Rich Toward God
Luke 12:16-20
Wednesday, March 7th
What’ s your net worth? I think you know what I’ m talking about when I use that term, right? You take your assets( the money and things you have) and subtract your liabilities( your debts and obligations) and what is left over is your net worth. So what are you worth? The thought could be depressing for some. Others might do the math and think,“ Hey, I’ m doing okay!” Either way that whole concept of net worth is kind of misleading. But, it totally fits with this world’ s mindset. What makes something worth something? It’ s how much money it costs. It’ s how much money is invested in it. It’ s how much money you could sell it for. Money makes the world go round, right? Wrong. This world’ s view of money and possessions is totally out of whack. That point is made very clear in the words of Jesus in Luke chapter 12. Money is a good thing. It’ s a gift from God. It serves a purpose. But if we begin to look at money and stuff the way the world does( and we absolutely do) then money is meaningless. Then, no matter how much money you have, you will not be rich, at least not where it really counts. The only thing that counts is being rich toward God.
The problem with the man in Jesus’ parable was not that he was rich. The problem is that this man was a fool! He thought his abundance of possessions assured him of a life of ease. He failed to recognize that his wealth did not dictate his future; God did. And God had set that very night as the limit of his life. All of his earthly riches would now be used by others. And what was even worse, since these were the only riches with which he had concerned himself, his death left him an absolute beggar. Death separated him from his only riches and he faced God’ s judgment with no spiritual resources at all.
If your whole life is devoted to gathering earthly possessions, if your entire purpose is finding your contentment and security in what earthly wealth can afford, then you will spend this life and the next in abject poverty. Only what you have invested with God is permanent. Death is coming, and it’ s the wages of sin. You need something else to deal with death. You need Jesus. Jesus always wants more for you than you want for yourself. So often we only think about what it will take to enjoy our years to come. What will that be? A few decades of retirement? A couple of getaways or a vacation home? Jesus wants to give you an eternity in the comforts of his kingdom! You want proof? The One who has all authority gave it up for you. The One who owns everything gave it up for you. Jesus has made you rich toward God by giving you every spiritual blessing there is. Your bank account is full of forgiveness. Your portfolio is diversified with investments in God’ s grace and mercy. You are heirs of an eternal kingdom. You are spiritually rich beyond compare. All because of Jesus.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to always find true wealth in you. Amen.
Activity: Take this opportunity to teach your children about stewardship. Faithfully make a plan to use the blessings God gives us( including our offerings to him), but do not worry about our future because that is in our Savior’ s hands.
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