Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – December 16, 2014
“I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ 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?’ This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:18b-21
Lust for luxury is the natural progression of a cultural craze for more stuff. This materialistic addiction is never satisfied, as it wants just a little bit more. Relationships are patronized, sacrificed and neglected for the purpose of material gain. Image, not intimacy, is what’s valued by those discontent unless they are able to upgrade. Ironically, insecurity drives this abnormal notion of security they strive in vain to achieve.
Bigger is not always better, because bigger brings complexity, not simplicity. Bigger requires added cost for upkeep and attention. What starts out as a desire for something nice can get out of hand and became a hindrance—instead of a help. A bigger bank account, a bigger house and a bigger car can become a distraction to God’s purposes.
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1Timothy 6:6-9).
Covetousness can creep up on us like a lion stalking its prey. When startled, we finally come to our senses, but find ourselves in the clutch of debt’s grip. The remedy for a rich man’s ruckus is found in being rich toward God. Our identity is not in the abundance of our possessions—who we “are” is defined by the abundance of our life in Christ.
What does it mean to be rich toward God? It means that wealth brings faith to a soul, not folly. Treasures are not meant to be stored for self, but in service to the Lord and others. Filthy lucre on earth is replaced with eternal reward in heaven. The wealth of the next world is pursued over the wealth of this world—when Christ captivates a heart!
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34).
Therefore, resolve to the wise way of engaging God and His eternal pursuits. Avoid the mind games that money plays on foolish souls—seek instead valid security in your Savior Jesus. Determine to build a bigger belief in the Lord and a smaller perception of stuff. Soul fulfillment comes from building the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
Prayer: How can I focus on building by faith God’s kingdom and not my kingdom?
Related Readings: Jeremiah 17:11; Psalm 49:17; Romans 14:17; Hebrews 12:28;
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