Pastor Chad Laird details the first of four woes given by Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount concerning those who are rich in this present world and who live for the here and now and NOT for the coming Kingdom of God. The four woes - being rich, well fed now, laughing now, and seeking men's approval now - are indicators of the life and thinking of unbelievers who will be shut out of the Kingdom of God. Everyone either lives for self vs. Savior, this life vs. the coming Kingdom of God, and either seek reward/comfort in this cursed earth or place their hope in the coming Kingdom by storing up treasure eternally in heaven.

Chad blows up what the Bible says and warns about riches by doing a side study of the folly of riches in the books of James, Matthew, and Luke. They warn us about not putting our hope in this world or the things of this world, but in God and the things that last. James particularly warns the rich about the temporary nature of worldly wealth and calls us to be rich in faith rather than rich in worldly pursuits/possessions. We are also warned that earthly pleasures never satisfy and the Bible is clear that the rich and their pursuits come to nothing and that even their possessions/wealth are ultimately given to the righteous in the Kingdom.

Matthew adds that we cannot serve two masters and that we will be a slave either to God or Wealth. While wealth is not evil in and of itself, we are called to be willing to give up everything and surrender anything more important to us than the Lord. Therefore, we are instructed to use our resources for the Lord - making eternal investments for what really lasts while heeding the warning/woe of this passage that money/possessions often lead our hearts and minds away from the Lord as Christians and that Unbelievers are often blinded by riches to not "see" their need for God, salvation, and entrance into the Kingdom through Jesus Christ as the only door.

The sermon ends with a summary from 1 Timothy 6:17-19 "Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed."

Join Truth Bible Church as they study Luke 6:24-26 and pursue the Biblical goals of knowing, loving, serving, and worshiping the Lord Jesus. Thanks for watching and may God richly bless you as you study and seek to live out His Holy Word! Please visit www.truthbiblechurch.com for sermon notes, outlines, PPTs, and other resources.