Our perspective on possessions

Luke 10:30-37  (NKJV)

30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 

1. The robbers perspective.  What's yours is mine and I'm going to take it.

31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 

32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 

2. The priest's and Levite's perspective. What's mine is mine and I'm going to keep it.  

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Selfishness is the opposite of significance.  Selfish people cheat themselves out of blessings.  What you hold onto, you lose.  

Proverbs 11:24 (NKJV)

24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. 

   

The problem is not the have and have nots.  It is the give nots. 

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 

34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 

35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’

3. The Samaritan's perspective. 

What's mine is yours, and I'm going to give it.  

The inside perspective is how will others effect me?  Selfish people never want to be inconvenienced. 

The outside perspective is if I don't stop and help what will happen to others?  If I don't stop my heart becomes callous.  We lose when we hold things to ourselves.  

36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

4.  The Stewardship perspective.  

What is mine is not mine, and I'm going to manage it.  It's not hard to let go if it's not yours.  We are God's delivery system.  God will only give you what He wants to flow through you.  

John Maxwell speaking at Church of the Highlands

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/four-perspectives-about-possessions