Here are some highlights from the message this past weekend at New Life. The video will be available tomorrow and will be posted on this blog and on New Life's media page.
"The ONE Thing That Truly Matters!"
The Definition of Worldly Success: To make oneself financially stable fulfilling ones own wants and desires.
Many times, we seek success for excess. The world teaches us that success is based on how much "stuff" we acquire. To acquire "stuff" we need money. Thus, the real culprit of worldly success is the pursuit of wealth. When we're wealthy we're seen as successful because we can provide for anything we want!
The next best! We've all experienced the worldly expectation of success because it's been pounded into our hearts. If it was only pounded into our minds we could overcome it with our hearts, but because the world has pounded it into our hearts it is extremely hard to overcome. The world teaches us that we aren't successful until we have the best and the next best. In order to have the best and next best, we need money. (Again, the pursuit of wealth.)
We need money to:
Jesus knew that the pursuit of wealth or worldly success would be the biggest roadblock to following Him. Here is what He said:
STUFF DOESN'T MATTER. GOD DOES!
Psalm 50:10-12 tells us God owns everything and His resources are endless. Everything we have is given to us by God (James 1:17). He allows us to use His stuff while we're here on the earth. We will take nothing except other people to heaven with us when we die. We must use the stuff He has given us for His purposes and His glory. Not our own.
So where are you at today? Are you focusing on your stuff or on God?
Either you (with God's help) will will rule your stuff or your stuff will rule you.
Remember: STUFF DOESN'T MATTER. GOD DOES!
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"The ONE Thing That Truly Matters!"
The Definition of Worldly Success: To make oneself financially stable fulfilling ones own wants and desires.
Many times, we seek success for excess. The world teaches us that success is based on how much "stuff" we acquire. To acquire "stuff" we need money. Thus, the real culprit of worldly success is the pursuit of wealth. When we're wealthy we're seen as successful because we can provide for anything we want!
The next best! We've all experienced the worldly expectation of success because it's been pounded into our hearts. If it was only pounded into our minds we could overcome it with our hearts, but because the world has pounded it into our hearts it is extremely hard to overcome. The world teaches us that we aren't successful until we have the best and the next best. In order to have the best and next best, we need money. (Again, the pursuit of wealth.)
We need money to:
- Buy the best.
- Maintain the best.
- Upgrade to the next best.
Jesus knew that the pursuit of wealth or worldly success would be the biggest roadblock to following Him. Here is what He said:
Jesus makes it abundantly clear that we can't serve God and money. We have to choose. Since people are eternal and they will live life in one of two places, Heaven or Hell, what is most important: Stuff or a relationship with God? Jesus makes it clear what's important:13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” 16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ 21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” -Luke 12:13-21 NLT
STUFF DOESN'T MATTER. GOD DOES!
Psalm 50:10-12 tells us God owns everything and His resources are endless. Everything we have is given to us by God (James 1:17). He allows us to use His stuff while we're here on the earth. We will take nothing except other people to heaven with us when we die. We must use the stuff He has given us for His purposes and His glory. Not our own.
So where are you at today? Are you focusing on your stuff or on God?
Either you (with God's help) will will rule your stuff or your stuff will rule you.
Remember: STUFF DOESN'T MATTER. GOD DOES!
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