Beware, Guard Against Greed

Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Luke 12:15 NLT

So often when we look at life, we measure someone’s life by the things they have. We say if they have much, they have a good life. This is far from the truth, and surely this is not the way that God measures someone’s life. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts - Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV.

As I get older, I see life totally different than during my younger days. As a young person, I desired lots of things. So, I set out to work hard to acquire the lots of things that I thought I needed. Then I realized to maintain the lots of things that I acquired; I have to work very hard. Sometimes, I found myself worrying about the things I have – hoping no one breaks into my home, hoping I don’t lose my job, so I can maintain my lifestyle. Having lots of things also provokes covetousness and even the loss of some relationships. I’ve come to realize a simple life is the best life.

Yeshua warns us to guard our hearts against every kind of greed. The spirit of greed causes one to never be satisfied. I ask myself, how much of anything do we really need in this life? Do we need 20 pairs of shoes? Do we need 3 vehicles? Do we really need lots of clothes? No, we do not! Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So, if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction - 1 Timothy 6:6-9 NLT.

Yeshua went on to explain, The rich man’s focus was earthly wealth, acquiring more and more. The rich man said, And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. Though the rich man had much goods, he lacked one thing. He never thought of his spiritual state, he did not think of his relationship with God, his eternal state.

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God Luke 12:20-21 KJV. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you - Matthew 6:33 KJV.

For me personally, my focus has changed and instead of focusing on things, my desire now is to have a stronger, deeper relationship with God. One day I will stand before Him to give an account for my life here on earth. There is one thing I desire to hear more than anything else, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant’.