DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- RICH TOWARD GOD

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – RICH TOWARD GOD

"But He said to them, 'Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.' " (Luke 12:15)

A man came to Jesus asking that Jesus settle an inheritance dispute. One brother would not share the inheritance with the other. Jesus refused to get involved in this matter, because the real issue was not the dividing of the inheritance, but the greed that caused the disagreement in the first place. So Jesus spoke to the real issue when He said, "Beware of covetousness."

We get our priorities so mixed up, that we think that the purpose of our existence is to enjoy "the good life," and the more things we have, the better our life. As a result, we end up coveting the things other people enjoy. Jesus turns that idea on its head, when he says that life is not measured by how successful we are or how many things we have.

Then he gave a parable about a man who was very successful. He was a farmer, and his crops were so large that he had to build more barns. That sounds reasonable. But what Jesus was saying is that that was his life – amassing his wealth so that he could enjoy the good life of ease – to eat, drink, and be merry.

Jesus called him a fool because he ignored the most important thing in life – where he would spend eternity. He was going to die and face God, and then what good would all his material wealth be?

More important than being rich and having a good bank account here in this world is to be rich toward God. The fool ignores eternity to focus on this life. The wise person understands that this life is temporary, and eternity is forever. To be rich toward God and His kingdom is the reasonable choice.

Love, Dad