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Your Move with Andy Stanley

Andy Stanley - A Better Question (Part 3)

January 17, 2026 | 28:29

Andy Stanley - A Better Question (Part 3)
Your Move with Andy Stanley — to help people make better decisions and live with fewer regrets.
#Giving #Potential #Lies #Lifestyle #Choices #Purpose #Jesus #Greed #Contentment #Selfishness #Foolishness #Envy #Jealousy #Complacency #Fool #AndyStanley

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Your Move with Andy Stanley | Andy Stanley - A Better Question (Part 3) | January 17, 2026
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:00.351
  • Andy stanley: hi, everybody.
  • 00:00:00.819 --> 00:00:02.020
  • Welcome to "your move," where we help you make better decisions
  • 00:00:02.120 --> 00:00:03.521
  • And live with fewer regrets.
  • 00:00:03.655 --> 00:00:04.856
  • I'm andy stanley and i'll be your guide.
  • 00:00:04.989 --> 00:00:06.191
  • Did you know it is possible to be good without doing any good,
  • 00:00:06.291 --> 00:00:10.128
  • Without doing anybody any good?
  • 00:00:10.228 --> 00:00:11.463
  • And that's not good because then you'll be good for nothing, and
  • 00:00:11.563 --> 00:00:14.399
  • You'll be good for nobody, and you want to be better than that.
  • 00:00:14.499 --> 00:00:17.735
  • Today i'll tell you how right here on "your move."
  • 00:00:17.869 --> 00:00:20.538
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:20.638 --> 00:00:23.441
  • Andy: today is actually the third part of a
  • 00:00:27.412 --> 00:00:28.980
  • Three-part series.
  • 00:00:28.980 --> 00:00:30.315
  • We're wrapping it up today entitled "a better question."
  • 00:00:30.315 --> 00:00:32.817
  • And if you've been tracking along with us, what we've said
  • 00:00:32.817 --> 00:00:34.652
  • In this series is we're in the month of january, and the month
  • 00:00:34.652 --> 00:00:37.489
  • Of january is generally a month when we hopefully look in the
  • 00:00:37.489 --> 00:00:40.125
  • Mirror and think, hey, what can i do to make myself better?
  • 00:00:40.125 --> 00:00:43.962
  • We essentially focus on this question: what should i do
  • 00:00:43.962 --> 00:00:46.965
  • About me?
  • 00:00:46.965 --> 00:00:48.333
  • What should i do about me?
  • 00:00:48.333 --> 00:00:49.667
  • How can i make myself slimmer, and smarter, stronger,
  • 00:00:49.667 --> 00:00:52.437
  • Healthier, wealthier?
  • 00:00:52.437 --> 00:00:54.439
  • And as i've said, you should address all of those things.
  • 00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:56.741
  • You need to be healthier, you need to have good
  • 00:00:56.741 --> 00:00:58.476
  • Financial habits.
  • 00:00:58.476 --> 00:00:59.811
  • If you're--you know, get that degree, break that habit, get
  • 00:00:59.811 --> 00:01:03.081
  • Out of debt, get out of that relationship, you know, whatever
  • 00:01:03.081 --> 00:01:06.151
  • You need to do, those are all important things.
  • 00:01:06.151 --> 00:01:08.353
  • But in this series, i've suggested that there's actually
  • 00:01:08.353 --> 00:01:11.289
  • A better question than "what should i do about me?"
  • 00:01:11.289 --> 00:01:14.659
  • And this question, as you've seen, if you focused, if you've
  • 00:01:14.659 --> 00:01:17.028
  • Tracked along with us, this question shifts our focus from
  • 00:01:17.028 --> 00:01:20.532
  • What should i do about me to what needs to be done around me.
  • 00:01:20.532 --> 00:01:24.936
  • It shifts the focus from what do i need to do about me to what
  • 00:01:24.936 --> 00:01:28.139
  • Needs to be done around me.
  • 00:01:28.139 --> 00:01:29.474
  • What needs to be done in the world, what needs to be done in
  • 00:01:29.474 --> 00:01:31.643
  • My community, what needs to be done in someone else's world.
  • 00:01:31.643 --> 00:01:34.712
  • And our better question is this question: what breaks
  • 00:01:34.712 --> 00:01:38.316
  • Your heart?
  • 00:01:38.316 --> 00:01:39.851
  • What breaks your heart?
  • 00:01:39.851 --> 00:01:42.420
  • You're like me, you're bothered by a lot of things, you're
  • 00:01:42.420 --> 00:01:45.223
  • Irritated by a lot of things, maybe locally, culturally,
  • 00:01:45.223 --> 00:01:49.327
  • Nationally, maybe even internationally.
  • 00:01:49.327 --> 00:01:51.663
  • There's some things in the world and you look at them and you say
  • 00:01:51.663 --> 00:01:53.765
  • That shouldn't be.
  • 00:01:53.765 --> 00:01:55.133
  • I wish there wasn't that in the world.
  • 00:01:55.133 --> 00:01:57.902
  • But the question we're asking in this series is there are a lot
  • 00:01:57.902 --> 00:02:00.171
  • Of things that irritate us and get on our nerves, but is there
  • 00:02:00.171 --> 00:02:03.575
  • One thing--
  • 00:02:03.575 --> 00:02:04.909
  • Is there one thing that bothers you more than other things?
  • 00:02:04.909 --> 00:02:08.680
  • Is there something that kind of moves you beyond irritating and
  • 00:02:08.680 --> 00:02:12.050
  • Concerning to, hey, something needs to be done about that?
  • 00:02:12.050 --> 00:02:15.653
  • And if that's the case, you should pay attention to that.
  • 00:02:15.653 --> 00:02:17.822
  • And i wanna reiterate something i've said both times we've
  • 00:02:17.822 --> 00:02:20.425
  • Talked about this.
  • 00:02:20.425 --> 00:02:21.759
  • Even if the thing that breaks your heart is beyond your
  • 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:24.262
  • Control, it's beyond your ability to change or beyond your
  • 00:02:24.262 --> 00:02:27.398
  • Ability to solve, you should pay attention to that.
  • 00:02:27.398 --> 00:02:30.168
  • And as we're gonna see today, you should look for a way to
  • 00:02:30.168 --> 00:02:33.571
  • Give a piece of your life away to that issue.
  • 00:02:33.571 --> 00:02:37.442
  • You should look for a way to give a piece of your resources
  • 00:02:37.442 --> 00:02:40.178
  • Or a piece of your time away to that issue.
  • 00:02:40.178 --> 00:02:42.113
  • Not because you can solve it.
  • 00:02:42.113 --> 00:02:43.481
  • It's probably too big for you to solve.
  • 00:02:43.481 --> 00:02:45.216
  • But there's something so valuable about allowing a broken
  • 00:02:45.216 --> 00:02:49.187
  • Heart to lead us to the place where we give a portion of our
  • 00:02:49.187 --> 00:02:52.991
  • Lives away.
  • 00:02:52.991 --> 00:02:54.826
  • But if nothing, if nothing bothers you, be honest,
  • 00:02:54.826 --> 00:03:02.000
  • If nothing bothers you that doesn't benefit you, and here's
  • 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:05.303
  • What i mean by that:
  • 00:03:05.303 --> 00:03:07.105
  • If the only things that bother you are things that would
  • 00:03:07.105 --> 00:03:10.475
  • Benefit you if they were solved, if the only thing that bothers
  • 00:03:10.475 --> 00:03:13.945
  • You is how inflation impacts you, if the only thing that
  • 00:03:13.945 --> 00:03:17.048
  • Bothers you is your high electric bill--
  • 00:03:17.048 --> 00:03:18.983
  • If you think about the things that bother you, if all the
  • 00:03:18.983 --> 00:03:21.586
  • Things that bother you, rattle you, you know, grab your
  • 00:03:21.586 --> 00:03:24.555
  • Emotions, if they are all things that come back to you,
  • 00:03:24.555 --> 00:03:28.293
  • In other words, if those things were solved, you would be better
  • 00:03:28.293 --> 00:03:30.895
  • Off, but not necessarily anybody else--
  • 00:03:30.895 --> 00:03:34.265
  • I mean, maybe in some sort of secondary sense, but the reason
  • 00:03:34.265 --> 00:03:36.701
  • These things bother you is because of how they impact you,
  • 00:03:36.701 --> 00:03:42.307
  • If nothing bothers you that doesn't benefit you, that should
  • 00:03:42.307 --> 00:03:48.479
  • Bother you.
  • 00:03:48.479 --> 00:03:49.947
  • Here's why.
  • 00:03:49.947 --> 00:03:51.549
  • Because you're in a danger zone and you probably don't know it.
  • 00:03:51.549 --> 00:03:56.621
  • You, you're actually on the verge.
  • 00:03:56.621 --> 00:03:58.756
  • And here's what we're gonna unpack today.
  • 00:03:58.756 --> 00:04:00.124
  • You're actually on the verge of falling for an insidious lie.
  • 00:04:00.124 --> 00:04:04.295
  • A lie that you will eventually see for what it is.
  • 00:04:04.295 --> 00:04:07.432
  • Because over time and with age, we--eventually this all
  • 00:04:07.432 --> 00:04:10.201
  • Comes clear.
  • 00:04:10.201 --> 00:04:11.536
  • But if you don't see it in time, and if you don't catch this in
  • 00:04:11.536 --> 00:04:14.972
  • Time, you have the potential to waste your most valuable asset.
  • 00:04:14.972 --> 00:04:19.344
  • Something that's running out even as i talk.
  • 00:04:19.344 --> 00:04:21.612
  • You have the potential of wasting a large portion of
  • 00:04:21.612 --> 00:04:24.682
  • Your life.
  • 00:04:24.682 --> 00:04:26.751
  • Because this lie that we're gonna talk about, and jesus is
  • 00:04:26.751 --> 00:04:29.187
  • Gonna go right at it in just a minute.
  • 00:04:29.187 --> 00:04:30.822
  • This lie that we're talking about has the potential to
  • 00:04:30.822 --> 00:04:33.224
  • Reduce you.
  • 00:04:33.224 --> 00:04:34.559
  • But here's the reason you should take this seriously, and you
  • 00:04:34.559 --> 00:04:36.861
  • Should pay attention whether you're a religious person or
  • 00:04:36.861 --> 00:04:38.696
  • Not, a christian person or not.
  • 00:04:38.696 --> 00:04:40.031
  • This goes outside the bounds of all of this.
  • 00:04:40.031 --> 00:04:41.733
  • This is just kind of a life thing.
  • 00:04:41.733 --> 00:04:43.935
  • This lie has the potential to cheat you out of your brief
  • 00:04:43.935 --> 00:04:49.374
  • Opportunity to live a meaning-filled life.
  • 00:04:49.374 --> 00:04:53.845
  • It has the potential to cheat you out of your brief
  • 00:04:53.845 --> 00:04:57.849
  • Opportunity to live a meaning-filled,
  • 00:04:57.849 --> 00:05:00.885
  • Purpose-filled life.
  • 00:05:00.885 --> 00:05:03.154
  • So this is so important.
  • 00:05:03.154 --> 00:05:05.156
  • Jesus thought it was.
  • 00:05:05.156 --> 00:05:06.891
  • Here's what happened.
  • 00:05:06.891 --> 00:05:08.626
  • Luke brings this narrative to us, and if you are new to the
  • 00:05:08.626 --> 00:05:12.063
  • Bible study, or new to christianity, or just examining
  • 00:05:12.063 --> 00:05:14.499
  • It, here's something to note.
  • 00:05:14.499 --> 00:05:16.634
  • Luke was a 1st century doctor who sort of became a historian,
  • 00:05:16.634 --> 00:05:19.771
  • Super smart guy, who was a jesus-follower and decided that
  • 00:05:19.771 --> 00:05:23.374
  • Somebody needed to put together an orderly account of the life
  • 00:05:23.374 --> 00:05:26.344
  • And teaching of jesus.
  • 00:05:26.344 --> 00:05:27.678
  • So he interviewed everybody he could find who had anything to
  • 00:05:27.678 --> 00:05:30.114
  • Do with jesus.
  • 00:05:30.114 --> 00:05:31.449
  • He wasn't one of jesus's disciples, and he
  • 00:05:31.449 --> 00:05:33.017
  • Interviewed them.
  • 00:05:33.017 --> 00:05:34.385
  • He knew peter, he knew john, he knew james, the brother of
  • 00:05:34.385 --> 00:05:36.220
  • Jesus, and he puts together this orderly account.
  • 00:05:36.220 --> 00:05:38.556
  • And in that orderly account, we find this very unique
  • 00:05:38.556 --> 00:05:41.659
  • Interchange between jesus and a crowd.
  • 00:05:41.659 --> 00:05:43.995
  • But i want you to pay close attention to the opening
  • 00:05:43.995 --> 00:05:47.064
  • Statement of this story because this is not how you picture
  • 00:05:47.064 --> 00:05:51.302
  • Jesus, ready?
  • 00:05:51.302 --> 00:05:52.670
  • Here's what luke says happened.
  • 00:05:52.670 --> 00:05:54.005
  • "a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were
  • 00:05:54.005 --> 00:06:00.211
  • Trampling on one another."
  • 00:06:00.211 --> 00:06:04.215
  • That's not what you picture, is it?
  • 00:06:04.215 --> 00:06:05.583
  • When we picture jesus, we picture jesus,
  • 00:06:05.583 --> 00:06:06.918
  • He's kinda isolated.
  • 00:06:06.918 --> 00:06:08.252
  • He's got a long white robe, he's got this, you know, peaceful
  • 00:06:08.252 --> 00:06:10.254
  • Look on his face, piercing blue eyes.
  • 00:06:10.254 --> 00:06:11.889
  • He's walking along with a couple of people, with some people
  • 00:06:11.889 --> 00:06:14.292
  • Following and he does a little healing there and a
  • 00:06:14.292 --> 00:06:15.726
  • Little healing-- not the picture.
  • 00:06:15.726 --> 00:06:17.428
  • Everywhere jesus went, read it for yourself in the gospels,
  • 00:06:17.428 --> 00:06:20.731
  • Crowds upon crowds, and the crowds were crazy.
  • 00:06:20.731 --> 00:06:23.935
  • They were trampling one another, why?
  • 00:06:23.935 --> 00:06:26.404
  • Trying to get to jesus.
  • 00:06:26.404 --> 00:06:27.872
  • Imagine strangers constantly touching you.
  • 00:06:27.872 --> 00:06:33.277
  • Imagine everywhere you went there are strangers who they
  • 00:06:33.277 --> 00:06:35.346
  • Just want a piece of you, they just wanna touch you.
  • 00:06:35.346 --> 00:06:37.315
  • Welcome to the daily life of jesus.
  • 00:06:37.315 --> 00:06:40.318
  • So here's these, all these crowds, they're trampling,
  • 00:06:40.318 --> 00:06:42.753
  • They're looking to be healed, they're bringing their sick,
  • 00:06:42.753 --> 00:06:44.722
  • They want a miracle, they wanna be close, they wanna see him.
  • 00:06:44.722 --> 00:06:47.558
  • And he can't move any faster than the crowd because, again,
  • 00:06:47.558 --> 00:06:50.828
  • Everybody's walking.
  • 00:06:50.828 --> 00:06:52.463
  • And then in the midst of this chaos, luke tells us that
  • 00:06:52.463 --> 00:06:55.533
  • Someone in the crowd, we never get the person's name, and i
  • 00:06:55.533 --> 00:06:58.436
  • Don't even know that jesus was able to make eye contact with
  • 00:06:58.436 --> 00:07:01.038
  • This person, there were so many people.
  • 00:07:01.038 --> 00:07:02.406
  • "someone in the crowd shouts out, 'teacher,'" just out of the
  • 00:07:02.406 --> 00:07:06.043
  • Blue, "'tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.'
  • 00:07:06.043 --> 00:07:11.148
  • I mean, i was like, what?
  • 00:07:11.148 --> 00:07:12.783
  • I mean, why are we talking about that?
  • 00:07:12.783 --> 00:07:15.453
  • Because i mean, this guy couldn't get this resolved and
  • 00:07:15.453 --> 00:07:18.189
  • Hey, maybe this guy can help.
  • 00:07:18.189 --> 00:07:19.557
  • "teacher, you know, tell my brother to divide the
  • 00:07:19.557 --> 00:07:21.225
  • Inheritance with me."
  • 00:07:21.225 --> 00:07:22.560
  • A reasonable request, but this was not jesus's agenda.
  • 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:26.063
  • And jesus paused, stopped, and yelled back and replied to the
  • 00:07:26.063 --> 00:07:30.134
  • Man, "hey, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between
  • 00:07:30.134 --> 00:07:34.672
  • You," between the two of you?
  • 00:07:34.672 --> 00:07:36.007
  • In other words, "hey, who said i'm the mediator?
  • 00:07:36.007 --> 00:07:38.543
  • I'm not going to get involved in your family issue.
  • 00:07:38.543 --> 00:07:41.045
  • I mean, why are you choosing me?"
  • 00:07:41.045 --> 00:07:44.749
  • And then jesus does what jesus does.
  • 00:07:44.749 --> 00:07:48.286
  • Jesus sees an opening, an opportunity, a teachable moment,
  • 00:07:48.286 --> 00:07:51.656
  • And he takes hold of something woven into this question, and he
  • 00:07:51.656 --> 00:07:57.395
  • Turns the corner, and changes the subject to address something
  • 00:07:57.395 --> 00:08:00.364
  • He wanted to talk about that fit his agenda.
  • 00:08:00.364 --> 00:08:03.668
  • So apparently he stops, has everybody sit down, and he
  • 00:08:03.668 --> 00:08:07.905
  • Begins to teach.
  • 00:08:07.905 --> 00:08:10.675
  • Here's what he said, this is so great.
  • 00:08:10.675 --> 00:08:12.777
  • "then he said to them, 'watch out!
  • 00:08:12.777 --> 00:08:16.347
  • Be on your guard against all kinds of greed.'"
  • 00:08:16.347 --> 00:08:20.184
  • Of course the guy who asked the question is like, "greed?
  • 00:08:20.184 --> 00:08:23.120
  • Why are we talking about greed?
  • 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:24.455
  • I just want what's fair.
  • 00:08:24.455 --> 00:08:25.823
  • I just want what's coming to me."
  • 00:08:25.823 --> 00:08:27.592
  • Jesus smiles, watch out!
  • 00:08:27.592 --> 00:08:29.727
  • Be on your guard against all kinds of greed.
  • 00:08:29.727 --> 00:08:33.598
  • Now, i love this greek term.
  • 00:08:33.598 --> 00:08:34.932
  • The greek term for greed is pleonexia.
  • 00:08:34.932 --> 00:08:37.201
  • Pleonexia, pleonexia.
  • 00:08:37.201 --> 00:08:39.070
  • Pleonexia sounds like a disease, doesn't it?
  • 00:08:39.070 --> 00:08:42.640
  • "ma'am, i don't know how to tell you this, but you
  • 00:08:42.640 --> 00:08:44.508
  • Have pleonexia."
  • 00:08:44.508 --> 00:08:45.876
  • Oh, no, my mom had that and her mom had that.
  • 00:08:45.876 --> 00:08:47.411
  • Oh, can you see it?
  • 00:08:47.411 --> 00:08:48.746
  • Yes, yes, yeah, pleonexia, we got something for that but,
  • 00:08:48.746 --> 00:08:50.715
  • You know?
  • 00:08:50.715 --> 00:08:52.083
  • It's actually a disease, that's why i like this greek word.
  • 00:08:52.083 --> 00:08:54.852
  • It's the disease of insatiableness.
  • 00:08:54.852 --> 00:08:57.655
  • It's the disease of never enough-ness for me-ness.
  • 00:08:57.655 --> 00:09:02.627
  • Never enough-ness for me-ness.
  • 00:09:02.627 --> 00:09:04.095
  • It's the disease of since they have one, i should have one too.
  • 00:09:04.095 --> 00:09:06.998
  • It's the disease of mine looks older than theirs, and i think i
  • 00:09:06.998 --> 00:09:10.401
  • Should get a new one to match theirs.
  • 00:09:10.401 --> 00:09:11.736
  • It's the disease of discontentment.
  • 00:09:11.736 --> 00:09:13.404
  • It's the disease of always looking around and everything
  • 00:09:13.404 --> 00:09:16.207
  • That you have, it just doesn't seem to be what it used to be,
  • 00:09:16.207 --> 00:09:19.410
  • And there can't--there just isn't ever enough to come your
  • 00:09:19.410 --> 00:09:22.046
  • Way to fill that insatiable bucket of getting whatever need
  • 00:09:22.046 --> 00:09:25.383
  • That is met.
  • 00:09:25.383 --> 00:09:26.817
  • It's a disease.
  • 00:09:26.817 --> 00:09:29.186
  • And jesus says, jesus says, "you gotta watch out for it."
  • 00:09:29.186 --> 00:09:34.759
  • And he asked him, he says, "you gotta watch out, be on
  • 00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:36.961
  • Your guard," so i'm gonna ask you the question.
  • 00:09:36.961 --> 00:09:38.396
  • The answer is no, so don't pretend like you're better
  • 00:09:38.396 --> 00:09:40.731
  • Than you are.
  • 00:09:40.731 --> 00:09:42.066
  • The answer is no but i'm gonna ask it anyway.
  • 00:09:42.066 --> 00:09:43.734
  • Then i'm gonna tell you why.
  • 00:09:43.734 --> 00:09:45.069
  • Are you on your guard against pleonexia?
  • 00:09:45.069 --> 00:09:48.539
  • Are you on the lookout for pleonexia?
  • 00:09:48.539 --> 00:09:50.541
  • Are you watching out daily for greed and pleonexia?
  • 00:09:50.541 --> 00:09:53.878
  • And the answer is no.
  • 00:09:53.878 --> 00:09:55.246
  • And here's why the answer is no.
  • 00:09:55.246 --> 00:09:57.214
  • Because we aren't on our guard against things that we don't
  • 00:09:57.214 --> 00:10:00.251
  • Perceive as a threat.
  • 00:10:00.251 --> 00:10:02.219
  • We don't live our lives on guard against things that we don't
  • 00:10:02.219 --> 00:10:04.889
  • Perceive as a threat.
  • 00:10:04.889 --> 00:10:06.257
  • You wear sunscreen during the week.
  • 00:10:06.257 --> 00:10:07.725
  • You don't walk around with bear spray, right?
  • 00:10:07.725 --> 00:10:10.895
  • Unless you're on a trail and there's a sign that says, "there
  • 00:10:10.895 --> 00:10:13.164
  • Are bears" and it's like, "honey, we need to get some
  • 00:10:13.164 --> 00:10:14.832
  • Bear spray."
  • 00:10:14.832 --> 00:10:16.167
  • As soon as you're aware of a threat, we go on our guard.
  • 00:10:16.167 --> 00:10:17.902
  • But we don't live our lives looking out for our, you know,
  • 00:10:17.902 --> 00:10:20.738
  • Being on guard against things that we don't perceive as an
  • 00:10:20.738 --> 00:10:23.974
  • Actual threat.
  • 00:10:23.974 --> 00:10:25.342
  • And jesus says that i should be and that you should be on
  • 00:10:25.342 --> 00:10:29.280
  • Guard against never enough-ness,
  • 00:10:29.280 --> 00:10:32.016
  • Pleonexia, greed, to which we're all, you're all thinking the
  • 00:10:32.016 --> 00:10:36.821
  • Same thing.
  • 00:10:36.821 --> 00:10:38.155
  • Wait, greed?
  • 00:10:38.155 --> 00:10:39.523
  • I mean, i have issues, but-- here's the point.
  • 00:10:39.523 --> 00:10:41.125
  • He said because pleonexia is sinister and it's subtle.
  • 00:10:41.125 --> 00:10:46.697
  • It wears multiple disguises.
  • 00:10:46.697 --> 00:10:50.334
  • It disguises itself as a virtue.
  • 00:10:50.334 --> 00:10:53.571
  • I'm responsible.
  • 00:10:53.571 --> 00:10:55.172
  • I'm careful.
  • 00:10:55.172 --> 00:10:56.540
  • I manage my things well. i have nice things.
  • 00:10:56.540 --> 00:10:58.709
  • I'm just trying to take care-- no, no, don't touch my
  • 00:10:58.709 --> 00:11:00.411
  • Nice things.
  • 00:11:00.411 --> 00:11:01.746
  • So i have plexiglass all over all my stuff.
  • 00:11:01.746 --> 00:11:03.114
  • You know, you can look but you can't touch.
  • 00:11:03.114 --> 00:11:04.615
  • It's i'm just careful, i'm responsible, i'm a good steward,
  • 00:11:04.615 --> 00:11:07.618
  • I'm taking care of my family.
  • 00:11:07.618 --> 00:11:08.953
  • It disguises itself as a virtue.
  • 00:11:08.953 --> 00:11:10.354
  • It hides behind things like this.
  • 00:11:10.354 --> 00:11:12.089
  • I work hard.
  • 00:11:12.089 --> 00:11:13.724
  • I earned this.
  • 00:11:13.724 --> 00:11:15.092
  • I'm entitled.
  • 00:11:15.092 --> 00:11:16.594
  • "hey, jesus, tell my brother to split the thing up fairly.
  • 00:11:16.594 --> 00:11:20.531
  • I need to get what's coming to me."
  • 00:11:20.531 --> 00:11:23.768
  • And you can't see it in the mirror.
  • 00:11:23.768 --> 00:11:26.804
  • So we don't see it as a threat.
  • 00:11:26.804 --> 00:11:30.541
  • Besides, i'm gonna push back on jesus for just a minute.
  • 00:11:30.541 --> 00:11:32.810
  • Besides jesus, okay, greed, pleonexia, whatever,
  • 00:11:32.810 --> 00:11:36.180
  • That's interesting.
  • 00:11:36.180 --> 00:11:37.548
  • But what's the threat?
  • 00:11:37.548 --> 00:11:38.883
  • Why do i need to be on guard against that?
  • 00:11:38.883 --> 00:11:40.251
  • So i'm greedy, so what?
  • 00:11:40.251 --> 00:11:41.585
  • I got my stuff, i don't really care what people think.
  • 00:11:41.585 --> 00:11:43.154
  • So why should i fear pleonexia?
  • 00:11:43.154 --> 00:11:45.489
  • Why should i fear greed?
  • 00:11:45.489 --> 00:11:46.824
  • Why should i be on guard against it?
  • 00:11:46.824 --> 00:11:48.793
  • You know, you gotta give me some more information.
  • 00:11:48.793 --> 00:11:50.261
  • Jesus, what's at stake?
  • 00:11:50.261 --> 00:11:53.264
  • And jesus is about to say, let me tell you what's at stake.
  • 00:11:53.264 --> 00:11:55.966
  • Your life is at stake.
  • 00:11:55.966 --> 00:11:58.402
  • What makes life really life is at stake.
  • 00:11:58.402 --> 00:12:00.538
  • What makes life really worth living is at stake, and you
  • 00:12:00.538 --> 00:12:03.274
  • Don't realize it.
  • 00:12:03.274 --> 00:12:04.608
  • But that's what is at stake, because greed in all of its
  • 00:12:04.608 --> 00:12:07.611
  • Subtle forms has the potential to rob your life of meaning.
  • 00:12:07.611 --> 00:12:13.184
  • Wait a minute.
  • 00:12:13.184 --> 00:12:14.518
  • How in the world can greed rob my life of meaning?
  • 00:12:14.518 --> 00:12:18.422
  • You ready for this?
  • 00:12:18.422 --> 00:12:19.757
  • If you have to leave early, here's the bottom line.
  • 00:12:19.757 --> 00:12:22.026
  • Because pleonexia or greed, ensures we are always an end and
  • 00:12:22.026 --> 00:12:29.133
  • Never a means.
  • 00:12:29.133 --> 00:12:32.236
  • If you're never a means, you'll never experience meaning.
  • 00:12:32.236 --> 00:12:38.642
  • Greed, it's all coming to me for me.
  • 00:12:38.642 --> 00:12:41.145
  • It's my stuff, i don't care what you think.
  • 00:12:41.145 --> 00:12:43.414
  • Greed ensures we are always an end, never a means.
  • 00:12:43.414 --> 00:12:50.654
  • And you can't experience meaningful until you are willing
  • 00:12:50.654 --> 00:12:55.626
  • To be a means.
  • 00:12:55.626 --> 00:12:58.495
  • Then jesus continues with his teaching, and he gives them a
  • 00:12:58.495 --> 00:13:00.731
  • Maxim, or a truism, or a principle, or a saying.
  • 00:13:00.731 --> 00:13:03.767
  • Here's what he says.
  • 00:13:03.767 --> 00:13:05.135
  • Come on, life,
  • 00:13:05.135 --> 00:13:07.037
  • Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.
  • 00:13:07.037 --> 00:13:12.243
  • In other words, at no point do you equate the value of your
  • 00:13:12.243 --> 00:13:16.714
  • Life with what you own.
  • 00:13:16.714 --> 00:13:18.749
  • To which you would say, and i would say, well, of course
  • 00:13:18.749 --> 00:13:20.851
  • We don't.
  • 00:13:20.851 --> 00:13:22.219
  • And jesus is like, yeah, but watch the way you live and watch
  • 00:13:22.219 --> 00:13:25.089
  • The way you respond, and look at how you guard your time and
  • 00:13:25.089 --> 00:13:28.058
  • Guard your assets, and guard, and guard, and guard.
  • 00:13:28.058 --> 00:13:30.461
  • You're watching out, you're guarding all the wrong things
  • 00:13:30.461 --> 00:13:32.630
  • For all the wrong reasons because at the end of the day,
  • 00:13:32.630 --> 00:13:35.366
  • What you own doesn't equal the value of your life, regardless
  • 00:13:35.366 --> 00:13:40.170
  • Of the amount, right?
  • 00:13:40.170 --> 00:13:41.772
  • Life and stuff, they're two completely different categories.
  • 00:13:41.772 --> 00:13:46.744
  • Pleonexia, all the subtle forms of greed, fools us into thinking
  • 00:13:46.744 --> 00:13:52.416
  • The opposite is true.
  • 00:13:52.416 --> 00:13:54.618
  • So we live our actual lives, even though we know what jesus
  • 00:13:54.618 --> 00:13:57.521
  • Said is true.
  • 00:13:57.521 --> 00:13:58.856
  • We live our actual lives as if life does consist in an
  • 00:13:58.856 --> 00:14:02.126
  • Abundance of possessions.
  • 00:14:02.126 --> 00:14:04.795
  • But i'm gonna push back one more time.
  • 00:14:04.795 --> 00:14:06.463
  • Okay, good point, jesus.
  • 00:14:06.463 --> 00:14:08.399
  • Got you. but so what?
  • 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:10.768
  • So what?
  • 00:14:10.768 --> 00:14:12.136
  • What is so dangerous about that?
  • 00:14:12.136 --> 00:14:13.938
  • You haven't convinced me that this is something i need to be
  • 00:14:13.938 --> 00:14:16.540
  • On the lookout for.
  • 00:14:16.540 --> 00:14:17.942
  • I'm just not feeling the tension.
  • 00:14:17.942 --> 00:14:20.644
  • And jesus would read our minds and would read the minds of
  • 00:14:20.644 --> 00:14:23.514
  • His audience.
  • 00:14:23.514 --> 00:14:25.316
  • Good question.
  • 00:14:25.316 --> 00:14:26.684
  • And so do you know what jesus does?
  • 00:14:26.684 --> 00:14:28.585
  • Jesus launches into one of his famous stories.
  • 00:14:28.585 --> 00:14:31.121
  • He launches into a parable.
  • 00:14:31.121 --> 00:14:32.456
  • Let me tell you what this illustrates first.
  • 00:14:32.456 --> 00:14:33.924
  • The point of the parable, to make sure you stay on track to
  • 00:14:33.924 --> 00:14:36.327
  • This 'cause he kinda goes all over the place.
  • 00:14:36.327 --> 00:14:37.995
  • The point is to illustrate the meaning depleting.
  • 00:14:37.995 --> 00:14:41.865
  • This is very important.
  • 00:14:41.865 --> 00:14:43.233
  • He's about to illustrate, through this parable, the
  • 00:14:43.233 --> 00:14:45.202
  • Meaning depleting power of pleonexia.
  • 00:14:45.202 --> 00:14:49.540
  • In other words, put it this way, it's the power of greed, the
  • 00:14:49.540 --> 00:14:53.510
  • Power of greed to rob you while it enriches you.
  • 00:14:53.510 --> 00:14:57.815
  • This is why it's so subtle.
  • 00:14:57.815 --> 00:14:59.383
  • He's about to warn us against the power of greed that actually
  • 00:14:59.383 --> 00:15:02.419
  • Robs us while it enriches us.
  • 00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:06.924
  • So here's the story.
  • 00:15:06.924 --> 00:15:08.525
  • He says, "the ground of a rich man yielded an
  • 00:15:08.525 --> 00:15:12.096
  • Abundant harvest."
  • 00:15:12.096 --> 00:15:13.831
  • So the rich get richer, even in the 1st century.
  • 00:15:13.831 --> 00:15:16.500
  • That's exactly what this means.
  • 00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:17.935
  • Somebody who already had extra, just got extra, extra.
  • 00:15:17.935 --> 00:15:23.407
  • And this man thought to himself, my goodness, look at this
  • 00:15:23.407 --> 00:15:25.943
  • Abundant crop.
  • 00:15:25.943 --> 00:15:27.277
  • I'm already rich, i already have more than i need,
  • 00:15:27.277 --> 00:15:28.946
  • But now i've got extra, extra.
  • 00:15:28.946 --> 00:15:30.981
  • And he thought to himself, what am i gonna do?
  • 00:15:30.981 --> 00:15:34.051
  • It wasn't apparent to him what he should do.
  • 00:15:34.051 --> 00:15:37.221
  • What should i do with all my extra?
  • 00:15:37.221 --> 00:15:41.492
  • He saw this as a problem he had to solve.
  • 00:15:41.492 --> 00:15:44.528
  • It was actually an opportunity and he missed it.
  • 00:15:44.528 --> 00:15:46.930
  • He didn't see it that way.
  • 00:15:46.930 --> 00:15:48.265
  • And the reason he didn't see it as an opportunity?
  • 00:15:48.265 --> 00:15:50.534
  • Pleonexia, greed.
  • 00:15:50.534 --> 00:15:53.337
  • But he didn't know.
  • 00:15:53.337 --> 00:15:54.671
  • He just thought he had a problem.
  • 00:15:54.671 --> 00:15:56.040
  • I've got extra, extra, what do i do with my extra, extra?
  • 00:15:56.040 --> 00:15:57.875
  • I don't have any place, oh my goodness, i have no place to
  • 00:15:57.875 --> 00:16:00.677
  • Store my crops.
  • 00:16:00.677 --> 00:16:02.379
  • Now, i was tempted at this point in the sermon to talk about our
  • 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:05.082
  • Closets, and our attics, and our basements but i'm not gonna--
  • 00:16:05.082 --> 00:16:07.217
  • And your special storage unit and you had to--
  • 00:16:07.217 --> 00:16:09.420
  • I'm not gonna do that, okay, that's way too personal.
  • 00:16:09.420 --> 00:16:11.522
  • Anyway, "'what shall i do?
  • 00:16:11.522 --> 00:16:12.923
  • I have no place to store my crops,'" and here's the
  • 00:16:12.923 --> 00:16:16.026
  • Assumption, this is important.
  • 00:16:16.026 --> 00:16:17.394
  • The assumption was since it came to me, it's for me.
  • 00:16:17.394 --> 00:16:22.766
  • We call this around here the "consumption assumption."
  • 00:16:22.766 --> 00:16:26.370
  • The consumption assumption is if it comes my way, it's
  • 00:16:26.370 --> 00:16:29.973
  • Obviously for my consumption.
  • 00:16:29.973 --> 00:16:31.875
  • And then he said, "ah, i got it.
  • 00:16:31.875 --> 00:16:33.343
  • I know what i'll do.
  • 00:16:33.343 --> 00:16:35.079
  • I'm gonna tear down my barns, my perfectly good barns, and i'm
  • 00:16:35.079 --> 00:16:39.149
  • Gonna build bigger ones.
  • 00:16:39.149 --> 00:16:40.751
  • And there i will store my surplus grain."
  • 00:16:40.751 --> 00:16:45.722
  • I'm gonna save it now to consume it later because if it comes to
  • 00:16:45.722 --> 00:16:50.394
  • Me, obviously, it's for me.
  • 00:16:50.394 --> 00:16:53.363
  • And there it is, a really bad case of pleonexia.
  • 00:16:53.363 --> 00:16:59.069
  • He was an end, not a means to an end.
  • 00:16:59.069 --> 00:17:03.240
  • He was the end, not a means to an end.
  • 00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:06.343
  • If it came to him, it was for him.
  • 00:17:06.343 --> 00:17:09.379
  • And then he says, 'cause he can't see this in the mirror,
  • 00:17:09.379 --> 00:17:11.715
  • None of us can.
  • 00:17:11.715 --> 00:17:13.050
  • He said, "and then i'll say to myself, 'self, you have plenty
  • 00:17:13.050 --> 00:17:16.587
  • Of grain.'"
  • 00:17:16.587 --> 00:17:17.955
  • Here it is, here's the other trap, right here in the parable,
  • 00:17:17.955 --> 00:17:19.690
  • Jesus is brilliant.
  • 00:17:19.690 --> 00:17:21.425
  • "you have plenty of grain laid up for many years."
  • 00:17:21.425 --> 00:17:24.928
  • And there's the lie.
  • 00:17:24.928 --> 00:17:26.263
  • Since i have a lot of grain, i've got a lot of life.
  • 00:17:26.263 --> 00:17:30.667
  • Since i have so much provision, i must have enough time to use
  • 00:17:30.667 --> 00:17:34.438
  • Up the provision.
  • 00:17:34.438 --> 00:17:35.939
  • Stuff equals life, and stuff equals time.
  • 00:17:35.939 --> 00:17:38.308
  • I've got all the time in the world because i've got all the
  • 00:17:38.308 --> 00:17:40.210
  • Stuff in the world.
  • 00:17:40.210 --> 00:17:42.279
  • "and then i'll say to myself, 'take life easy.'"
  • 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:45.415
  • Just take life easy.
  • 00:17:45.415 --> 00:17:46.783
  • "'eat, drink and be merry.'"
  • 00:17:46.783 --> 00:17:50.053
  • And jesus's audience had one thing in common with us.
  • 00:17:50.053 --> 00:17:55.025
  • They were envious.
  • 00:17:55.025 --> 00:17:57.794
  • I mean, wouldn't that be great?
  • 00:17:57.794 --> 00:17:59.830
  • To just get up everyday with no responsibility, everyday with no
  • 00:17:59.830 --> 00:18:02.833
  • Pressure, everyday with enough food to eat, everyday with
  • 00:18:02.833 --> 00:18:05.369
  • Enough to just do whatever you wanna do?
  • 00:18:05.369 --> 00:18:06.737
  • In fact, you don't even have to get up.
  • 00:18:06.737 --> 00:18:08.539
  • You can just lay there all day long.
  • 00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:10.140
  • Just get up whenever you want to, do whatever you want to.
  • 00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:15.212
  • But this is a parable, which means jesus has a point to make.
  • 00:18:15.212 --> 00:18:21.485
  • And the point he's about to make goes right to the heart of the
  • 00:18:21.485 --> 00:18:25.722
  • Meaning depleting deception of greed.
  • 00:18:25.722 --> 00:18:28.692
  • Greed will fill our schedule, it will fill our ego, it will fill
  • 00:18:28.692 --> 00:18:34.431
  • Up our relationship buckets, might even fill up our
  • 00:18:34.431 --> 00:18:37.434
  • Bank accounts.
  • 00:18:37.434 --> 00:18:38.769
  • And while it's filling all of those things up, it can rob us
  • 00:18:38.769 --> 00:18:42.406
  • All at the same time.
  • 00:18:42.406 --> 00:18:45.008
  • And jesus is illustrating this through the parable.
  • 00:18:45.008 --> 00:18:47.444
  • Here's a guy who felt full but he was empty because he missed
  • 00:18:47.444 --> 00:18:51.515
  • The opportunity of a lifetime.
  • 00:18:51.515 --> 00:18:53.984
  • And jesus says, at this point in the story, because remember it's
  • 00:18:53.984 --> 00:18:56.620
  • A made up story, jesus introduces god into the story.
  • 00:18:56.620 --> 00:19:00.958
  • And he says, "as happy as this guy was about his future and as
  • 00:19:00.958 --> 00:19:03.961
  • Secure as he felt about his future," he said, "but god said
  • 00:19:03.961 --> 00:19:07.397
  • To him," because in a parable, anything can happen, right?
  • 00:19:07.397 --> 00:19:10.334
  • "god said to the rich man, 'you fool!'"
  • 00:19:10.334 --> 00:19:14.504
  • And everybody in jesus's audience is like, "fool?"
  • 00:19:14.504 --> 00:19:17.674
  • I would love to be that fool.
  • 00:19:17.674 --> 00:19:19.576
  • What do you mean he's a fool?
  • 00:19:19.576 --> 00:19:21.078
  • And i mean, how could he be a fool?
  • 00:19:21.078 --> 00:19:22.779
  • He was actually wise.
  • 00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:24.114
  • He was responsible, he was smart enough to be wealthy,
  • 00:19:24.114 --> 00:19:26.416
  • Now he got wealthier.
  • 00:19:26.416 --> 00:19:27.751
  • How can you be a fool?
  • 00:19:27.751 --> 00:19:29.119
  • I mean, he was wise, not a fool, and jesus says, "no."
  • 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:31.655
  • And here's why jesus says no.
  • 00:19:31.655 --> 00:19:34.458
  • And this is for you and this is for me.
  • 00:19:34.458 --> 00:19:36.727
  • Because the man in the parable made the mistake of presuming on
  • 00:19:36.727 --> 00:19:41.765
  • The future.
  • 00:19:41.765 --> 00:19:43.133
  • You know what that means?
  • 00:19:43.133 --> 00:19:44.468
  • It means i've got so much stuff, i must have so much time.
  • 00:19:44.468 --> 00:19:48.105
  • To presume on the future is to assume time that you don't know
  • 00:19:48.105 --> 00:19:52.175
  • You have.
  • 00:19:52.175 --> 00:19:53.510
  • To presume on the future is to assume opportunity that you may
  • 00:19:53.510 --> 00:19:56.913
  • Never get.
  • 00:19:56.913 --> 00:19:58.282
  • It's to assume opportunities to do good things later.
  • 00:19:58.282 --> 00:20:01.618
  • You know, once i'm an adult, once i get to my 30s, once i'm
  • 00:20:01.618 --> 00:20:04.421
  • 40, once we get the kids out of the house, once we get everybody
  • 00:20:04.421 --> 00:20:06.790
  • Graduated, once we pay off our debt, once we, once we, once we,
  • 00:20:06.790 --> 00:20:09.960
  • Then i'm gonna take care of that opportunity to do something
  • 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:12.729
  • Beyond myself.
  • 00:20:12.729 --> 00:20:14.097
  • And jesus says, "you fool."
  • 00:20:14.097 --> 00:20:16.166
  • You don't know what the future holds.
  • 00:20:16.166 --> 00:20:18.435
  • You don't have any guarantees.
  • 00:20:18.435 --> 00:20:20.170
  • You don't even know what this day holds.
  • 00:20:20.170 --> 00:20:22.939
  • He was a fool not because of what he owned.
  • 00:20:22.939 --> 00:20:26.043
  • He was a fool because he was owned by what he owned.
  • 00:20:26.043 --> 00:20:31.615
  • And he wasn't on guard against the subtle realities, the
  • 00:20:31.615 --> 00:20:36.320
  • Subtleness of pleonexia.
  • 00:20:36.320 --> 00:20:40.223
  • "but god said to him, 'you fool!
  • 00:20:40.223 --> 00:20:43.226
  • This very night your life will be demanded from you.'"
  • 00:20:43.226 --> 00:20:48.565
  • Wait, wait, that's not possible.
  • 00:20:48.565 --> 00:20:49.933
  • Have you seen how much grain i have?
  • 00:20:49.933 --> 00:20:52.369
  • Have you not seen how much i have yet to consume?
  • 00:20:52.369 --> 00:20:55.105
  • I have so much stuff.
  • 00:20:55.105 --> 00:20:56.440
  • Doesn't more stuff equal more life?
  • 00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:59.076
  • No, of course it doesn't.
  • 00:20:59.076 --> 00:21:01.745
  • You fool.
  • 00:21:01.745 --> 00:21:03.113
  • You fool.
  • 00:21:03.714 --> 00:21:05.048
  • "god said to him, 'you fool!
  • 00:21:05.048 --> 00:21:06.383
  • This very night your life will be demanded from you.'"
  • 00:21:06.383 --> 00:21:09.152
  • And then jesus presses in with this amazing question.
  • 00:21:09.152 --> 00:21:15.492
  • Then who?
  • 00:21:15.492 --> 00:21:17.761
  • "then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?"
  • 00:21:17.761 --> 00:21:26.436
  • "then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?"
  • 00:21:26.436 --> 00:21:31.608
  • And it's like, oh, i know the answer to that.
  • 00:21:31.608 --> 00:21:37.781
  • Someone else.
  • 00:21:37.781 --> 00:21:41.551
  • But not because he was generous, because he was dead.
  • 00:21:41.551 --> 00:21:48.625
  • And then the punch line, or the punch in the gut line for me,
  • 00:21:51.762 --> 00:21:54.831
  • And the punch in the gut line for us.
  • 00:21:54.831 --> 00:21:56.233
  • Jesus gives us the punch line.
  • 00:21:56.233 --> 00:21:57.601
  • This is the wake up call.
  • 00:21:57.601 --> 00:21:58.935
  • This is why, this is why you've got to discover something
  • 00:21:58.935 --> 00:22:01.471
  • Outside of you that breaks your heart.
  • 00:22:01.471 --> 00:22:03.140
  • This is why you can't be consumed with it.
  • 00:22:03.140 --> 00:22:04.975
  • This is why we can't get locked into the consumption assumption,
  • 00:22:04.975 --> 00:22:08.245
  • And it's so easy for us because of where we live and what we
  • 00:22:08.245 --> 00:22:10.814
  • Have in the era of human history that we live in.
  • 00:22:10.814 --> 00:22:14.985
  • This is why you've gotta find a way to devote at least a piece
  • 00:22:14.985 --> 00:22:18.922
  • Of yourself to something beyond you.
  • 00:22:18.922 --> 00:22:23.727
  • Otherwise we fall into this trap.
  • 00:22:23.727 --> 00:22:25.762
  • And then jesus leaves the parable.
  • 00:22:25.762 --> 00:22:27.564
  • This is important, because that's the end of the parable.
  • 00:22:27.564 --> 00:22:29.566
  • He pulls out of the parable, and now he addresses us directly,
  • 00:22:29.566 --> 00:22:32.836
  • And he addresses his audience directly.
  • 00:22:32.836 --> 00:22:35.038
  • And here's what he says.
  • 00:22:35.038 --> 00:22:36.807
  • This is so convicting and inspiring if we take it the
  • 00:22:36.807 --> 00:22:40.510
  • Right way.
  • 00:22:40.510 --> 00:22:42.212
  • He says this, "this is how it will be,"
  • 00:22:42.212 --> 00:22:46.149
  • To which you're like, wait, wait, wait, what is this?
  • 00:22:46.149 --> 00:22:48.618
  • Oh, oh, let me find that for you.
  • 00:22:48.618 --> 00:22:50.220
  • Jesus would say "this" is total loss.
  • 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:53.190
  • Total loss is how it will be.
  • 00:22:53.190 --> 00:22:55.091
  • He lost his life, he lost his stuff, and he lost
  • 00:22:55.091 --> 00:22:56.993
  • His opportunity.
  • 00:22:56.993 --> 00:22:58.795
  • He lost everything.
  • 00:22:58.795 --> 00:23:00.464
  • There's nothing to show for him because it was all about him.
  • 00:23:00.464 --> 00:23:05.469
  • There was nothing to show for him because it was all about
  • 00:23:05.469 --> 00:23:09.272
  • Him, because he wasn't on guard against pleonexia.
  • 00:23:09.272 --> 00:23:14.878
  • He lost everything.
  • 00:23:14.878 --> 00:23:16.246
  • "this is how it will be," this is where we come in,
  • 00:23:16.246 --> 00:23:19.049
  • "for whoever."
  • 00:23:19.049 --> 00:23:21.585
  • I'm a whoever, you're a whoever.
  • 00:23:21.585 --> 00:23:22.986
  • "this is how it will be for whoever stores up things
  • 00:23:22.986 --> 00:23:25.755
  • For themselves."
  • 00:23:25.755 --> 00:23:27.491
  • To be consumed on themselves.
  • 00:23:27.491 --> 00:23:30.494
  • That plan to consume everything that comes their way.
  • 00:23:30.494 --> 00:23:33.797
  • This is how it will be for people who are tricked.
  • 00:23:33.797 --> 00:23:36.800
  • "this is how it will be for whoever stores up things
  • 00:23:36.800 --> 00:23:39.903
  • For themselves."
  • 00:23:39.903 --> 00:23:41.271
  • And then he gives the other opportunity, "but is not rich
  • 00:23:41.271 --> 00:23:43.940
  • Toward god."
  • 00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:45.308
  • Now, this phrase "rich toward god" shows up in other places in
  • 00:23:45.308 --> 00:23:47.511
  • The gospels, and when you put them all together, it's very
  • 00:23:47.511 --> 00:23:49.312
  • Evident what jesus is talking about when he uses the phrase
  • 00:23:49.312 --> 00:23:51.815
  • "rich toward god."
  • 00:23:51.815 --> 00:23:53.183
  • To be rich toward god isn't about giving things to god.
  • 00:23:53.183 --> 00:23:55.118
  • God doesn't need your things.
  • 00:23:55.118 --> 00:23:56.486
  • God doesn't need our stuff.
  • 00:23:56.486 --> 00:23:57.821
  • God doesn't need anything.
  • 00:23:57.821 --> 00:23:59.189
  • God's immaterial.
  • 00:23:59.189 --> 00:24:00.557
  • God is spirit, jesus said.
  • 00:24:00.557 --> 00:24:02.359
  • So this isn't about giving gifts to god.
  • 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:04.160
  • You know what this means?
  • 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:05.495
  • To be rich towards god is to do for others what god has done
  • 00:24:05.495 --> 00:24:09.966
  • For you.
  • 00:24:09.966 --> 00:24:11.668
  • To do for others what god has done for you.
  • 00:24:11.668 --> 00:24:14.638
  • Specifically to do for others what god through christ has done
  • 00:24:14.638 --> 00:24:17.841
  • For you.
  • 00:24:17.841 --> 00:24:19.209
  • That when you had a need, he met it.
  • 00:24:19.209 --> 00:24:21.344
  • When you needed forgiveness, he gave it.
  • 00:24:21.344 --> 00:24:23.747
  • When you needed peace with god, he provided it.
  • 00:24:23.747 --> 00:24:26.216
  • He says, now i don't need you to give me anything back.
  • 00:24:26.216 --> 00:24:28.251
  • I want you to essentially pay it forward.
  • 00:24:28.251 --> 00:24:30.520
  • I want you to do for others in whatever way you can, as a
  • 00:24:30.520 --> 00:24:33.757
  • Reflection of your gratitude for what i've done for you.
  • 00:24:33.757 --> 00:24:36.893
  • Jesus says, this is how you be rich toward god.
  • 00:24:36.893 --> 00:24:41.898
  • But if you're not careful, greed will rob you of that
  • 00:24:41.898 --> 00:24:45.368
  • Opportunity, because greed is a thief, here's why.
  • 00:24:45.368 --> 00:24:47.604
  • Greed promises more but always leaves you with less in the end.
  • 00:24:47.604 --> 00:24:53.810
  • Less of what matters.
  • 00:24:53.810 --> 00:24:55.145
  • So circling all the way back around.
  • 00:24:55.145 --> 00:24:58.248
  • Here is the code.
  • 00:24:58.248 --> 00:24:59.649
  • Here's the password.
  • 00:24:59.649 --> 00:25:00.984
  • We're gonna crack the code, we're gonna unpack what it means
  • 00:25:00.984 --> 00:25:03.219
  • To have a meaningful life, and it's very, very simple.
  • 00:25:03.219 --> 00:25:06.222
  • I've said it several times.
  • 00:25:06.222 --> 00:25:08.291
  • It's become a means to an end that doesn't end with you.
  • 00:25:08.291 --> 00:25:12.095
  • That's it.
  • 00:25:12.095 --> 00:25:13.430
  • It's become a means to an end that doesn't end with you.
  • 00:25:13.430 --> 00:25:18.201
  • That's what makes something meaningful.
  • 00:25:18.201 --> 00:25:20.570
  • You think about a pen that you write with, when it runs out of
  • 00:25:20.570 --> 00:25:22.606
  • Ink, it can't do what it was meant to do, it
  • 00:25:22.606 --> 00:25:24.641
  • Becomes meaningless.
  • 00:25:24.641 --> 00:25:27.210
  • You are the same way, and i am the same way, and jesus, because
  • 00:25:27.210 --> 00:25:32.215
  • He loves you, is warning us not to allow that to happen and
  • 00:25:32.215 --> 00:25:36.219
  • Inviting us into a meaningful, purposeful life.
  • 00:25:36.219 --> 00:25:39.255
  • He said but in order to do that, you have to be
  • 00:25:39.255 --> 00:25:41.691
  • Intentional, and you have to find a way, even if it's a small
  • 00:25:41.691 --> 00:25:45.695
  • Way, to be a means to an end that doesn't end with you,
  • 00:25:45.695 --> 00:25:49.332
  • That's what meaning means.
  • 00:25:49.332 --> 00:25:51.067
  • That's how something becomes meaningful.
  • 00:25:51.067 --> 00:25:53.470
  • That's where purpose is found.
  • 00:25:53.470 --> 00:25:55.639
  • That's where happiness is found.
  • 00:25:55.639 --> 00:25:58.308
  • That's where joy is found.
  • 00:25:58.308 --> 00:26:01.444
  • And that's the invitation to all of us.
  • 00:26:01.444 --> 00:26:05.615
  • That's what makes something meaningful.
  • 00:26:05.615 --> 00:26:08.585
  • So again, to go back to jesus's words.
  • 00:26:08.585 --> 00:26:12.389
  • Be on your guard against pleonexia.
  • 00:26:12.389 --> 00:26:16.192
  • It is subtle.
  • 00:26:16.192 --> 00:26:17.827
  • It is taking root in all of our lives in some form we're not
  • 00:26:17.827 --> 00:26:20.563
  • Even aware of, and we don't know it because it's so difficult
  • 00:26:20.563 --> 00:26:23.833
  • To find.
  • 00:26:23.833 --> 00:26:25.168
  • And jesus through this parable and through this teaching says,
  • 00:26:25.168 --> 00:26:27.270
  • "i've told you what to do.
  • 00:26:27.270 --> 00:26:29.105
  • You've got to find a way to be a means to an end that doesn't end
  • 00:26:29.105 --> 00:26:32.242
  • With you."
  • 00:26:32.242 --> 00:26:33.576
  • Don't be greedy with your life.
  • 00:26:33.576 --> 00:26:34.944
  • Don't be greedy with your time.
  • 00:26:34.944 --> 00:26:36.546
  • Don't be greedy with the influence you have.
  • 00:26:36.546 --> 00:26:38.882
  • Don't be greedy with the connections you've made.
  • 00:26:38.882 --> 00:26:40.517
  • Don't be greedy with your education.
  • 00:26:40.517 --> 00:26:41.951
  • Don't be greedy with your experience.
  • 00:26:41.951 --> 00:26:43.753
  • Choose something that doesn't benefit you and commit some of
  • 00:26:43.753 --> 00:26:48.024
  • You to it.
  • 00:26:48.024 --> 00:26:50.560
  • So, one last time.
  • 00:26:50.560 --> 00:26:54.831
  • What breaks your heart?
  • 00:26:54.831 --> 00:26:56.199
  • What breaks your heart?
  • 00:26:56.900 --> 00:26:58.368
  • What needs to change?
  • 00:26:58.368 --> 00:27:00.170
  • Carve off a piece of you and invest it in that.
  • 00:27:00.170 --> 00:27:03.707
  • And if nothing breaks your heart, just choose
  • 00:27:03.707 --> 00:27:05.775
  • Something quick.
  • 00:27:05.775 --> 00:27:07.110
  • Your time's running out.
  • 00:27:07.110 --> 00:27:08.445
  • No matter how old you are, because in the end, as i tell
  • 00:27:08.445 --> 00:27:10.180
  • You all the time, in the end, do you know what makes your life
  • 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:12.449
  • Worth celebrating, what makes my life worth celebrating?
  • 00:27:12.449 --> 00:27:15.051
  • In the end, the value of your life, the value of my life will
  • 00:27:15.051 --> 00:27:18.621
  • Be determined and celebrated by how much of it was actually
  • 00:27:18.621 --> 00:27:22.859
  • Given away.
  • 00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:24.194
  • It's in the end that we understand the power of becoming
  • 00:27:24.194 --> 00:27:29.132
  • A means to an end that doesn't point back to us.
  • 00:27:29.132 --> 00:27:34.471
  • So what breaks your heart?
  • 00:27:34.471 --> 00:27:37.674
  • And if nothing breaks your heart, find something, invest
  • 00:27:37.674 --> 00:27:41.344
  • In it.
  • 00:27:41.344 --> 00:27:42.679
  • And don't succumb to pleonexia.
  • 00:27:42.679 --> 00:27:46.583
  • Andy: hey, everybody, thank you so much for tuning in.
  • 00:27:46.583 --> 00:27:48.685
  • If you'd like to watch this episode again or share it with a
  • 00:27:48.685 --> 00:27:51.488
  • Friend, head on over to the website at the bottom of
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  • The screen.
  • 00:27:53.623 --> 00:27:54.991
  • The website is the best place for you to find other "your
  • 00:27:54.991 --> 00:27:57.127
  • Move" episodes, access additional resources, and learn
  • 00:27:57.127 --> 00:28:00.363
  • More about our mission to engage culture with the teaching of
  • 00:28:00.363 --> 00:28:03.566
  • Jesus because we're convinced following jesus will make your
  • 00:28:03.566 --> 00:28:06.636
  • Life better and make the world a better place.
  • 00:28:06.636 --> 00:28:09.472
  • And now it's your move.
  • 00:28:09.472 --> 00:28:21.918
  • ...
  • 00:28:25.155 --> 00:28:29.010