HE DID HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT MONEY. WHAT HE AS WELL AS HIS APOSTLES SAID IS IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE MENTALITY COMMONLY FOUND AMONG THOSE NOW DUBBED GENERATION Y.
a) In recent weeks we have spoken about intimacy with God.
b) Generation Y and others often have mindset that creates a very serious barrier to intimacy.
c) This obstacle is money or something similar such as fame.
2) A long time ago Job asked some interesting questions about his own life.
a) In Job 31 we find what might be called this man’s “final protest of innocence.”
b) Job said in Job 31:1 he had made a commitment with respect to lusting after other women.
c) In verse 5 he spoke about his decision to avoid lying.
d) He said he had been fair to his servants (verse 13).
e) Then he spoke about his willingness to help the poor and less fortunate (verse 16).
f) He even claimed to have helped orphans (verse 17).
g) In verse 19 he described helping some people who sound a lot like the modern homeless.
3) We want the information in verses 24 and 25 – READ verse 24.
a) Job asked if he had “trusted in gold.”
b) The answer to that question is implied here as well as the preceding verses.
c) Job knew there was no real trust in money; it is only a tool.
d) He understood that love for money would interfere with and destroy his relationship with God.
e) Verse 25 – READ.
f) Job spoke about “rejoicing” (happiness). He realized happiness did not come from wealth.
g) Real and lasting happiness cannot found in man’s achievements.
4) We have a new generation that seems to think it has found something new.
5) Money and fame will make men and women feel good, worthy, finally have value.
a) This is an old idea that has been tried before and it has been proven wrong.
b) Job realized true contentment and self worth come from intimacy with God, not gold.
6) To this someone might say, “I want both. God is a must, but I also want money and fame.”
7) America is the land of promise and opportunity, but this possibility does not exist.
8) Jesus said in Mt. 6:24, “A man cannot serve two masters.”
a) If the Lord had said nothing besides this, we might have trouble making a specific point.
b) Jesus made this point and then provided some additional information.
c) He said, “We cannot serve God and mammon” (money).
d) According to the Lord, we will “love one and hate the other.”
e) A few verses later (Mt. 6:33), Jesus said, “seek first the Kingdom of God.”
9) In Mt. 6 Jesus calls on people to make a choice.
a) Our primary purpose in life will be spiritual or fleshly.
b) What we chose will ultimately control us.
c) If money or fame is what we choose, money or fame will ultimately control us.
d) Many make their decisions based on the desire to achieve and maintain status and wealth.
e) All allow something to control them because they have confidence in it.
10) If our confidence is in God, we will not be controlled by money or fame.
11) If our confidence is in money or fame, we will not have confidence in God
12) James once spoke about a “double minded man” (Jas. 1:8).
13) When it comes to employment people sometimes put on their resumes their ability to “multi-task.”
a) We may be able to do several things at once.
b) When it comes to someone or something controlling our life, there can only be one boss.
c) If that one source is not God, it is something else and it is the wrong thing.
14) Christians can make this point until they run out of ways to express it.
15) Some still will not believe it. People have not learned this in the past and generation Y is coming along.
16) We have a world full of people who believe the way to the good life is through materialism.
17) People need to know that money and fame can be big roadblocks to intimacy with God.
a) Think of the young man who came to Jesus (I am drawing information from Lk. 18).
b) This man said he was religious.
c) He said (Lk. 18:18) he wanted to know what he had to do to “inherit eternal life.”
d) This man was thinking about spiritual things.
18) Jesus said this man “knew the commandments” (verse 20).
19) Jesus then listed some of the commandments in the latter part of verse 20 (20b).
a) The young man said he had obeyed these things from a very early age – verse 21 – READ.
b) Jesus did not dispute the man’s claim about having lived as the Ten Commandments said.
c) He did, however, say something was lacking – verse 22 – READ.
d) Jesus spoke about “heavenly treasure” and serving God as Jesus specified.
20) What did this man think about that? Verse 23 – READ.
a) Here was a man who was a “ruler.” He was probably not as famous as modern celebrities.
b) Some would have certainly known who he was; he did have some measure of authority.
c) He also had money. We certainly find that religion was part of his life.
d) It was like this man wanted it all – God and money.
e) Jesus said he had to make a choice; money had a powerful hold on him.
f) When called on to lay it all down, the man decided he would hang on to what he had.
g) What Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount was exactly right.
h) Jesus then followed up this story with the words in verse 24 – READ.
21) This young man may have felt like he had intimacy with God.
22) When we get a snapshot of his heart, we find this was not what he had achieved.
23) I am not sure who came up with this next thought, but it is in my mind a pretty good point.
a) Someone summarized the right type of life as JOY.
b) Each of these three letters represents a priority.
c) “J” is first, and it is supposed to represent Jesus.
d) O is next and it represents “others.”
e) Y is last and it stands for “you.”
24) This is not too far off from what Jesus said in Mt. 22:37-39.
a) He said the Lord God is to be loved with all the soul, heart and mind.
b) Neighbors (others) are to be loved second.
c) He didn’t specify what comes third, but the general theme of Scripture would place us third.
d) Where is money as far as the top three items in Mt. 22? It is not there.
e) Where is fame? It also does not make the top three.
f) First on Jesus’ list is a love for God with all the heart, soul and mind.
g) An attitude such as this will result in intimacy with God now and salvation in the hereafter.
25) Seeking intimacy with God and loving money is like a man serving in opposing armies.
26) It cannot be done; in one of the two armies the soldier will be a traitor.
27) When a person is dedicated to money or fame, just like Lk. 18 shows, it will somehow show.
a) I am reminded of a husband and wife who went to a county fair.
b) A pilot was offering rides in an old airplane for $20.00 each.
c) The husband and wife thought this was too much for the two of them so they tried to negotiate.
d) They offered $20 for them together and they said they would use just one seat.
e) Their haggling did not reduce the price but the pilot finally made a counter offer.
f) He said they could pay the full price and he would refund their money if they didn’t say a word.
g) The husband and wife agreed, and the pilot took them on a very adventuresome ride.
h) He performed every stunt and trick he knew, but not a word was said.
i) The pilot landed and said to the husband, “Congratulations; here is your $40 back.”
j) The husband replied, “I really had to bite my lip when my wife fell out.”
28) Money, fame, or a dozen other things can destroy a person’s relationship with God.
29) Most in generation Y will probably learn that lesson the hard way.
30) People need to ask what really matters in their lives.
31) Is it a close relationship with God, or a pile of cash and our name up in lights?
32) What are we trying to hold on to—seeking with all our being?
a) Jesus once spoke about asking, seeking and knocking.
b) If our desire is to find wealth and fame, we can probably find those things.
c) If our desire is intimacy with God and we ask, seek and knock, we will also find.
33) Intimacy with God involves on setting our mind on the right things—what is “above” (Col. 3:2).
34) Is this what we have done and are still doing?