Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

A few weeks ago, Gray Strickland preached a message on wise rhythms in life. I remember in that message him referencing the current culture that we exist in as the “land of Er.” We are constantly chasing after biggEr, nicEr, bettEr. Who hasn’t thought at some point “If I just had a little more, then I’d be set?” More money, more security, more stuff. The “land of Er” is full of empty promises of peace that are never fulfilled. That is why Jesus so often warns against selfishness and presses into cultivating generosity in our hearts. The path to peace doesn’t include any stops in the land of Er. Peace is only found in the presence of our Savior.

In Luke 12:13-21, a man asks Jesus to settle a family dispute about an inheritance. In His wisdom, Jesus uses this moment to teach an invaluable lesson: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Then He tells a parable about a rich man whose land produces an abundant harvest. The man has so much that he doesn’t even have space to store it all. If that was you, what would you do? I hate to admit it, but my answer would probably look a lot like the rich fool's solution. Tear down the barns and build bigger ones.

His mindset is clear: This is all for me. I’ve worked hard, and now I can take life easy—eat, drink, and be merry. But God calls him a fool. No one can predict or control life and that very night, his life is taken from him. All of a sudden, all that wealth meant nothing. He spent his time storing up treasures for himself but had nothing stored up for eternity.

The problem isn’t having wealth; it’s making wealth our god. The rich man’s mistake wasn’t in being successful—it was in hoarding what he had instead of using it for God’s purposes. He never once considered how he could bless others or how his abundance could be used for something greater than himself.

A few verses later Jesus reminds us, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34). That is what Jesus is after, our heart not our treasures. The problem is for us as flawed humans one follows the other.

What are you holding onto too tightly? God calls us to live open-handed, ready to bless others. Because in the end, the only treasures that last are the ones invested in eternity.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.
  

The Way of Jesus: 7 Marks of Discipleship

As we begin a new series, we encourage you to lean into the 7 Marks of Discipleship each week. The 7 Marks of Discipleship provide a simple tool to help us identify areas where we are thriving in our calling and where we can grow. Check here each week for a new 7 Marks Challenge that will encourage you to follow Jesus closer every day.