Jesus attracted a crowd wherever he went teaching and healing. On one occasion, “when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people…one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me” (Luke 12:1, 13). In essence, he said “I want what’s mine and I want it now! Jesus replied by speaking to the very issue of his heart. “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).
He used the following parable to give clarity to the man’s need and perspective to his desires. “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, saying, what shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 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. 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 12:16-21).
Covetousness, the desire for wealth and the things that wealth can buy, blinds us to the value of a man’s life and true riches. We become busy chasing a better job, a newer car, a bigger house, and greater comforts and consequently we simply lose sight of the brevity of life. These pursuits have no value in the next life. That is why Jesus asked, “then whose shall those things be?” since they will be left behind.
The inevitability of death makes certain our appointment with God. The writer of Hebrews reminds us, “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Solomon, the wisest and wealthiest of men, understood the brevity of life, the vanity of riches, and the need to prepare to meet God. He stated succinctly, “riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death” (Proverbs 11:4).
To have a righteousness that meets God’s standard is that which makes us “rich toward God.” Jesus taught “that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20; emphasis added). Those who were most righteous in their own eyes and the eyes of other men had no hope of heaven. The only righteousness that will get us into heaven is that of Christ’s. Through his sacrificial death on the cross, “he [God] hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Are you rich toward God?
Jesus taught “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:19-21). Take heed, and beware of covetousness!
From the Chaplain 