“Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”Luke 12:15 (NIV)
In a world that’s often greedy and cynical, Jesus wants his followers to live like he did—with simplicity and possibility.
Jesus modeled a very simple life. It’s how he lived and how he’s planned for us to live too.
The truth is, the more stuff you have, the more you have to care for it, clean it, protect it, insure it, and repair it. The more stuff you have, the more it dominates your life.
Did you know you can be possessed by your possessions? Think about it like this: Pretend you have a possession that God tells you to give away. But you realize it’s just too hard for you to give it away—you can’t part with it. In that moment, you don’t own that thing; it owns you. You’re possessed by your possession.
Luke 12:15 says, “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (NIV).
When a rich person dies, people often ask: “I wonder how much he left.” I’ll tell you. He left all of it! So ask yourself, “If you can’t take it with you anyway, why store it up?”
Too often, people use their time, energy, effort, and talent just to get more things. They buy a bigger house and fancier car than they can afford, and then they have to work themselves to exhaustion to pay for them.
The Bible says to not do that. Never sacrifice time for things. Your time is far more important than your money. You can make more money, but you can’t make more time. You’ve only got a certain amount allotted on this planet.
While Jesus lived with simplicity, he also lived with possibility.
In Matthew 19:26, Jesus says, “With God everything is possible” (NLT).And in Mark 9:23, he says, “Everything is possible for the person who believes” (Mark 9:23 GW).
It’s as if God is saying, “When you believe in me, the possibilities expand in enormous ways!”
I believe that followers of Jesus should be the most innovative and creative people on the planet. Why? Because we serve a God who says “everything” is possible. When you have faith in the God who says all things are possible, it expands your horizons.
You might be surprised by this—but one of the greatest barriers in life isn’t failure or mistakes. It’s unbelief. Not trusting the God who made you and loves you.
When you have unbelief, it limits your life. On the other hand, the more you believe and trust God—even when it’s hard—the more you’ll start to see him working in your life, your family, and your career. And when you see God’s hand in your life, that just increases your trust in him even more!
Living a life of simplicity and possibility, modeled after Jesus, opens your heart to what matters most—and invites you to trust God with every step.
Rick Warren is an innovative pastor, renowned author, and global influencer known for founding Saddleback Church, the Purpose Driven Network, the PEACE Plan, and Hope for Mental Health. He has written several best-selling books, including The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold over 35 million copies in 200 languages. Time magazine named Warren the most influential spiritual leader in America and one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Since stepping down from the lead pastor role at Saddleback in 2022, Warren has continued to inspire people through his Daily Hope Devotional and podcast Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope. His first book in a decade, Created to Dream, was released in April 2023.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Your Gift Brings Hope to the World
Teach the children in your life about God’s unchanging love.
"God’s Great Love for You" is a beautifully illustrated picture book designed to help children grasp just how deeply God loves them—no matter who they are or where they go.
Written by Pastor Rick Warren and illustrated by award-winning artist Chris Saunders, this book makes a meaningful gift for your children, your grandchildren, or any child you want to encourage in their walk with God.
It’s our thank-you for your generous support to help share the gospel around the world through the ministry of Daily Hope. Request your copy today—and thank you for your partnership!
*The gift book is hardcover with premium paper pages (9.3" x 11.2", green cover). The softcover is lighter and more flexible (8" x 8", blue cover). Both include the full story.
*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.
