First Jesus met a man who wanted something. He had a greed problem. Second, Jesus told us the parable of a man who had something - again, greed. Now, let us look at that second man again. Luke 12:20-21 Imagine in detail when death visits the farmer. What a day it was for the farmer. Full of promise and plans and excitement, but that evening he receives an unexpected visitor. The angel of death comes to the farmer's luxurious manner. At first, he becomes angry, why now? I have just gotten my big break; my ship has just come in. The angel is not moved. Then tries to bargain for his life. Look, see all that I have, it is yours for a few more years, months, days, hours, “but all his money can't another minute buy.” There is an hour that is known by no other than God - the hour of our death. All of us will come to that point in time. No one in this room will be spared. They say the only certain thing is death and taxes. Listen you can cheat with your taxes; you can't cheat death. His soul was required. In literature the story is told of a man who opens a newspaper and discovers the date on the newspaper is six months in advance of the time he lives. He begins to read through the newspaper, and he discovers stories about events that have not yet taken place. He turns to the sports page, and there are scores of games not yet played. He turns to the financial page and discovers a report of the rise or fall of different stocks and bonds. He realizes this can make him a wealthy man. A few large bets on an underdog team he knows will win will make him wealthy. Investments in stocks that are now low but will get high can fatten his portfolio. He is delighted. He turns the page and comes to the obituary column and sees his picture and story. Everything changes. The knowledge of his death changes his view about his wealth. How different would you act if you knew the day and the moment of your death? Think about that. As a nation we are caught up in a rat race for stuff that we are going to die and leave behind. Literally that word means “stupid.” Now that was what God thought of his life. I can see the angel of God as he walks through the cemetery and writes the word FOOL on his gravestone, for all that the man had collected was left behind. To spend your life working for the weekend, trying to keep up with Jones', looking to build that dream home, or take that dream vacation. Living for all that is just plain stupid. You can lose your soul; spend an eternity in hell, by trying to have it all in this life. Jesus is asking “is it worth your soul to get what your wanting?” On the other hand, you can be rich toward God - vs. 21 That means to seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness. Make Christ the center of your life. Give Him first place in your heart. Do not get so infatuated with this world that you lose your perspective. The legend of a master who calls his servant stupid and gives the servant a staff, instructing him if he ever meets anyone more stupid than himself, to give it to that individual. One day the master tells his servant he is going on a long journey from which he will not return and for which he did not prepare-although he could have. Upon hearing this, the servant gives his master the staff. CONCLUSION: Are you ready for the journey? The journey of death. These men have shown us how destructive and deceptive greed can be. We forget that everything we have comes from God, that he ought to call the shots, and that God blesses us to bless others. But greed warps our thinking and causes us to worship the gift and not the giver. Do not feed the need for greed. Come to Christ, seek forgiveness tonight.