“A man’s life does
not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” – Luke 12:15
Let Your continual mercy, O Lord, cleans and defend
Your Church; because it cannot continue in safety without Your help protect and
govern it always by Your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.[2]
We need to have a balance in life. We need to learn how
to handle our possessions. So that our possessions will not handle us. Jesus is
not condemning possessing stuff. There is no virtue in being poor, needy or
devoid of material things. It is a matter of keeping perspective. Do we possess
our possessions? Or do our possessions posses us? Are you a slave to material
goods?
It is not a question of
being rich or having fabulous homes, expensive jewelry, and having a high
income. It is not only the super rich who can become obsessed with possessions.
Even those of modest means can become enslaved to their possessions – no matter
how many or how few they may be. To be possessed by your possessions means.
1. You are greedy for possessions. “Watch out! Be on your guard against all
kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his
possessions.” V.15
There are two commandments focused on coveting; our longing for
more. Not in the abundance of your
possessions does your life exist. Remember, riches attract greed!
Can
you handle success? Can you handle wealth? Most people who strike it rich
winning the lottery are broke within a few years. It wasn’t the money per se. It was their
priorities. It was their attitude toward their great abundance.
Your life does not consist
in the abundance of your of possessions. Living in a consumed, consumer society
that shouts at us. Every day, “you need more of this! You won’t be happy
without that! You need to look this way! And have these things! In order to be
accepted. Respected. And valued by others.” I’m reminded of a student who went
to school with Lydia her senior year of high school…Who brought along with her
100 pairs of shoes. And complained. That hadn’t a thing to wear! Really! Yet the things of this world are passing away.
Only that which is of Christ, will last forever.
Can you remember what you
received for Christmas when you were seven? Or four? Or twelve? So why do you
think your children will be scared for life if they don’t have the latest
selling item this year? Remember back to that day. At the time, what you
received might have been the most wonderful thing in the world. But now,
looking back and reflecting. You
realized that what was truly important was having the people who mattered most
in your life with you.
2. To be possessed
by your possessions means you never get enough possessions. “He thought to himself, “What shall I do? I
have no place to store my crops.” V.17
In just a few weeks it will be here once again, college
move-in day. It’s amazing how much “stuff” an 18-year old can cram into a dorm
room! What always amazed me when we
would move our children and their “stuff” back to campus were those students who
would arrive in a huge honking SUV pulling a U-hall, which is bigger than the
dorm room itself! And to top it off. – That student. Has a roommate. Who had come with all of
their stuff as well.
You can never be satisfied if you always want more. You
receive an e-mail from a Mr. Abukakar. He claims to be the personal friend to
the son of the late king of Nigeria. He writes that you were recommended to him
as an honest and reliable person. To whom he can entrust a sum of money.
$20 million dollars. Need to
be wired out of the country immediately. For your help, he will give you 20% of
the total. He is confident you would not keep all of the money. He asks you to
send him your address, fax and phone number, and your bank count number. He
assures you of privacy. He hopes to hear from you immediately. Why do so many
fall for such a scam? We are all tempted by greed.
One author
put it this way. “If you look carefully
you will see that there is one thing and only one thing that cause unhappiness.
The name of that thing is Attachment. What is an attachment? Ann emotional
state of clinging caused by the belief that without some particular thing or
some person you cannot be happy…Here is a mistake that most people make in
their relationships with others. They try to build a steady nesting place in
the ever-moving stream of life.”[3]
To be possessed by
your possessions means you trust your possessions to give the good life. “And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of
good things laid up for many years, Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’”
V.19
Greed seeks worldly things. This must not be equated with
true living. We stumble when material possessions become a substitute for the
proper object of a person’s search and worship - with is God. – Greed breeds
idolatry.
Jesus addressed the man on
his own pragmatic terms. He is dealing not with matters of the kingdom. Or of
life beyond death. But with the question of the disposition of his possessions.
What will happen to all my stuff? This underscores the fact that in the end he
will have to “leave it all.” Then it will be someone else’s problem. Walk into
any antique shop. It is filled with other people’s stuff.
You will never see a U-haul
following a hearse. Solomon reminds us of this reality in the book of
Ecclesiastes. “I hated all the things I
had toiled for under the sun, because I
must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he
will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which
I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.”
– Ecclesiastes 2:18-19
Since you can’t take it with
you. Since things will not bring lasting happiness. We trust in that one thing
needful. The only thing that can cause true contentment and joy. This is found
in the person of Jesus Christ who said, “I
have come that they might have life and have it abundantly.” –John
10:10
Contentment. Peace. Happiness. Is not found in the amount
and the value of possessions but in Christ. “Trust not in princes. – They are but mortal.”
The man in our parable found
contentment in his belongings and wealth.
Your treasure is in Christ. The world says, “Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.” As a follower of
Christ you can proclaim, “Eat, drink and
be merry for tomorrow we live!” Look
to Jesus. Where He may be found. There and there alone will you find lasting
peace and joy.
Under Jesus’ protection. And by His gifts. You can experience
the best life can offer. Jesus can give a whole new meaning to living. Because
He provides full satisfaction. And perfect guidance. He is your sufficiency. With Him. There is
both contentment and peace.
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