Jn 13:35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

1. Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Jn 13:35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

2. ParablesEarthly Stories with Spiritual Truths Parables are stories taken from daily life to illustrate heavenly truths. The story is the husk and the spiritual truth is the kernel. The parable, when once understood, unfolds and illustrates the spiritual principles of the Kingdom of God

3. Rules for Understanding Parables 1) Understand the immediate and historical context i.e. customs, historical meanings of words and idioms used i.e. {Actions speak louder than words, Its raining cats and dogs. You’re adding fuel to the fire.} 2) Take note of the occasion with regard to whom and why our Lord spoke the parable. 3) If applicable identify the characters. 4) Take note of the main point conveyed or illustrated by the parable, remembering to make a clear distinction between the illustration and the spiritual truth being illustrated. 5) Remember that parables do not have mystical meanings (a meaning that is neither apparent to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence ) nor can they contradict clear direct teachings of Scripture. They are always supportive of doctrine and never the originator of doctrine.

4. Parable of The Deceitfulness Riches

5. Lu 12:15 And He said to them, Watch and keep yourselves from covetousness. For a man's life is not in the abundance of the things which he possesses. 16 And He spoke a parable to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room in which to store my fruits? 18 And he said, I will do this. I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and I will store all my fruits and my goods there. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat drink and be merry. 20 But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul shall be required of you, then whose shall be those things which you have prepared? 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.

6. Warning - Lu 12: 15 And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.“ Pr 23:4 ¶ Labor not to be rich: cease from your own wisdom. 5 Will you set youreyes on that which is not? • Mt 13:22 "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes { process } unfruitful. • 1Ti 6:9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith…

7. 16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17"And he thought within himself, saying, • (2) Self-centered not God & Others- 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 "So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. Mt 6:19 ¶ "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… 21 "For where your treasure lies, there your heart will be also. Lu 16:19 ¶ "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 "But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,

8. 3) Self-indulgent- 19'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” Re 3:17 "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' --and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked– Mt 6:31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?’ 33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. AlbertBarnes-What folly to think that all that a man lives for is to satisfy his sensual appetites; to forget that he has an intellect to be cultivated, a heart to be purified, a soul to be saved!

9. (4) The Insecurity & Brevity of life- 20"But God said to him, ‘ Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; Jas 4:14 For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. Ps 39:4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. (5) You can’t take it with you- then whose will those things be which you have provided? Ec2:18 Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.

10. (6) True riches- 21"So is he (a fool) who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” 1Ti 6:18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 1Ti 6:6 ¶ Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 7 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be high-minded, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

11. Conclusion Have you been deceived? 2.Who or what are you trusting in?