ESOCS Devotional 17 September 2024 – Greed or God?
MEMORY VERSE: ““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?’” Luke 12:20 NIV
TEXT: LUKE 12:13-21
hen one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of [a]covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
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Do you wonder why this farmer was called a fool? Many of us might actually argue that he is being wise and responsible with his business.
His farming enterprise was thriving; but any wise farmer knows that he needs to put aside his profits from one season to tide them over in lean years – years shaped by flood, drought, disease and plagues.
This farmer’s land had produced so abundantly that he did not have enough storage space in his barns. So, he planned to pull down his barns and build bigger ones to store all his grain and goods. Then, he will have ample savings set aside for the future and will be all set to enjoy his golden years.
The rich farmer was a fool not because he was wealthy or because he saved for the future; but because he appeared to live only for himself, and because he believed that he could secure his life with his abundant possessions.
Like the rich farmer, we are tempted to think that having large amounts of money and possessions stored up will make us secure, or make us happy. Sooner or later, however, we learn that no amount of wealth or property or possessions can secure our lives or give us life in abundance.
No amount of wealth can protect us from a genetically inherited disease, for instance; or from a tragic accident. No amount of wealth can keep our relationships healthy and our families from falling apart. Most importantly, no amount of wealth can make us right with God nor can it make us good disciples of Jesus.
Our lives and possessions are not our own. They belong to the universe and should be shared among all of the creation, not just those who enjoy the privilege of wealth. We rebel against this truth because we want to be in charge of our lives and our stuff.
- Greed or God? Consuming, accumulating and possessing desire – or love, joy and peace in life. What will you choose.
- Father, help me to come to terms with what really matters in life, so that I have no reason to regret, in Jesus name, Amen!
Further Reading: Joel 1:1-13; Zechariah 6:9-15; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13
ESOCS Devotional 17 September 2024
