Key scripture – “Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15).

“He who dies with the most toys wins.” That’s what our culture tells us; “That life is found in the abundance of possessions. The more stuff you have, the better the stuff that you have, the happier you’ll be.”

Jesus says the exact opposite: And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”‘ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16-21)

Money can confuse us and rob us of security, happiness, and freedom. Jesus knew that and that is why He gave the world a clear warning in His opening introduction to the parable:

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15).

Are you obeying His clear instructions. This is how you can tell if you are, ask yourself: Are you hoarding your possessions for yourself? Or are you giving generously to the things that God cares about?

Comparing yourself to others doesn’t count here. Don’t look around and say, “I am doing more than her or him.” This is between you and God only. Are you really allowing Him to guide your generosity day by day, according to clear biblical principles and the leading of His Spirit in you … or will you die rich and foolish?

Jesus told us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21).

Pray and ask God to show you what He wants you to give generously to today from your time, talent and treasures.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, everything in my possession is Yours. I am just a steward of the time, talent, and treasures that You have blessed me with. Forgive me for when I have thought that giving would undo me and make me poor. I know that giving for God’s honor will make us rich not poor because what we give to You we will have. I know that if I only do a little for Your Kingdom with my time talent and treasures I will only harvest a little because like a farmer, we always harvest what we plant. I want to plant an abundance of goodness, mercy, grace, love, peace, patience and kindness, because I know that at just the right time I will reap a harvest of blessing if I do not give up. Father, show me the next seed of generosity and goodness that You want me to plant, then show me the next, then the next, then … In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.