• Mk 12: 28 One of the teachers of the law came and… • he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important? ” 29 “The most important one, ” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. ’ There is no commandment greater than these. ”
Love the Lord your God with all… • Jesus had a lot to say about our “all” • Our stuff • Lk 12: 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. ” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you? ” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions. ” • *
Love the Lord your God with all… 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops. ’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry. ”’ 20 “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? ’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God. ”
1. Stuff defines us • “life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” • 1980’s ignored Jesus’ words • For many, life does consist of our A. O. P (stuff) • Who are YOU when you remove your stuff? • A few things I have had all my life. – Childhood toys – Heirlooms –*
2. Stuff brings us a false sense of security • 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry. ”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. • 2008 -2011 disillusioned many • A new generation is re-thinking the American dream • *
3. Stuff controls our time • • What we have takes maintenance. Deck board rotted Pond pump went bad Fence blew down; – Sledge – Wheelbarrow – Shovel(s) – Level –*
4. Stuff brings fear of loss • Mt 6: 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ” • Alarm systems • Safe or safety deposit box • Feeling violated by thieves • Glove box • Home invasions
5. Stuff is addictive • “He who dies with the most toys wins. ” • Storage Units • Mt 19: 16 Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life? . . . 21 “Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me. When the young man heard this he went away sad because he had great wealth. ” • *
6. Stuff can be a god (idol) • “Daddy I don’t really WANT all the stuff that comes with owning a house. I don’t want to be tied down. I want the freedom to move anywhere. ” • I've never been military • Tiny House movement • The issue is freedom • Disposable income to travel • *
Managing your stuff • “ 1. You can own anything. Just use it for the Lord. ” • 2. Be generous with your stuff • Acts 2: 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ” • 3. An Amazing congregation • *
Managing your stuff • 4. Evaluate your stuff • • • Valuable? Needed? Keepsake? Equipment vs. clutter Just old and can’t bring self to part with it • Who can I bless? • *
Managing your stuff • 5. Managing your possessions is missing the Point • 20 “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? ’ • 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God. ” • Just simplifying your life is not the goal. • *
Managing your stuff • Stuff • • • Defines us False sense of security Controls our time Brings fear of loss Is addictive Can become a god (idol) • Stuff preoccupies us / takes us away from God • Love God with all…
