Part 3: Put Money In It's Place

LETTERS FROM MY FUTURE SELF

PART 3

Luke 12:13-34

1.  BEWARE OF YOUR MONEY BLINDNESS.

“Someone in the crowd said to Him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’  Jesus replied, ‘Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?’ 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.’” Luke 12:13-15 (NIV)

2.  WHAT ARE SIGNS THAT MONEY CONTROLS YOU? 

Situational signs:

• Greed and materialism

“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.’ And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ Luke 12:18-19 (NIV)

• Worry

“Then Jesus said to His disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Luke 12:22-26 (NIV)

Psychological signs:

• Money is your security.

“And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ Luke 12:19 (NIV)

• Money makes you worthy.

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” Luke 12:27 (NIV)

Practical signs:

• You run after money.

“And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.” Luke 12:29-30 (NIV)

• You don’t give money away.

“And He told them this parable: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 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.’” Luke 12:16-18 (NIV)

3. HOW DO YOU GET MONEY HEALTH?

“But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’” Luke 12:31-34 (NIV)

• Make Jesus your treasure. 

“But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving… For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9 (NIV)

MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS: 

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This week’s Reading Plan and blog/podcast:

• YouVersion® Bible App Reading Plan:
  “Where Is Your Treasure ” (7 days)

• Blog and Podcast: “Put Money in Its Place”