25th.: Be Rich Toward God
Jesus relates a parable about a man who valued 'things' above all else.
(Luke 12:15-21):
“Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man’s life consists
not in the abundance of the things which he possesses. And he
spake a parable unto them, “The ground of a certain rich man brought
forth plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do,
because I have no room where to bestow my fruits. And he said, ‘This will I do;
I will pull down my barns, and build greater. And there will I bestow all
my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, thou has much goods
laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry.’"
There is a famous quote made by one of the wealthiest men to have ever lived,
the American from the early 20th Century, John D. Rockefeller.
A reporter had asked him something like,
"How much money will make a man happy?"
Mr. Rockefeller sarcastically responded, "Just a little bit more."
Yet the anti-hero of the above story,
thought 'just a little bit more' would be enough.
Money can be useful for getting things, which other people can provide**.
It can make life a little bit easier.
But money cannot buy a place a heaven, as only God can provide that.
And he does not need our money.
Therefore, money and possessions have limited value, when it comes to eternal things.
Continuing with the parable.
But God said unto him, ‘Fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.
Then whose shall those things be, which thou has provided.’
So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
God holds the keys to heaven.
Yet, we have all offended him with our sins.
And if the Earth is the Lord's and all it contains
we can't buy our way, because he already owns it all.
How then can be become rich toward God?
By turning our mind/heart/soul back to God
and by calling out to the Creator and God, Jesus Christ for forgiveness
And by faith alone, accepting the free gift of salvation that Jesus offers.
And then spending time with him - in prayer, and in reading his instructions to us.
To some people, spending time with God has no value.
But when eternity comes, we will all realize that is the thing with the most value.
Unfortunately, most people won't realize that, until it is too late.
**Really, money is only good for securing other people's labor. For example,
Buying something.
But when we buy something, we are actually
paying for the combined labor of people, such as those
a. Who dug raw materials out of the ground, or cut down some tree, etc.
b. The people who designed that something.
c. Those who built that something.
d. Those who transported to the stores that something.
e. The sales people/cashiers who sold that something.
f. etc.
Buying something.
But when we buy something, we are actually
paying for the combined labor of people, such as those
a. Who dug raw materials out of the ground, or cut down some tree, etc.
b. The people who designed that something.
c. Those who built that something.
d. Those who transported to the stores that something.
e. The sales people/cashiers who sold that something.
f. etc.
"He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver." Ecclesiastes 6:10a.