Jesus and Our Stuff. Our Displaced Dependence Our Displaced Dependence.

Jesus and Our StuffJesus and Our Stuff

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Our DisplacedDependence




Dependence on stuff results in greedy hoarding


Luke 12:13-21 (NET Bible)

13 Then someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But Jesus said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator between you two?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 He then told them a parable: “The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop, 17 so he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’


18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to myself, “You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God.”

His problem was not excessive wealth, but excessive attachment to wealth.

His problem was not excessive wealth, but excessive attachment to wealth.

Our Displaced DependenceOur Displaced Dependence

Luke 12:16-18, 21 (NET Bible)

16 He then told them a parable: “The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop, 17 so he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods….’ 21 So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God.”

James 4:3, 13-15 (NET Bible)

3 you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you can spend it on your passions….13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” 14 You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes. 15 You ought to say instead, “If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that.”

“If I’m storing up too much, or giving away too little, I’m depending on stuff and not God.”

“If I’m storing up too much, or giving away too little, I’m depending on stuff and not God.”





Dependence on stuff results in unnecessary worrying




22 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For there is more to life than food, and more to the body than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by worrying can add an hour to his life? 26 So if you cannot do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry about the rest? 27 Consider how the flowers grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these!


28 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you people of little faith! 29 So do not be overly concerned about what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not worry about such things. 30 For all the nations of the world pursue these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, pursue his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom.

“If I’m worrying that I might have too little, I’m depending on stuff and not God.”

“If I’m worrying that I might have too little, I’m depending on stuff and not God.”



33 “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out – a treasure in heaven that never decreases, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

God does not need your money; He wants you to need it less than you need Him.

God does not need your money; He wants you to need it less than you need Him.


What are you afraid that God might ask you to give away?

What are you afraid that God might ask you to give away?


Jesus and Our Stuff. Our Displaced Dependence Our Displaced Dependence.

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