In The Word
Read: Luke 12:13-34
Greed Denounced
13 Now someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “You there—who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over the two of you?” 15 But He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one is affluent does his life consist of his possessions.”16 And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. 17 And he began thinking to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will store all my grain and my goods there. 19 And I will say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years to come; relax, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is demanded of you; and as for all that you have prepared, who will own it now?’ 21 Such is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich in relation to God.”
22 And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not worry about your life, as to what you are to eat; nor for your body, as to what you are to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! 25 And which of you by worrying can add a day to his life’s span? 26 Therefore if you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about the other things? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither labor nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 28 Now if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For all these things are what the nations of the world eagerly seek; and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided to you.32 Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father has chosen to give you the kingdom.
33 “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor does a moth destroy. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Jesus continues to teach us in the passages we read. He explained that storing up wealth and possessions for your selfish desires doesn’t benefit anyone. Then He proclaimed a truth of how much the Father values and loves us. How we need to consider and be like the ravens and lilies; they both neither worry, yet they are taken care of.
In our lives today, we can sometimes allow our minds to be so consumed with seeking wealth, fame, and possessions all for our own benefit and glory. But our Father wants us to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness because He has promised to take care of our needs. Maybe the problem is we want more than our needs provide for. God can choose to give us wealth, fame, and possessions but all that should be used to give Him glory. In verse 32, Jesus tells us to not be afraid for the Father has gladly chosen to give us His Kingdom.
As you meditate on the Word today, consider these questions in a time of self-reflection. Am I storing up treasures of this world for my own personal benefit? Has my life become more about me, myself, and I rather than about putting God and His ways first in my life? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you need to repent and change your priorities to His priorities. Don’t have the attitude that its too late, choose to start now!