Consider the world’s system.  We were talking about finances, but this goes for the whole system of how the world thinks.  The Bible says don’t add to or diminish from the Word of God.  I’ve seen how many of us want to add to the rod and reproof and find other little ways that we think will cause a greater outcome for our children.  Let me tell you something: there is no greater wisdom for how to train your children than what God has told you in the Word of God.  And your little child needs the same method applied that the generation that preceded them had applied to their lives.

Some of us have even gone as far as taking the rod out of it, thinking that we can just bring reproof by sitting these little three-year-old kids down and giving them a whole doctrinal discourse on obedience.  You’re trying to talk to them, and they’ve got their finger up their nose, or they’re upside down, and they lost you in the first thirty seconds you were in the conversation.  You feel so good about yourself and how you’ve enlightened your child with the Word of God.  It doesn’t work.  The Bible says the rod will drive foolishness far from them, amen?  You can’t add to or diminish; you can’t pick or choose what part of the Word you’re going to apply in your life.

The cares of this world.  We’re living in Sodom, the prosperity, this ease of life.  Those of us in here that are sixty years old and older, live beyond anything we could have comprehended we would have had in our lives.  My imagination couldn’t have gone to where I find myself right now.  Now, with all of this abundance, how do you handle this?  By being obedient to the Word of God, by realizing you didn’t get it with your own arm and by your own strength and by your own diligence, but it’s a gift of God.  Amen?

I can still remember where I was actually sitting in school.  The teacher was teaching this class, and we were of all things in auto mechanics class talking and predicting that one day, automobiles would cost a hundred thousand dollars.  I still remember the jingle for the T-birds, Thunderbirds, when they came out.  And the jingle ended with, “And what’s the price?  Two thousand twice.”  Nice, brand-new T-bird, for four grand.  I bought my first three-bedroom house, hardwood floors, in 1969 for $11,000.  Look where we’ve come.  I remember another class, we were talking back then about something along the same lines, that houses would cost a hundred thousand dollars.  And they did.  I live in a hundred-thousand-dollar house.  Who would have ever thought that houses would be a hundred thousand dollars?  And I’m living in one of those; I bought my house for $134,000.  Outrageous! 

Jesus said, “Does he not care for you, O ye of little faith?”  “Therefore, take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, wherewithal shall we be clothed?  For after all these things do the Gentiles seek.”  That should be a little bit of a cause to pause here and go, “Man, this is what the world’s always thinking about.  ‘How can we get ahead?  How can I lay up?  We’re saving for a rainy day.’”  Well, I’ll guarantee anybody that was saving for a rainy day prior to the flood, it didn’t work, did it?  They had no idea that God could send rain.  And let me tell you something, we’re living in an hour when He promised He would not destroy the world by water again, but it’s going to be by fire.

I want you to know, judgment’s coming on this nation, and there’s no way to lay up enough money against the judgment that God’s bringing.  I believe that in our generation I’m going to see the return of the Lord.  I believe that I’m going to hear the trumpet of God sound, I’m going to see the dead in Christ rise.  I’m going to be changed in a moment, and corruption will take on incorruption and mortality, immortality.  In my lifetime, possibly tonight, praise God!  Come quickly, Lord Jesus!  Why should I worry about tomorrow?

What am I living for, if I’m bound up in the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches and the lust of more stuff?  I mean, how much is enough?  His grace is sufficient, amen?  His Word is sure to a thousand generations.  We have no need of taking thought for tomorrow.  We have no reason to allow fear to become a part of our lives, because He cares for us, praise God!  First Peter 5 says, “Cast all of your care upon Him; He cares for you.”  Anything that would cause you to question that, there’s something growing in there that needs to be cut out, amen?

Father, we thank You for Your Word, and we just ask that you would give us strength and give us peace.  Help us to stop lying to ourselves about where we are as it pertains to this world; there’s still too much attraction to this world.

Are you taken up with this world or is your conversation about the Gospel?  Every one of us able to share the gospel with people.  That’s our treasure, amen?