Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Friday, 14 November 2014 "One's life isn't determined by one's possessions"

Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Friday, 14 November 2014 "One's life isn't determined by one's possessions"
Daily Scripture:  Luke 12: The Story of the Greedy Farmer
13 Someone out of the crowd said, “Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance.”
14 He replied, “Mister, what makes you think it’s any of my business to be a judge or mediator for you?”
15 Speaking to the people, he went on, “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.”
16-19 Then he told them this story: “The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’
20 “Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’
21 “That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.”
Reflection Questions:
Jesus stated a basic principle of his kingdom in verse 15: "One's life isn't determined by one's possessions." He followed up with a parable. It was a simple story--a rich man, reaping a large crop, thought of nothing but how to keep it all, adding it to his already abundant supply. Absorbed with earthly wealth, he forgot that, when life ended, none of it would be of any use to him. Jesus knew better, and urged his hearers to become "rich toward God."
Scholar William Barclay said this rich farmer made two crucial errors. First, "he never saw beyond this world." For a Christian, mortality is no longer something to fear (cf. Hebrews 2:14-15)—but it is a reality to take seriously. In what ways are you planning and living for the time when this world's material possessions will no longer matter?
The farmer's second error, Barclay said, was that "he never saw beyond himself." In contrast, he cited Methodism's founder John Wesley: "At Oxford he had an income of 30 British pounds a year. He lived on 28 British pounds, and gave 2 away. When his income went up to 60 pounds, 90 pounds and 120 pounds a year, he still lived on 28 and gave the rest away." In what practical ways do you look beyond yourself when you evaluate and make changes to your standard of living?
Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, whenever my life ends, I want my greatest treasure to be stored up with you, and not left behind for an auctioneer to dispose of. Guide me into the kind of life that is rich toward you. Amen.
Insight from Chris Folmsbee
Chris Folmsbee is Resurrection’s Director of Discipleship Ministries.  He is the author of several books, with an extensive background in applying principles of spiritual growth to real life. He, his wife Gina and their family have been attending Resurrection since 2008.
I just took an online quiz to see how greedy I am. Below is the result of my quiz. The quiz wasn’t very scientific, but nevertheless, it got me thinking about the things in my life that cause me to be greedy. (Want to take a quiz yourself? Just Google “greed quiz” and you’ll have more than you know what to do with.) Greedquiz

It appears I have some work to do. The quiz result suggests I speak with someone who is at 0% (no greed at all) to help me on my way toward peeling off some of my greed, someday hopefully arriving at 0%. Are there any 0% people out there? If the goal of the Christian life is total love for God and others, then each of us has the charge to rid ourselves of any and all facets of greed to make room for more love.
As you know, there are all kinds of reasons why greed emerges from within and can, at times, control our lives. Fear, selfishness, insecurities, potential failure, potential success, etc. all can lead toward the insatiable desire for gathering resources of all kinds in excessive amounts. This insatiable desire destroys our ability to be content with enough. When we aren’t content, we do not typically live at peace with God, self, others and the world.
Today’s reading (Luke 12:13-21) reminded me of Timothy’s challenge in 1 Timothy 6:6-8. Take a moment and read these verses. The “profit” that so many of us seek is not found through gluttonous living. Instead, a life of godliness, according to Timothy, is the source of profit. Godliness coupled with contentment produces a generous heart marked by benevolence and goodwill.
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