Someone in 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 arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “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.” (Luke 12:13-21)
In light of Christmas, whether you got a bunch of gifts or not, and considering New Year’s when many make resolutions and goals towards making their life better somehow, we should heed Jesus’ admonishment – Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. In actuality, our lives as followers of Jesus consists of the life He has given us. He told us, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
What happens when covetousness creeps in? The things that we do have are no longer good enough because our focus isn’t on being thankful for what God has given us, it’s instead on what others have. And the thing is, covetousness is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). The ten commandments list off these including no idolatry, not taking the Lord’s Name in vain, not murdering, stealing, lying, coveting – these all would avoided by loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This isn’t something that comes easy for anyone. Those fiery darts comes straight from the chief thief, satan, who comes to steal, kill, and destroy things like your joy and thanksgiving.
What This Doesn’t Mean
Now, having earthly possessions and being wise with them, such as financial planning and such, is not wrong. Jesus isn’t saying you can’t have earthly possessions, He said you shouldn’t be laying up treasure for yourself. So what’s the difference? Well simply put, having possessions doesn’t make them your treasure. But focusing more on earthly things as treasure instead of being rich toward God is a recipe for disaster in the end.
Jesus also told us, “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) Notice here that that thieves breaking in and destroying are mentioned in these verses too? If your treasuring things that make you rich towards God, satan can’t steal and destroy that. Verse 21 is key in tying this all together - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Tying it all Together
If your heart is where your treasure is, and one who lays up earthly treasure for themselves makes them not rich towards God, then it’s a direct correlation with the command to love God first. If our hearts are focused on loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, then we won’t have any idols in our lives, and our driving focus won’t be on making worldly possessions our treasure. Abiding in God is once again the application!
Are you poor? Don’t worry about it, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and your needs will be added to you.
Are you rich? Don’t make it your treasure, instead lay up treasure in heaven.
Regardless of your financial status, Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Be rich towards God and daily abide in Him, living in the abundant life He has given you!