“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?” ~ Luke 12:20
REFERENCE:
How much is really enough? This is the big question we often never stop to ask ourselves in our quest for material wealth. Covetousness rules today; the quest for money is stronger now than ever in human history. Money exerts a controlling influence on many people; they would do anything to get money – kill, defraud, do rituals, and steal. Many in their quest for wealth, have unknowingly substituted God with money. The love of money is the root of all evil, and it is impossible to serve God and money. The wealthy man in this parable captures these sad truths.
His farm yield in this particular year was plenteous; business was growing, and he needed more capacity to accommodate the growth. His concern, therefore, was how to build bigger silos and warehouses for his increasing farm produce. He dreamed that when built, he would relax and enjoy his life, but would he have? Money is never enough; he would only have thought of other things to do – acquire new farmlands, go into exports, list his farms on the Stock Exchange, etc. Why do I say that? There is no record of his expressing gratitude to God for what he had; his thought was how to increase it and live a life of luxury. So, if he got more, there is no guarantee that he would be satisfied and be grateful to God.
Let us observe:
- Money gives a false sense of self-reliance and self-confidence: the man said ‘I’ and ‘my’ 11 times in this account. He neither acknowledged God nor others (staff) in his speech.
- Life is transient; make today count: The man had plans of what he would do in the future, but he never saw that future. Set your priorities right today, and live your dreams now.
- ‘True riches’ is defined by the quality of your relationship with God, not by the number of your possessions. It is better to be rich in spirit than be rich in material things.
- Failure to see that God is the source of your wealth is foolishness before God. It is funny that the man considers himself a rich man but God saw him as a foolish man. Interesting!
- Think Legacy: God said to him, “Whose will those things be which you have provided?”Plan for your exit by having a succession plan. Who takes over from you; who gets or does what?
God has no problem with you owning money; He is only displeased when the money owns you and enthrones you as a god in His place. More importantly, it does not matter how much material wealth God gives you, your eyes should always be on eternity; never allow your wealth to make you lose that. Lay up treasures in heaven by generosity, and be rich unto God.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Ecclesiastes 4:7&8 & Proverbs 23:1-8
Prayer/Confession:
+ Dear Father, I pause to ask for nothing but to thank You for all You have done and given me. Thank You for the people in my life.
+ I break the stronghold of covetousness over my life. I commit to laying up my treasures in heaven through generosity and kindness.
+ I exchange my earthly wealth for true riches, in Jesus’ name. I completely surrender all that I am to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
The cure for covetousness is contentment. Define every motive.
Amen 🙏🏼
When your riches increase, put not your trust in it. I receive wisdom to keep my priorities right. May my life be rich and Christ centered so that eternal sorrow wouldn’t be my lot when my soul is required of me.
May I always remember that God has done more for me than I think He has not done, and may I let that knowledge teach me contentment and gratitude, in Jesus’ name.
Indeed wants are insatiable. Lord I pray I don’t become gullible and forget my source. You are the one that gives power to make wealth and help me to be contented. Amen!