MORE THAN STUFF
Luke 12:13-15, 34 NKJV
13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14 But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?" 15 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."
34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Jesus was teaching on the subject of confessing Him before men and the fear of God when a man spoke up out of the crowd. And not only did he interrupt Jesus, but he was on a completely different subject. Jesus was talking about much weightier matters, and this man was talking about stuff. Jesus used the interruption to launch into a teaching about the temporary nature of this world and its goods.
This man asked Jesus to intervene on his behalf and tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him. At face value, it doesn't seem to be a big request, but Jesus saw something different. First, Jesus acknowledged that His role was not to judge or arbitrate. Jesus was not going to be involved in helping the brothers reach a settlement.
And Jesus was not finished. He issued a warning to the man that applied to everyone listening. Be aware of and guard against covetousness. Covetousness comes from two Greek words meaning to have more. A more common word would be greediness. Jesus said we are to be aware of this constant need to have more. And then He made a very profound statement that, "one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." Jesus was not saying that we can't have things. What He was saying was that the things in our life do not define our life. There is no life in stuff.
Jesus actually did not stop there. He continues to talk about how things and abundance are not the goal of life. He told a parable about a man who stored up a bunch of stuff and then died and left it all behind. Jesus made a big point when He said that we don't want to have treasure for ourselves and not be rich toward God.
Jesus stayed on this topic, speaking of the human tendency to worry over our needs. This is culminated by the admonition to seek the Kingdom of God, and all the stuff would be added to us (Texas translation). Verse 34 sums up the teaching when Jesus stated that where our treasure is, there is our heart also. So, our heart follows what we treasure. And treasuring stuff is a mistake because of its temporary nature and its inability to provide lasting satisfaction.
APPLICATION
Some people over the centuries have taken this passage to mean that we should never have stuff. Many people have taken vows of poverty. That vow of poverty may work if you are isolated from everyone and living a totally single monastic life. Don't try that with a family.
But on the other side of the ditch are those who feel as if their abundance testifies to how godly they are. The wisdom of God says to stay out of the ditches on either side of this road. Have stuff, but don't love it. Love God, love His Kingdom, and be a blessing. Remember that stuff only satisfies for a little time. And that we take none of it with us when we leave.
PRAYER
Lord, I appreciate what You have provided for me. But my heart is with You, not with the stuff.