Verse of the Day 3/26

Verse of the Day 3/26

Luke 12:15   And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."    English Standard Version (ESV)

Over the years many people have fallen victim to get rich quick schemes that have robbed some of all of their possessions.  These "schemes", at worst, play on our greed and the tendency to hoard, and at least prey on our desire for security for our future retirement.  The Message paraphrase of this encourages us to "protect ourselves against the least bit of greed".  How is this to be done?

The parable that followed tells of a man who tore down barns to build bigger ones to hold all of his grain.  It brought to mind the picture of care enthusiasts that have 100's of cars stored in barns or even fields and never have the opportunity or time to drive them all.  But before we gaze to intently on others, it is a reminder for ourselves.  The last verse of the passage sums it up, above all other things we are to be rich towards God, and in doing so we will naturally be generous to others.

I had the following notes posted to today's verse in my eBible.  Unfortunately I had not recorded the source.

Being rich toward God means growing a soul that is increasingly healthy and good.    Being rich toward God means loving and enjoying the people around you.    Being rich toward God means learning about your gifts and passions and doing good work to help improve the world.    Being rich toward God means becoming generous with your stuff.    Being rich toward God means making that which is temporary become the servant of that which is eternal.    Being rich toward God means savoring every roll of the dice and every trip around the board.

The last statement reminded me of the old board game "Easy Money".  Each time around the board you passed go and collected $200.  But as the game progressed it became more treacherous, if you landed on the wrong spot it could bankrupt you and you'd have to sell off the properties that you had accumulated to pay off the debt.  In the game, there is no thought of being rich towards God.  The game is a reminder of "easy come, easy go", and that we are better of laying up treasures in heaven.

Matthew 6:19-20 English Standard Version (ESV)   "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust^[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Luke 12:15-21 The Message (MSG)

¹⁵ Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot."

^16-19 Then he told them this story: "The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!'

²⁰ "Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?'

²¹ "That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God."