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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:21

Read: Luke 12:16-21
Listen: Luke 12

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Jesus tells the parable about three conversations a rich man has with himself. The first two seem reasonable. The third one is where he gets in trouble. His first conversation comes after having a bumper crop. There is no implication of any wrongdoing or dishonesty in his success. The second involves the storage capacity for his crops. He knows if he doesn’t get them inside quickly, he could lose them to theft, rodents or weather. The third is different. The only reason the man wants to preserve his wealth is to benefit himself—to use his wealth for his comfort. This is not what God wants. God desires that he becomes “God-rich.”

Defining what it means to be “God-rich” takes us back to the Greatest Commandment in Matthew 22:37-40. In this passage, Jesus summarizes the entirety of the Law with just two commands. We often summarize it as “Love God, Love People.” Our wealth is for the glory of God and the benefit of others.

One way to be God-rich is to help support our church and the spread of the gospel around the world. Another is to volunteer in your community at a local nonprofit. Other ways are to try out and find a place to serve faithfully at church. Regardless of where we plug in, living with the heart of Jesus means we use our wealth for more than better restaurants and expensive trips.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Continue to move towards becoming God-rich by memorizing the Greatest Commandment in Matthew 22:37-39. When you have it completely memorized, call it to mind with the short phrase, “Love God, Love People.”

2023 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

Join us all of 2023 developing a different spiritual practice each month. SPIRITUAL PRACTICES are intentional regular activities to deepen our relationship with God and mold us to be more like Jesus.

June is WORSHIP. Keep track of our spiritual practices at beyondtheweekend.org/spiritualpractices.

Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.