BIG IDEA When we worship wealth, we lose our souls trying to secure a life only God can give.

Luke 12:13–21 (NLT) 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.”

1. Beware of your .

Luke 12:15 (NLT) 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

• Def Materialism: the idolatrous pursuit of wealth, possessions, and earthly security that replaces trust in God with trust in created things. It is the false belief that life’s meaning, identity, and security are found in what we own rather than in who we belong to. Scripture calls it greed, which is idolatry, because it elevates material goods to the place only God should occupy.

2. Don’t trust your .

Luke 12:16-20 (NLT) 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?’

3. Get rich with .

Luke 12:21 (NLT) 21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

1 Timothy 6:6-8 [NLT] 6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

What Now?

• Confront your heart idol of Materialism.
• Break the Illusion of Control.
• Use generosity to reorder your treasure around God.