FRIDAY: GREED
KEY PASSAGE
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15
DEVOTIONAL
A man from the crowd makes a request of Jesus: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me” (Luke 12:13). It sounds like a reasonable request, asking Jesus to intervene in a dispute between brothers. The man brought his request to the right place, but Jesus sees the deeper issue with the request. It is a heart issue: greed.
Greed is defined as “an excessive, selfish desire for more (money, power, possessions) that becomes idolatry, leading people away from God and causing harm.” Greed is a dangerous position of the heart towards God and towards others. Jesus warns the crowd to be on guard against all kinds of greed because this is not where full life is found.
Jesus drives home the message by sharing a parable about a rich man who had narrowed vision. He was focused on building more for himself (tearing down his old barns and building bigger ones) so that he could store up all of his wealth and possessions and enjoy his life.
The problem with acting like this rich man, is that greed keeps us craving more (money, power, possessions) and we fall for the lie that once we finally get more, that it will be enough. But, in truth, it will never be enough because the selfish desire for more will never satisfy a hungry soul. We are looking for personal security when we store up these things in our barns, but these things will never bring protection for our souls.
As Christ followers, we are instructed in Mark 12:30-31 of two things: First, to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength and the second, is to love your neighbor as yourself. When we are filled with greed, we have a displaced love for God and for our neighbors.
CHALLENGE
What request have you made to God today? Based on your request, is God seeing a deeper issue, a heart issue?
Journal your answers to these 2 questions today:
Where am I tempted to store up security for myself apart from God?
How is my love toward God and how am I doing with loving my neighbor?
Prayer: God, I come to you today and ask that you take a look at my heart. I ask that you free me from any false beliefs that possessions will give me what only you can provide. Help me remember that the “more” that I am in search of is only found in you. Amen.