SELF WORTH IS NOT MEASURED BY NET WORTH
“Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed; because your true life is not made up of the things you own, no matter how rich you may be.” Luke 12:15 GNT
My hope today is that you value, “FAITH, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS.”
Life is neither about impressive possessions nor notable achievements. Life is at its best when it is all about meaningful and Godly relationships. The satisfaction of loving others, and being loved by God, family, and friends is incomparable wealth. Life is best enjoyed when you pursue knowing and loving God and others, rather than counting your money and increasing your possessions.
A solitary life cannot ever be satisfying. No matter how much you surround yourself with stuff – your impressive net worth and enviable achievements and acquisitions – you will try to fill the void in your soul with things that cannot and will not satisfy. Lacking joy and fulfillment, you will never feel rich in your soul. Faith, family, and friendships are the true measure of the wealth that brightens your days and warms your nights. Money abs stuff do not produce lasting satisfaction and contentment.
Remember Jesus’ story about Lazarus and the rich man. In Luke 11:19-31 NIV, “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. (20) At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores (21) and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
(22) The time came when the beggar died, and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. (23) In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. (24) So, he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ (25) But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.
(26) And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ (27) He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, (28) for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ (29) Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ (30) ‘No, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’(31) He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
In Matthew 6:19-22 NLT, (19) “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. (20) Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. (21) Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be also. (22) Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.”
Jesus was clear and direct in Luke 12:15 GNT, “Lay up treasures in Heaven where thieves cannot berks in and steal. Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed; because your true life is not made up of the things you have , no matter how rich you may be.” Life is not about possessions nor achievements. Life is more about relationships, and the satisfaction of loving others, and being loved by God, family, and friends. Life is best enjoyed when you pursue knowing and loving God and others, rather than counting your money and building your possessions and compounding your concerns.
A solitary life can never be satisfying. No matter how much you surround yourself with stuff – your impressive net worth and enviable achievements and acquisitions – you will try to fill the void in your soul with things that cannot and will not satisfy. Lacking joy and fulfillment, you can never feel rich in your soul. Faith, family, and friendships are the true measure of wealth. Those riches brighten your days and warm your nights. Money and stuff cannot produce lasting satisfaction and contentment, whatever their price and abundance.
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