Covetousness (covet) and greed are each mentioned more than 26 times in the Bible. Covetousness is defined as desiring greatly to have something that is possessed by someone else. Greed is an intense selfish desire for something - mostly power, possessions, and food.

In this scripture, a man is asking Jesus to tell his brother to divide his inheritance with him. Inheritance was structured differently in Biblical days based on birth order. Jesus is bothered by this man’s request and cautions him to be careful of greed. His example is that of a man who has an abundance stored up for his future, but because of greed, he is not content with what he has. This man asks Jesus, “What shall I do?” He says that he is going to tear down his barns and build bigger ones to store away more. Jesus tells him that tonight he wilI perish, and his stored-up grains and goods will then belong to someone else. A source of Jesus’s displeasure here is that always coveting more diminishes our faith and reliance on the fact that God provides for our every need.

Covetousness is directly opposed to true contentment in God. How important “do not covet” must be that it is included in the Ten Commandments. “Thou shalt not covet” reminds us that we are never to want what belongs to someone else, not another man’s house, nor his wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, etc. Greater than this lesson, however, is the fact that if we store up riches, houses, etc., then not even our soul is our own. This man was blessed with fertile land to be able to harvest more than what he needed, and the opportunity to bless others through his good fortune; but by questioning Jesus with “what shall I do,” he showed no contentment which made him not only greedy but a fool. Jesus required his soul to teach the lesson that if we do not use our abundance to further the kingdom that not even your soul is yours at death.

Reflection:

• Search your heart and examine places that you may show greed.
• Take time to reflect on the things that you are truly grateful for that might otherwise be taken for granted.
• Prayer: Dear God, thank You for the abundant blessings that You bestow upon us in life. Thank You for meeting our every need. Lord, reveal to us ways that we may use any abundance that is given to further the Kingdom for Your glory through us. Allow us to see more clearly those areas where we may need more work on this. Amen.

Family Application: The Parable of the Rich Fool

Author: Stephanie Hammontree

Reading: Luke 12:13-21

• Call out some items (a steak, a car, a bed, ice cream, a hairbrush, etc.) and ask family members to say if they are needs or wants. Discuss the difference. This can lead to a valuable discussion on the importance of being sure everyone has their needs met, even if it means giving up some wants.
• Ask how each person can consciously store up riches toward God: Helping without being asked; answering gently instead of screaming, being sarcastic, or putting others down; sharing what we have with others; not begging or getting mad when an answer is “no;” smiling at others we don’t even know!
• Try smiling at everyone you meet for just one day and notice the reactions you get!
• Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for telling us Your stories that help us learn wonderful ways to live better lives for You! Help us to always keep You first in our minds so that we won’t say or do things that won’t add up to treasure in Heaven! And, Jesus, let us show others Your love when we smile at them! Please keep us straight on our path to Heaven! We love You, Jesus! Amen.