Jesus is Essential
Luke 12:16–21: Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 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. 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.” ’ 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?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
This man had a false view of both life and death. He thought that life came from accumulating things, and that death was far away. The man lived without God and died without God. God is not impressed with our money. What does it mean to be “rich toward God”?
It means to acknowledge gratefully that everything we have comes from God, and then make an effort to use what He gives us for the good of others and the glory of God. Wealth can be enjoyed and employed at the same time if our purpose is to honor God. To be rich toward God means spiritual enrichment, not just personal enjoyment. How tragic when people are rich in this world but poor in the next! 1
Walking with Jesus
Read Matthew 6:19-21. What do you treasure most? Is your heart in the right place? What needs to change? If you were to die today, would your treasure in heaven be greater than your treasure on earth?
The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10
Life is not about what you left behind, but rather what you sent ahead.
Praying
Lord, please help me to pursue You, and not the things of this world.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
