By Steve A. Hamilton

Luke 12:13-21

Introduction: Would you be willing to gamble with your soul?  Yet many people do just that by gambling with time hoping that their sins won’t affect their chance of salvation before they die.

          We wouldn’t put off surgery for a life threatening condition but when our soul is threatened by a sinful condition many put off their repentance hoping time will be on their side.

          If the police told you there was a time bomb in your house, would you walk in there to remove it thinking you have plenty of time before it explodes?   

          Are you willing to gamble with time so you might repent of our sins later in life?    

I.  The parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21).

          A. The main point of this parable is not to place confidence in possessions.  However, the conclusion is most applicable to our lesson (Luke 12:19-21).

          B. As the rich fool lived his life with no thought of God, his life revolved around his wealth.  God took his life to illustrate the worthlessness of worldly pursuits. What good does wealth do a person if he loses his soul (Matt. 16:26-27)?   

          C. What did the Rich Fool gamble with that he had no control over? He exchanged wealth for his soul while gambling he would have plenty of time (Luke 12:19).  But God didn’t give him time.   

II. The Lord gives no one a guarantee of time (1 Thes. 5:1-6).

          A. The end of life could come at any moment.  Even though we expect it to end at any time, it will still come unexpectedly like labor pains upon a pregnant women. 

          B. Since we know the end is near should we live our lives as though we have all the time we could want?     

III. Many people are gambling with time.

          A. The non-Christian who waits for a convenient time (Acts 24:25).  One individual told me if he had to give up women and alcohol he would wait to become a Christian until he was older.  He was already in his 50’s.

          B. The couple living in adultery (Matt. 19:9).  Few seem willing to give up an unscriptural marriage even when they know it is sinful.  If a person living in sin is unrepentant, will he be any more repentant a few years later?

          C. Members who forsake the assemblies (Heb. 10:25). I know of a brother in Christ who died while he was forsaking the assembly in Cary, NC.  I’m sure he wishes he had some more time!

          D. The substance abuser (tobacco, drugs, alcohol).  Addictions only destroy our temple (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 1 Cor. 6:17-20).  We all know an abuser who waits to kick the habit will always be waiting.

          E. Many make little or no effort to change particular sinful practices (lying, swearing/euphemisms, pornography, etc.)  How much time do we really need to repent of any sin? 

IV. People will scoff at time (2 Pet. 3:3-11).

          A. People think there is plenty of time.  They reason Christ hasn’t returned so it isn’t likely He will ever return.

          B. We know better than to think that way.

                   1. We know the example of the great flood (Matt. 24:36-39).

                   2. Time to God is not the same as time to us (Rev. 1:8).

                   3. God keeps His promises (Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:17-18).  This earth will end!

          C. The only reason Christ hasn’t returned is to give us more time to repent.  Should we gamble with that time?  What kind of persons should we be knowing all these things?   

Conclusion: Please don’t gamble with the time the Lord has graciously given to us (2 Cor. 6:1-2). Have you been living in sin while gambling with time?

Last modified: 05/02/08