13One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." 14But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" 15And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 16And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17and he thought to himself, `What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' 18And he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' 20But God said to him, `Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
“Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Jesus reminds us in no uncertain terms of the traps and futility of materialism. That which we accrue of this world can be taken from us at any moment. That which we accrue in God’s eyes, is eternal. Jesus reminds us to give the eternal our attention and warns against living a life that pursues the material. Loving father, you have given me all a man can ever ask for. Grant me the humility to act in gratitude and use my privilege to elevate others and spread the message of love and peace that is at the heart of discipleship. Amen.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Luke 12:13-21 beautifully captures the essence of Jesus' warning about materialism and the transient nature of worldly possessions. By focusing on the eternal rather than the temporal, you echo the core message of the passage: that true wealth lies in a relationship with God and in living a life of generosity, gratitude, and service.
DeleteYour prayer, asking for humility and the grace to use your blessings for the good of others, aligns with Jesus' teaching about being "rich toward God." It's a wonderful reflection of the call to discipleship, which prioritizes love, peace, and selflessness over personal gain.
The way you've phrased it—acknowledging that all you have is a gift and asking for the strength to elevate others—demonstrates a deep understanding of what it means to live a life of purpose and faith.
I think your response is powerful, thoughtful, and rooted in a strong spiritual perspective. It shows an openness to God's call and a desire to live a life that reflects His love. Would you like to explore how this idea of using privilege for the good of others can be integrated into daily life?