de·fine/di ' fīn/ What defines us? Do we have any say in it?

What defines us Enslaves us Or sets us free

The "What if's" of Fear Are defeated by "Nevertheless"

The "What if's" of Fear Are defeated by "Nevertheless" God not given us a spirit of fear, but of Power, Love and Self-Discipline

Worship: to ascribe worth or value to an object or person

Idolatry: to ascribe worth or value reserved for God to someone or something other than God

Materialism…

How do I know If my possessions define me?

Datsun 260z

Datsun 260z I thought it added Value to me

Having it makes me feel: Like I'm worth more… More secure… Better than… Part of… Happy…

The Bible is old, dusty and outmoded Jesus talks to Americans in the 21 st Century

“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say…” - Jesus “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say…” - Jesus

“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say…” - Jesus Very next moment… “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say…” - Jesus Very next moment…

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me”

Persecution is coming You're gonna die Speaking of death…I need my inheritance!

Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”

I'm talking Persecution Death and Hell And you're asking me to Yell at your brother over money?

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard…

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Greed= pleonexia "ruthless self-seeking and an arrogant assumption that people and things exist for one's own benefit" - John W. Ritenbaugh

Greed= pleonexia An "accursed love of having", which "will pursue its own interests with complete disregard for the rights of others, and even for the considerations of common humanity" - William Barclay

Greed is…idolatry - Col. 3:2

When possessions are the goal People become means to an end

But when God is our security and our value Money becomes another way to glorify him

But when God is our security and our value Money becomes another way to glorify him Worship

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

If what I have is my security and determines my value I define myself (and others) by what is owned

Greed causes us to define ourselves by what we have (and what we don't)

Is that how Jesus Defined people?

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

Problem or Opportunity?

When God is our security and our value Money becomes another way to glorify him

Jesus' Culture

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.'

Problem solved!

Problem solved! What's missing?

Who gave it? Why did he give it?

These 2 Questions Change everything Who gave it? Why did he give it?

"And I’ll say to myself, 'You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry'"

"And I’ll say to myself, 'You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry'" "This is my security and value"=Idolatry

In the absence of God Our default is to decide All things exist for me and mine

When it comes to Money and possessions Most people Are functional atheists

Context: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” "These things exist for me!"

I'm set for life “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”

Epic Fail: Making life about what we own When own exactly none of it

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

Fool= aphron- mindless, stupid, ignorant, morally unbelieving "The fool has said in his heart There is no God" If I don't live it I don't believe it

Fool= aphron- mindless, stupid, ignorant, morally unbelieving "You think you have the world By the tail But you're clueless about How life actually works"

This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ Life= psyche (soul) Demanded back

It isn't yours! Never was

Great Tragedy: Being wildly successful At that which doesn't matter And completely unsuccessful At that which matters most

The only way life works Is when God is in the position He rightly deserves God is my security, my value, that which I seek after most= Worship

“This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” Beginnings: "Tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me!"

When God is our security and our value Money becomes another way to glorify him

“This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” Rich toward God: - Grateful - Free - Trusting

"…rich toward God" In as much as you have done it for the least of these…you've done it for Me - Jesus

The cost of defining ourselves by what we have Is our relationship with God

I need it to Give me value Make me feel secure Define me Be happy Complete me

I need it to Give me value Make me feel secure Define me Be happy Complete me Idolatry!

My God Gives me value Is my security Defines me Gives me joy Completes me Worship!

My God Defines Me

Otherwise it's Idolatry They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - Romans 1:25

When I am defined by My relationship with God It changes how I view Material possessions

When God is our security and our value Money becomes another way to glorify him

What is God's purpose for material possessions? - Worship - Service - Enjoyment - Faith

How do I approach Material possessions? Mine? Or his? For me? Or to glorify God? Problem? Or opportunity?

If I am complete in God (worship) I don't have to be complete in $$ (idolatry) And I have the freedom To seek God's will Instead of slavishly serving myself

When God is our security and our value Money becomes another way to glorify him