Greed—Self Interest

Luke 12:13-21 NASB

Someone in h the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?" Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' Then he said, 'This is what I will do: 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 many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” …

Jesus directed the man to the core of his problem. He didn’t need legal advice but a correct attitude toward the accumulation of wealth. Jesus taught him that his relationship with God was far more important than getting his fair share of the inheritance. Jesus put his finger on this questioner’s real motives. When we bring a problem to God in prayer, He often responds in the same way, showing us how we need to change and grow in our attitude toward the problem. His answers may not be the ones we are looking for, but they are more effective in keeping us true to His priorities. (12:15) Jesus says that in His Kingdom the good life has nothing to do with being wealthy, so we should be on guard against every kind of greed (the desire for what we don’t have). Society usually says the exact opposite. Advertisers spend millions of dollars to entice us to think that if we buy more and more of their products, we will be happier, more fulfilled, or more comfortable.

How do you respond to the constant pressure to have more? Learn to tune out the constant enticement to have more and concentrate instead on the only way to lasting satisfaction—discovering great abundance in a relationship with God, who supplies blessings and fulfillment beyond our wildest expectations.