This message wraps up the God & My Stuff series by looking at a range of texts on various topics relating to money and possessions.

The Quester follows an approach to knowledge and truth that is self-directed and seeks certainty in order to have faith. By contrast, Jesus offers us a new way of knowing that begins with personal faith in him. This faith gives us a lens through which to gradually discover the truth of life, which sets us free. 

Ecclesiastes challenges the old formula that says good character leads to success and bad character leads to ruin. But the Quester cannot find another basis for good character. Instead we need to look Jesus, who opens up God’s story and gives us a new basis for character—fitting participation in the reconciling story of God.

Blessings become disappointments when we can only see the negatives. This passage shows us the folly of focusing only on our problems, and helps us learn to see and enjoy the many blessings God has given us.

Greed is often more subtle than we think and can get its claws into our lives in all kinds of ways. In a culture of greed, the Quester invites us to pursue a different type of life, characterised by joy, contentment and true satisfaction.

In this message Andrew Picard describes the difference between a self-referenced life, in which our worship is hasty and presumptuous, with a God-referenced life, which is centred around Christ.

Relationship and friendship are central to what it means to be human. Ecclesiastes 4 gives us a vision of friendship that involves personal presence, authenticity and genuine care. 

Tithing is often either a taboo subject or an obsession in churches. Between these extremes there is a healthy, biblical way of looking at church-giving, as a generous response to God’s grace

Our consumer culture is driven by a relentless desire for the next thing. In contrast, the gospel offers us true satisfaction in Christ and moves us toward contentment with our stuff.