“He said ‘Be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions… The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?.. I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and goods. And I will say, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’” But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.’
“And he said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing… Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
“’Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves… with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also…
“‘Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.'” Luke 12:15-23,31,33-34,48b
“When you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do.., that they may be praised by others. Truly, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:2-4
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” Hebrews 13:5
Jesus’s teaching for the rich targeted their attitude toward and use of their riches, not the wealth itself. True life is about the Lord and His kingdom, knowing and emulating His faithfulness and generosity. Contentment and joy come from deep trust and secret communion with the Lord.
If we truly love and worship the Lord God as supreme and sufficient, we will not have room in our hearts for greed or covetousness. Occupied and satisfied with Jesus, we will be rich toward Him in our relationships and industry that issue from that union. Others will benefit, He will be praised. (Exodus 20:3-5,17; Matthew 6:24)
We possess every treasure in Christ, yet we clamor for possessions here on earth. What would it look like in daily preoccupations and activity if we were truly free of the love of things and genuinely content with what we have? How can we begin to value our invisible inheritance more than tangibles here below? What more might we giver Christ’s sake in time and resources to others today? (Ephesians 1:3; 1 Peter 2:9-11)
“Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always;
Thou and Thou only the first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.” ~Old Irish, translated Mary E. Byrne (1880-1931)
Lord, may I treasure You above all, and give lavishly from the storehouse You’ve entrusted to me.
As the rain and snow 