Materialism // Generosity

Week 4 - Materialism // Generosity

Passage: Luke 12:13-21, Ecclesiastes 5:10-12

Luke 12:13-21 - Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 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.”’ “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?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Materialism is the worldview that prioritizes the physical, tangible, and material. It is the belief that everything stems from the physical and that there is nothing else. From a theological standpoint, materialism asserts that possessions are of the utmost importance. This leads to selfishness, greed, and a lack of perspective.

Clearly, the purpose that God has given all humanity is much bigger than gaining possessions. Yet Christians are just as susceptible to the temptations of materialism, which include overvaluing our possessions, over seeking material gain, and assuming all comfort is found in what we can gather. Jesus calls his followers to seek his kingdom first, not their own comfort. He also calls his people into a lifestyle of generosity as opposed to greed. This generous lifestyle matches the selfless and others-focused lifestyle of Christ.

1. Read Luke 12:13-21 (above). In what ways do you relate to the rich man in the parable?

2. What is the moral of the parable? Why do you think Jesus told this parable after being approached by the individual in the crowd?

3. How do you think the Lord is calling you to live that moral out in your life?

4. Read Ecclesiastes 5:10-12. How do these verses coincide with Jesus’ words in the parable?

5. Generosity is a lifestyle that involves our time, our talents, and our treasures. How is the Lord leading you to be generous?