life isn't measured

Jesus tells us how NOT to measure our lives today in the One Year Bible reading from Luke 12:8-34. He says simply to guard against every kind of greed, because life isn't measured by what we own.

As the great Tyler Durden tells us, we have to be careful or the things that we own will end up owning us. And anyone who has owned either a smart phone or a swimming pool will tell you how true this is.

But it's also important to remember that life isn't measured by what you DON'T have. It's easy when you're not wealthy to think about how great life would be if you had XYZ. But that's the same kind of greed that we still have to guard against. We've been told all of our lives that money won't buy happiness... that the more money you have, the more miserable you are. And yet it's hard not to want more, isn't it?

Simplicity helps. Simplify your life. Cut down on the number of possessions you have. Donate your items, your wealth, AND your time to other people. That helps put everything in perspective.

And of course, ask God to help you guard against greed. He'll do it.

God, thanks for teaching us to avoid greed so we can be happy.