Counterfeit 02: Be Rich

When it comes to money, most people experience plenty of anxiety and fear. Jesus taught people how to be rich and have more financial peace.

Luke 12:15 And (Jesus) said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness,

Luke 12:15 for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

Matthew 19:24it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

It’s not that God doesn’t want us to have nice stuff.  God doesn’t want nice stuff to have us.

We are vulnerable to being possessed by our possessions. 

Luke 12:16-19 “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and dry goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink be merry.”’

Luke 12:20  But God said to him, ‘Fool!  This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”’

Luke 12:21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.

“I will not trust in riches but in Him who richly provides.” -Andy Stanley

Heavenly Father, You are the giver of all that is good.  You richly provide everything for our enjoyment.  Sometimes we are greedy.  Help us to be on guard against covetousness.  We want to be thankful for every perfect gift that comes down from You.  Lead us not to be possessed by possessions.  Help us not to live in anxiety and fear but to have the peace of trusting You to provide all that we need.  Make us into people who are rich toward God.  In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.