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Last Sunday, we heard the story of the rich man who wanted to know what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. He was asking Jesus what needed to be done so that he could possess eternal life and live secure for the future. Jesus' response centred around fulfilling the commands of God and abandoning worldly securities, like possessions, in order to serve the needs of others.  This is loving one's neighbor. But this man went away disgruntled with the answer because he was unwilling to release the things he possessed for the sake of entering the kingdom. We explored the idea that our possessions can make it difficult for us to experience kingdom life. The things that we possess (money, stuff, reputation, relationships, status, family, etc.) are not necessarily sinful. It is when we hold onto them too tightly and derive our identity from them, this is when we lose our dependence on God and believe that we are more important than we actually are. Therefore, the one who would live kingdom life must view their possessions as means instead of ends - possessions that we can use to love God and love others so that we are living kingdom life.

Please consider the following questions as we aim to enter kingdom life, unemcumbered by the things we possess:
- What do I possess in a rich way (money, stuff, reputation, relationships, status, family, etc.)
- Which of these things do I place security in?  How can they erode my dependence on God?
- How can I use these possessions to love others and lay myself aside?

This week, we will see the how God generously gives his children the kingdom and how his example helps us to regard our brothers and sisters in better ways.  Please take time to read Matthew 20:1-16, considering and meditating on how Jesus' words lead us into a deeper life with him.