Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Luke 12:13-15)
“You shall not covet ... anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21) Many of us desire to have more than what we have. We may even desire to have some things similar to what other people have. But when we desire to have what someone else has, that is coveting and that is a sin, and it will lead to all kinds of problems. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (I Timothy 6:7-10) Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ (Luke 12:16-19) Understand, God does not have a problem with us having earthly wealth and possessions. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 5:19) The problem is too many of us, just like this rich man receive the gifts from God, then we get lax. When we feel we have all of our physical needs met, it often times becomes too easy for us to forget God and take our ease; eat, drink, and be merry. But God says, “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth,... (Deuteronomy 8:18)
But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20-21; see THE GOSPEL: God and His Kingdom First) What a wake up call this should be to all of us! A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction. (Ecclesiastes 6:2) First, to have the wrong motivation, coveting and loving money. Then, to receive those things we so desired but not live to enjoy them. Finally, someone else will benefit from and enjoy all those things we thought would be ours, For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. Instead of being foolish about the things of this world, let's be wise! “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)
PRAYER: Dear God, our Heavenly Father, thank You for providing all of our needs. Thank you for helping us to ...learn how to be content with whatever we have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11-13 NLT) Help us to ...seek first the kingdom of God and Your righteousness, and all these things shall be added to us. (Matthew 6:33) In Your Son, Christ Jesus name we pray. AMEN
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