Thrive Week 5

This powerful message confronts one of the most challenging aspects of our faith journey: our relationship with money and possessions. Drawing from Luke 12:15, we're reminded that Jesus himself warned us to 'watch out' and 'be on guard' against greed because life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. What makes this teaching particularly compelling is the recognition that greed comes in many forms - not just the desire for accumulation, but also the pursuit of control, security, status, and self-protection. We live in a culture that swims in greed, where the economy itself is fueled by our insatiable desire for more. Yet Jesus calls us to a radically different way of living. The contrast is stark: while the world teaches us to spend first, save second, and give whatever's left over, the kingdom way inverts this completely. We're challenged to give first, save second, and then live on what remains. This isn't just about budgeting - it's about trust, contentment, and resistance to cultural conformity. The message beautifully illustrates how the early church stood out from pagan society by being generous with their money while guarding their bodies, completely opposite to the surrounding culture. When we choose to put God first in our finances, we're not just funding ministry - we're declaring God's grace to the world, breaking greed's power over our lives, and stepping into the abundant life Jesus promised.