BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS
AND YOU SHALL BE MY DISCIPLES – Lesson #29
Beware of Covetousness
“Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15).
WHAT DOES IT MEAN? – Eternal Security
Once again, we must “zoom out” and look at the context of this verse.
It all began when “Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”
And then Jesus said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?”
Then Jesus said to them all, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”
This another profound teaching of Jesus which is largely misunderstood or is so difficult to accept that it is disregarded as literal. But, listen to the key words here: BEWARE, BE ON GUARD. This is given as a warning with urgency.
This teaching has more to do with Eternal Security than with accumulating and hoarding wealth.
And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.
And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’
“Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’
This is the consequence Jesus warned about. Imagine, God calling you or me a fool! But, God said to the man, “You fool! This very night your soul is required of you.” And the man will be left with nothing, for Eternity!
You see, this man did not prepare. He did not have a ‘money belt of unfailing treasure in heaven’. He had not made himself ‘rich’ toward God.
v 21 “So it is with the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
v30 “For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
Our Father has gladly chosen to give us His Kingdom. It is indeed, easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle – which is preposterous – than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.
Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts an unfailing treasure in heaven, which do not wear out, where no thief can come near nor can the moth destroy.
Then Jesus utters one of the most profound remark of all times, revealing the secret of His teaching. The oracle is laid bare:
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
The complete meaning is that a “treasure” from the Greek word is “thesauros” from which we get the English word, “thesaurus”. Which is to gain a more completed understanding and to lay aside for our use. In this case it is to gain a more complete
understanding that being ‘rich toward God’ is what is eternally important and to store that up in abundance. The “heart” is the center and seat of spiritual life, the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors.
“It is with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:10
Now, it is your turn:
HOW MUST YOU DO IT?
HOW YOU MUST TEACH IT?
Although these are urgent days, fear not! He Who is in you is Greater than he who is in this world. Yet, we must learn to “accurately handle the Word of God” in order to Overcome and Endure to the end!
Your Brother and Friend, Mike Young