Did you know that the Bible talks a lot about money (about 2,350 verses), more than verses on faith and prayer, combined! And Jesus said more about money than about both heaven and hell. God cares a great deal about how we feel about money and possessions. God knows that we are all prone to greed, no matter how much or how little we have. God wants us to live in freedom, because He is our provider and he knows what we need.Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples… Luke 12:1Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Luke 12:13Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Luke 12:14Then 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 12:15You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Ephesians 5:5 NLTAnd he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.” Luke 12:16“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. 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 12:17-19“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?’ Luke 12:20Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. Psalm 39:6“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:21“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows…Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:6-7,32For 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 8:9(Mariners Church Chapel, Irvine, CA)
