Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction: Fleeting Wealth

James Marshall left his family’s home in New Jersey as a young man and, like so many others, began a migration west.

After contracting malaria while living in Missouri he was advised to go further west, and in 1845 he arrived in California.

He worked a number of different jobs and served in the army during the Mexican-American War in 1846.

When he got out, a man he had earlier befriended, John Sutter, entered a partnership agreement with Marshall to build a sawmill.

When they discovered that the spillway they had constructed was too narrow to handle the amount of water needed to operate the mill, they began the process of enlarging it.

On the morning of January 24, 1848, as Marshall examined the channel, he found large flakes of pure gold, sparking one of the greatest gold rushes in history.

But Marshall did not profit from his discovery.

The mill project failed.

His mines did not produce.

A vineyard he bought went bankrupt.

In his old age, reduced to abject poverty, Marshall died alone in a small shack.

Wealth is easy for us to trust.

If God blesses us and we begin to accumulate financial resources, we must be on guard against them becoming an idol in our hearts.

Paul instructed his protégé Timothy to issue a warning to the rich members in his church: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).

Main Idea: “Our possessions can distract us from the mission Christ has for us.”

(Prayer)

The Question We All Ask:

What this question tells us about mankind:

There is eternal life.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

2. How do I get it?

Self-Deception:

I’ve never murdered, but Jesus said if you cried that you hate someone, you’ve committed murder.

I’ve never committed adultery, but Jesus said if you look at someone with lustful eyes you’ve committed adultery.

I’ve never stole anything like P. Mike did with the Furby.

If you have ever been on your cell phone while working, you stole time from your boss.

I honor my mother and father (figure of authority).

An Idol Revealed:

The rich young ruler had a “god,” and it wasn’t Jesus.

His “god”was his wealth and possessions.

Warning About Possessions:

What Can Be Idol’s List:

Instagram and Facebook

News

Busyness

Money

Sports (Especially Playoff Time)

Video Games

Food

T.V.

Buying New Stuff

Emails and Texts