Beware of greed
Luke 12:12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. 12:13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 12:14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Greed is an intense and selfish desire for something, in the scripture passage above, Jesus gave a warning: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed.” This isn't just about money. Greed can manifest itself in countless ways—greed for power, recognition, control, security, and more. Jesus' caution preaches to us that greed can sneak into our lives in subtle ways, and we need to be vigilant.
Greed is more than a desire for more—it is a symptom of a deeper issue. Greed reveals a heart that is not content, a heart that believes that more material wealth or possessions will bring happiness, security, or fulfillment. It feeds off of fear and insecurity, convincing us that if we just have a little bit more, then we will finally be at peace.
But as Jesus teaches, this is a lie. “Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” We live in a world that often tells us the opposite—that the more we have, the more successful, important, or secure we are.
But Jesus cuts through this worldly illusion. Life, in its truest and fullest sense, cannot be measured by the amount of wealth or the size of our bank accounts.
Life is measured by our relationship with God, by our love for others, and by the fruit of the Spirit in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Lesson from The Parable of the Rich Fool:
Jesus tells a parable about a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. This man had so much wealth that he didn’t have room to store it all. His solution? Tear down his barns and build bigger ones! Then, he said to himself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19).
But God’s response to the rich man is sobering. He calls him a fool, saying, “This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Luke 12:20). Jesus ends the parable with this warning: “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).
The rich man in the parable believed that his security and happiness is in accumulating more wealth. He stored up treasures for himself but neglected to be "rich toward God." His wealth gave him a false sense of security—he believed that it could buy him years of comfort and ease. But in the end, it could not save him. His life was required of him, and all his possessions were worthless in the face of eternity.
How about we too, we fall into the trap of thinking that more possessions, more wealth, or more status will bring us lasting peace? Yet, as this parable reminds us, all the riches in the world cannot add a single hour to our lives. When we place our trust in material things rather than in God, we are building our lives on shifting sand rather than on the solid rock of faith.
So, what does it mean to be “rich toward God”?
It means investing our lives in the things that matter to Him. It means using our resources—our time, our talents, and our money for His kingdom purposes. It means living with an open hand, willing to give generously to those in need, rather than clinging tightly to what we have.
Being rich toward God also means cultivating a heart of gratitude and contentment. Instead of always striving for more, we recognize the abundance that we already have in Christ. We trust that God is our provider, and we rest in the assurance that He will take care of our needs.
In conclusion, let us examine our own hearts. Are there areas where greed has crept in? Are we placing our trust in material things rather than in God? Let us heed Jesus’ warning to “watch out” and “be on guard” against all kinds of greed.
God bless you.
Prayer key :
1. Lord, thank you for the blessing of your word today in Jesus Christ name.
2. Lord, grant me the spirit of contentment in my life in Jesus Christ name.
3. Lord, help me to the generous to others and your work in Jesus Christ name.
4. Thank you Lord for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. Amen.