From Belly to Cards or Dice
This sermon warns against the dangers of luxury and self-indulgence, emphasizing that these sins lead people away from God and towards hell.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the dangers of luxury as a sin that is particularly prevalent in society, warning that it is a God-dishonoring and soul-damning behavior that can lead individuals away from salvation. He cites biblical examples, such as the rich man in Luke, to illustrate that those who indulge in luxury are often far from true repentance and faith in Christ. Brooks argues that luxurious living is incompatible with the teachings of Jesus and suggests that such individuals may not genuinely be Christians. He highlights the rarity of reformation among the luxurious, contrasting their lifestyle with the call to holiness and self-denial. Ultimately, he warns that a life of luxury leads to spiritual ruin and separation from God.
Text
"Those who wear expensive clothes and indulge
in luxury are in palaces." Luke 7:25
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and
fine linen and lived in luxury every day." Luke 16:19
"The rich man also died and was buried. In hell,
where he was in torment," Luke 16:22-23
Luxury is one of the great darling sins of our age and day!
It is a very God-dishonoring sin, and a God-provoking sin,
and a soul-damning sin! It shuts them out from all the glory
of heaven--and tumbles them down to the lowest hell!
Look! no luxurious person shall enter into heaven. Of all
sorts of sinners--the luxurious sinner is most rarely reformed.
The adulterer may become chaste, the thief may become
an honest man, the swearer may obtain a sanctified tongue;
but how rare is it to see a luxurious person repent, break off
his sins, close with Christ, and walk to heaven!
Of such professors who live and wallow in luxury and
intemperance, if we compare Christ's laws and their
lives together, I think we may confidently conclude,
that they are not Christians. Panormitan, a heathen,
having read the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of Matthew,
and comparing those rules of Christ with the loose and
luxurious lives of professing Christians; concluded that
those people were not Christians.
Chrysostom preferred brute beasts before luxurious
people; for the beast goes from belly to labor; when
the luxurious person goes from belly to bed, or from
belly to cards or dice, if not to something worse!
"You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You
have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter." James 5:5
Sermon Outline
- I. The Dangers of Luxury
- A. Luxury is a God-dishonoring sin
- B. Luxury shuts people out from heaven and sends them to hell
- II. The Rarity of Repentance
- A. Luxurious people are rarely reformed
- B. It's hard to see a luxurious person repent and walk to heaven
- III. Comparing Christ's Laws with Our Lives
- A. If our lives don't match Christ's laws, we may not be Christians
- B. Even a heathen understood this principle
Key Quotes
“Luxury is one of the great darling sins of our age and day!” — Thomas Brooks
“Of all sorts of sinners--the luxurious sinner is most rarely reformed.” — Thomas Brooks
“You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We should examine our lives to see if they match Christ's laws, and make changes if necessary.
- Luxury and self-indulgence are serious sins that can lead to eternal consequences.
- Repentance and a willingness to change are essential for living as Christians should.