By Lisa Wilmore
Scripture: Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’
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?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12: 16-21).
My Friends,
Sadly, there are persons who are in the mode of wanting and desiring more “stuff”, even though they have not adequately used what God has already given them. I am so thankful that God does not require earthly possessions to inherit eternal life. If He did require them, many would not make it due to inadequate resources. What He does require is one’s acceptance of Jesus, His Son.
In the aforementioned text, Jesus taught the disciples and used a parable to teach them about storing up earthly possessions. The rich man that Jesus references stored all of his treasures on earth with no consideration of heavenly treasures. He was guilty of wanting more, and more, and more. This man was, undoubtly living the good life-no worries, no stresses, and not anxieties because of unmet or unpaid bills. He appears to be in good health. Nevertheless, God called him a fool.
Interestingly, this man had chosen to live a life where he thought only about himself and earthly gain. He lived his life as if there IS a tomorrow. He lived as if there is nothing beyond death. However, as he pondered about building more barns for his stuff, God required his soul that day. Listen, God does not require our stuff, but He does require our souls.
Are you living as if there is nothing beyond this life? Are you storing up treasures on earth or in heaven? Listen, our stuff is not required, but one day our soul will be. Are you ready?
