When God gave the Law to Israel, He included a prohibition against coveting things that belonged to others.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour's.
Exodus 20:17.
Jesus, as he did with so many other subjects, went beyond the bare words of the Law, and taught the heart of God behind those words.
A man came to Jesus one day with what seemed to be a legitimate problem. He and his brother had been given an inheritance, but his brother had scarfed up the whole thing. The man came to Jesus seeking justice, asking only for help in getting what was rightfully his. He was not at all prepared for Jesus' answer.
And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
Luke 12:13-14.
Jesus turned down his request in no uncertain terms, saying, basically, "This problem is not my concern." The multitude that was with Jesus at the time was no doubt surprised and confused by Jesus' response, but Jesus quickly gave them the reason for his answer.
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Luke 12:15.
Jesus' reason was even more disturbing than his response! What he told them was that it is possible to be covetous of that which rightfully belongs to you -- and that even that kind of covetousness is wrong!
No doubt shock and dismay registered on the faces in the crowd. If it is wrong to covet your own possessions, how can anyone live righteously? Is it wrong to want anything?
To clarify his point, and to make clear the dividing line between good and evil in desire, Jesus taught the multitude a parable.
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luke 12:16.
The parable was about a successful businessman, a farmer, who had just had the most successful year of his life. He was no crook; he had worked hard and been rewarded with success. Now he had a problem most farmers only dream about: he had more crops than he had room for!
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 hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.
Luke 12:17-19.
This year's crop was so successful that the farmer was going to be able to retire off the proceeds. The farmer was plotting no evil against anyone; he was only looking forward to a well-deserved rest. What could possibly be wrong with that?
But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Luke 12:20.
The problem was not that he was evil, but that, in God's eyes, he was a fool. He had worked hard to prepare and plan for his future, not realizing that he didn't have one! All he had, he was going to have to leave behind for someone else. But that in itself is not the problem. Many people would be glad to leave behind a comfortable nest egg for their family when they die.
Jesus then explained the real problem with what the rich farmer had done.
So [is] he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Luke 12:21.
This farmer had worked hard all his life to succeed, to save, to stockpile riches for himself or his family. He had invested his whole life in his business; yet he had invested nothing with God! He had succeeded in business and become rich. He had put nothing into his relationship with God, and was now bankrupt before God. Though he had been rich on earth, he was a pauper for eternity.
What should our attitude be toward things? Jesus was very explicit about this.
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 7:24.
Jesus said that you have to choose between serving one and serving the other; between loving one and loving the other. You cannot pursue God and pursue things also. You cannot love God and love things also.
Worse yet, the things Jesus was talking about are not riches, or success, or the good life. Instead, he was talking about the basics, about needs!
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
The life is more than meat, and the body [is more] than raiment.
Luke 12:22-23.
You can¹t even serve your next meal and serve God! If you love the things of the world -- even the most basic and needful things -- you will hate God in the process. If you cling to the things of the world, you will despise God in the process.
Jesus asks us to look at two questions when we¹re deciding whether we¹re going to do this God¹s way or our way: Can God take care of you? Can you take care of yourself?
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
Luke 12:24-28.
Birds have nothing saved up for a rainy day. If they don¹t find food when they go out each day, they¹ll starve. Shouldn¹t birds have ulcers, then?! But they don¹t! They believe with all their being that when they go out looking for food, food will be there.
Flowers can¹t even go out looking for clothes to wear. But do they worry about their wardrobe? No! They just stay right where they are and keep growing, and the next thing they know, they¹re beautiful!
Birds work; flowers grow. God supplies their needs while they do what they¹re supposed to be doing. And He¹s been doing that faithfully for them for thousands of years.
What about you? Are you qualified to take care of yourself? Take this simple test, given by Jesus, to find out: Grow yourself. Not much -- a foot and a half (one cubit) will do! Concentrate real hard! Now, go measure yourself. How much did you grow?
You didn¹t?! Growing is the most basic thing a living thing does! And you can¹t even do that? Then why are you worrying about the hard stuff?
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luke 12:29-31.
Jesus didn¹t say, ³Stop working.² Even the birds get off their behinds and look for worms! But he did say don¹t seek the things you need -- let alone the things you want. Don¹t make them your priority. Don¹t ³do whatever it takes² to get them. Don¹t fall in love with them. Don¹t worship them. Don¹t prostitute yourself for them. Instead, trust in your heavenly Father, in His love for you, in His ability and His willingness to provide for you. You mean much more to Him than some bird!
Jesus also didn¹t say, ³Come to God and bring your shopping list to Him!² That¹s better, but that¹s still not what he¹s talking about! If that¹s what you¹re doing, you¹re still worrying about the stuff! Let it go! Do your job and forget about it!
Instead, make eternal life your priority. Make fellowship with God your priority. Make obedience to God your priority. Make pleasing the Father your priority.
You want to be rich? You want the good life? Great! Go for it! But do it God¹s way! Get to work earning eternal rewards for yourself, stashed away where nobody can get at them and rip you off! Make some investments now of your time, your energy, your money, your life, your love, that will pay you back in interest forever and ever and ever! Set your sights high!
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luke 12:32-34.
Jesus ends with a promise and a warning. First, he assures us that any investment we make with God has a guaranteed return. In fact, it is actually worth it to go out, sell your stuff, and give the proceeds to the poor, as an investment in real riches! The stuff this world has to offer is glitter dust; hold out for the real deal! But he also warns us that whatever choice we make will declare for all the world to see what is really important to us -- what we really think is real.
Where is your treasure? Are you investing your life where it really matters? Are you rich toward God?