An Earthly-Minded Man
The sermon warns against the dangers of living an earthly-minded life, prioritizing worldly possessions and ease over spiritual preparation and eternity.
Thomas Brooks warns against the dangers of being earthly-minded, illustrating this through the parable of the rich man who focuses solely on his material wealth and comfort, neglecting thoughts of God and eternity. The rich man's preoccupation with his possessions leads to his downfall, as he fails to prepare for the afterlife. Brooks emphasizes that a life consumed by worldly concerns ultimately results in spiritual emptiness and divine judgment. He calls for believers to shift their focus from earthly treasures to heavenly pursuits, reminding them of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of eternal values.
Text
Then He told them a parable: A rich man's land was very
productive. He thought to himself, 'What should I do, since
I don't have anywhere to store my crops? I will do this,' he
said. 'I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store
all my grain and my goods there. Then I'll say to myself--You
have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy;
eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.' Luke 12:16-19
An earthly-minded man has his thoughts and meditations
exercised and taken up with the world. Among all his worldly
thoughts, there is not one thought of God, of Christ, of grace,
of heaven, of holiness, of eternity, to be found. His thoughts
were so taken up with his bags, and his barns, and his buildings,
and his ease, and his belly, that he had no time to think of
providing for another world. Therefore God quickly dispatches
him out of this world, and throws him down from the highest
pinnacle of prosperity and worldly glory--into the greatest gulf
of wrath and misery!
Sermon Outline
- The Parable of the Earthly-Minded Man
- The Consequences of an Earthly-Minded Life
- God's Response to the Earthly-Minded
- Quick dispatch from this world
- Thrown into a life of wrath and misery
- No time for spiritual preparation
Key Quotes
“His thoughts were so taken up with his bags, and his barns, and his buildings, and his ease, and his belly, that he had no time to think of providing for another world.” — Thomas Brooks
“God quickly dispatches him out of this world, and throws him down from the highest pinnacle of prosperity and worldly glory--into the greatest gulf of wrath and misery!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Prioritize spiritual preparation and living a life focused on God and eternity.
- Avoid becoming consumed by worldly possessions and ease.
- Remember that God's response to the earthly-minded is swift and severe.