Sermon Central
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What You Have Defines Your Worth Series
Contributed by Duane Wente on Jul 14, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: The world says your value is measured by what you own—status, wealth, and accomplishments. But God says your worth is found in who you are (your character) and whose you are (your identity in Christ). We are not defined by what we accumulate, but by our foundation in Him.
### **Introduction:***
This morning, we are continuing our series “Lies the World Tells,” and today we are going after a big one.
But before we dive into Scripture, I want to start by letting someone else do the talking.
You see, there is a video that’s been floating around for years — some of you may have seen it. It’s called “The Money Rant.”
It’s raw. It’s fast. It’s funny.
But beneath the humor is something deeper — something a lot of us feel, but rarely say out loud.
So, sit back for a couple minutes… and listen close.
Video Ill.: The Money Rant — The Veracity Project
Wow. He sure said a lot of stuff in that short period of time. There is a whole lot to think about, though, isn't there.
There’s something powerful in what he said:
“Who’s money is it really? That’s the million-dollar question.”
And that’s exactly where the lie begins.
This morning we are continuing our series, “Lies the World Tells” — and each week, we’ve been holding up the world’s lies to the light of God’s truth.
In week one, we exposed the lie that we have to earn God’s love. But the truth is: His love is a free gift of grace — not something we can work for or deserve.
In week two, we confronted the lie that our past defines us. But Scripture showed us that in Christ, we are made new — redeemed, restored, and no longer held captive by shame.
In week three, we tackled the lie that we are not strong enough. The world says we have to do it all alone, but God’s Word reminds us that His power is made perfect in our weakness.
In week four, we came face-to-face with the lie that we are alone in this world. But we found strength in the truth that God is near to the brokenhearted — and His people are called to walk beside one another.
And just last week, in week five, we unmasked the lie that God has abandoned us. But Scripture showed us again and again: God is near, even in the silence. He is still with us — even if.
Today, the world wants you to believe: Your worth is defined by what you have.
Our culture, the world today, celebrates materialism and outward success. After all, “the more you have, the more you’ll be”.
The great deceiver whispers to us that our value is measured in dollars and digits, in what we drive or where we live.
But today, we are going to confront that lie head-on — and replace it with the truth. The more we have does not equate to more peace, more joy, or more purpose. It is not who we are.
Jesus warned us in Luke 12:15:
15 … “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” (Luke 12, NLT)
Let’s confront the lie together this morning — that our worth is defined by what we own, how much we have, and the numbers found in our bank accounts.
### **I. The Lie’s Damage: When Worth Is Measured by What We Own**
As we begin, let’s look first at the lie’s damage. What happens when we allow our worth to be defined and governed, to be measured and judged, by how much we have and what we own.
The world around is is constantly telling us the lie. We are bombarded by the message: “You are what you have.”
If that is the case, then we had better get busy, right? We begin the big chase — we chase more money, more stuff, more success, more status.
But that pursuit comes with a cost.
We spend our best energy and our precious time accumulating things — and in the process, we often neglect the things that matter most:
Time with family,
Deep relationships,
Personal rest,
Our connection with God.
It has been said that we never wish for more time at work when we are on our deathbeds. Instead, we wish we had more time with those whom we love.
But we become preoccupied with getting more — and terrified of losing what we have. We worry about the stock market. We stress over the dollars in our checkbooks. We work so we can have the newest model car. The list goes on and on.
That’s exactly what Jesus was warning about in Luke 12. As it happened, a man from the crowd asks Jesus to be a judge and make the man’s brother divide their father’s estate and give him his inheritance.
I love how Jesus responds: “I am not the judge of that.” And then Jesus warns those listening:
15 … “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” (Luke 12, NLT)
