This week’s devotions are based on “The Key” Week 5: “Let Grace Lead Your Finances!” (WATCH HERE)
Luke 12:13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
Jesus’ parable is a poignant reminder of the temporary nature of material things. It is also a stern warning of how easily our heart can be captivated and driven by the accumulation of things.
The request seemed innocent and a matter of fairness.
“Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
Seems like a reasonable request. Seems like any of you with siblings would do if your brother or sister wasn’t sharing something that was meant to be shared.
But is it really a question of equity between siblings or a matter of greed in my heart.
Jesus deflects the “fairness” question and directs his response to greed that lurked in the man’s heart.
Jesus knew that the question wasn’t about fairness, but about the accumulation of wealth. He knew that the heart of this individual was set on material things more than anything else. The parable that follows strengthens his point. When we focus and invest life in material things, death will be our demise. When we focus on building value in our hearts that focuses on love of God over things, our wealth will be realized in eternity.
This is a good reminder of how dangerous the sin of greed can be. Our 21st century American culture feeds our sinful nature’s desire for more stuff. It is easy to defer spiritual matters for the sake of a job or career that is moving us up on the pay scale. Jesus says, “Watch out!”
A lesson like this leads us to pause and reflect, “Am I the fool whose heart is set on accumulating wealth? Or am I the wise person whose heart is set on developing a relationship with the Lord?” Remember our heart can only serve one master.
There is nothing sinful with being wealthy. God may choose to bless you in that way. The danger from which we must flee is that wealth captivating the love of our heart. If and when it does, we must be willing to let go of all worldly wealth to allow only God to take the first love of our heart and lives.
Apply: Look past the questions you ask about money and wealth and evaluate, “Is this coming from a heart of greed or a heart of godliness?”
Prayer:
Take the world, but give me Jesus! All its joys are but a name.
But his love abides forever, Through eternal years the same. AMEN.