“Then he [Jesus] said to them, “Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”” (Luke 12:15, NET 2nd ed.)
Up in the hills near Los Angeles, there is a beautiful home. It is perfectly landscaped. There are workers who tend the bushes, cut the lawn, clean up after storms, and keep the yard looking pristine. The home is owned by a wealthy man who earned many awards as a member of the Screen Actors’ Guild. Recently, when asked about his lifetime accomplishments, he lamented in a moment of wistfulness that “the dreams of youth are the regrets of maturity”. It’s a wise saying learned from a lifetime of success and failure. You can tell by his statement that when he is alone with himself, regrets of the past bubble up. His wealth and success are dimmed by mistakes and an emptiness that his riches cannot replace.
Over the years, I have had many people comment that when they “win the lottery” or “hit the jackpot” or “get that big break” or “find the one”, they will have all their dreams come true. Life doesn’t work that way. Getting rich, getting married, owning a home, landing a big gig…. those things don’t last forever. They affect your life, sure. But they do not mean you will be full of joy or at peace or fulfilled in life or feel loved. So many people chase after that “big thing”, hoping it will make them rich or satisfy their every need. This, in and of itself, is the definition of worldly thinking.
Worldly thinking focuses on the temporary things in life that can come and go. If you buy the perfect vacation house in Florida and think you have it made, what is to say you may not lose that house in a hurricane a short time later? Worldly things can be lost. Worldly thinking focuses all your energy on things that are temporary and not eternal. Worldly people spend a majority of their time and efforts acquiring worldly titles, accolades, collections, power, and/or riches. Godly people spend their time blessing others, sharing the gospel, sharing their wealth, loving others, forgiving, worshipping God, praying with God, and planning for an eternal life. Godly people focus on godly thinking, which is centered on the things in life that matter for all eternity.
“In a Sports Illustrated interview, baseball hero Mickey Mantle once described his long battle with alcohol and his heartbreaking problems with his family. The interviewer then asked, “So how are things going with you today, Mickey?”
“Better,” was the reply. “I haven’t had a drink in eight months. I’m starting to get my life back together, but I just feel like there’s something missing.”
Here was a living legend who had played 2,401 games for the New York Yankees from 1951 to 1968, hit a record eighteen homers in twelve World Series, and had entered baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1974. But he felt empty inside, for the accumulation of wealth, fame, and accomplishment didn’t satisfy.” (David Jeremiah, Morning and Evening Devotions, p. 167)
In the scripture reading for today, Jesus gave a piece of wisdom to a man who felt slighted in a financial matter. He, too, felt something was missing that was owed him. In Luke 12:15, Jesus is quoted as saying to that man, “Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Worldliness tends to produce greed. People become greedy for titles, accolades, power, possessions, wealth and other worldly signs of success. In their desire to garner more and more of these worldly ideals, people do not realize that the sin of greed can easily take over. Then, they will desire the best, the newest, the shiniest, or to be the star when all these things fade away in time. Before they know it, greed for these things will replace a desire to be faithful. Possessions and fame will replace righteousness and holiness. The idols of this world will take the place of God.
Greed is listed as one of the seven deadly sins by the church of history. The word “greed” may not be listed in the Ten Commandments, but it is nonetheless a faith-killer. That is why in both Matthew 6:24 and Luke 13:16 Jesus teaches that “You CANNOT serve God and mammon (worldly possessions)”. You will always choose one over the other.
To close our meditation today, I want to go back to Mickey Mantle. After feeling like something was missing in his life, Mantle was approached by Bobby Richardson, another baseball player. Richardson helped Mickey Mantle accept Christ and change his focus from worldly things to godly living. It is even recorded that Mickey Mantle said as he was dying that he was “trusting Christ’s death for me to take me to heaven.”
Every day of your life, you will choose between godly things and worldly things, between sharing and greed, between God and mammon. Your choices each day will not only define your life, but they will also define your afterlife. Is something missing in your life? Do you have a dangerous temptation toward greediness? Do you only share when you have more than plenty or do you always share? When your life is ending, will you have regrets and that empty feeling or an excitement to be reunited with your Lord and God?
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
As the days pass, dear Lord, may my love for You grow ever stronger. May my joy become complete because I know Jesus the Christ personally.
I fear for many in our world who have succumbed to sinful greed. Their whole existence seems rooted in a desire for money or power or various things of this world. Social media promotes the next best thing. Business leaders tout their products as essential. When will the majority of this world ever see You as essential!!!
I cannot imagine life without You in it. Love would be a passing fad. Peace would be fleeting. Joy would be only for a moment. I am so thankful that You are in my life. I know what it is to be content with You by my side, my Lord!
Today, I pray for the lost souls of this world. They are so wrapped up in worldly ideas that they do not realize the emptiness of their pursuit. I see the eyes of people who have no joy in them. I see people struggling to find a job, find love, find hope. Do they not realize that all these things are wrapped up in YOU, Almighty God?
With a thankful heart, I am so glad the gospel changed me! I find great joy in Your love, Your forgiveness, Your devotion to me. May I bless others in response. May Your Word increase in this world because of me! I can’t wait to see You, my Lord and God! On that day, I will feel in person the power of Your love. Amen.
Over the years, I have had many people comment that when they “win the lottery” or “hit the jackpot” or “get that big break” or “find the one”, they will have all their dreams come true. Life doesn’t work that way. Getting rich, getting married, owning a home, landing a big gig…. those things don’t last forever. They affect your life, sure. But they do not mean you will be full of joy or at peace or fulfilled in life or feel loved. So many people chase after that “big thing”, hoping it will make them rich or satisfy their every need. This, in and of itself, is the definition of worldly thinking.
Worldly thinking focuses on the temporary things in life that can come and go. If you buy the perfect vacation house in Florida and think you have it made, what is to say you may not lose that house in a hurricane a short time later? Worldly things can be lost. Worldly thinking focuses all your energy on things that are temporary and not eternal. Worldly people spend a majority of their time and efforts acquiring worldly titles, accolades, collections, power, and/or riches. Godly people spend their time blessing others, sharing the gospel, sharing their wealth, loving others, forgiving, worshipping God, praying with God, and planning for an eternal life. Godly people focus on godly thinking, which is centered on the things in life that matter for all eternity.
“In a Sports Illustrated interview, baseball hero Mickey Mantle once described his long battle with alcohol and his heartbreaking problems with his family. The interviewer then asked, “So how are things going with you today, Mickey?”
“Better,” was the reply. “I haven’t had a drink in eight months. I’m starting to get my life back together, but I just feel like there’s something missing.”
Here was a living legend who had played 2,401 games for the New York Yankees from 1951 to 1968, hit a record eighteen homers in twelve World Series, and had entered baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1974. But he felt empty inside, for the accumulation of wealth, fame, and accomplishment didn’t satisfy.” (David Jeremiah, Morning and Evening Devotions, p. 167)
In the scripture reading for today, Jesus gave a piece of wisdom to a man who felt slighted in a financial matter. He, too, felt something was missing that was owed him. In Luke 12:15, Jesus is quoted as saying to that man, “Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Worldliness tends to produce greed. People become greedy for titles, accolades, power, possessions, wealth and other worldly signs of success. In their desire to garner more and more of these worldly ideals, people do not realize that the sin of greed can easily take over. Then, they will desire the best, the newest, the shiniest, or to be the star when all these things fade away in time. Before they know it, greed for these things will replace a desire to be faithful. Possessions and fame will replace righteousness and holiness. The idols of this world will take the place of God.
Greed is listed as one of the seven deadly sins by the church of history. The word “greed” may not be listed in the Ten Commandments, but it is nonetheless a faith-killer. That is why in both Matthew 6:24 and Luke 13:16 Jesus teaches that “You CANNOT serve God and mammon (worldly possessions)”. You will always choose one over the other.
To close our meditation today, I want to go back to Mickey Mantle. After feeling like something was missing in his life, Mantle was approached by Bobby Richardson, another baseball player. Richardson helped Mickey Mantle accept Christ and change his focus from worldly things to godly living. It is even recorded that Mickey Mantle said as he was dying that he was “trusting Christ’s death for me to take me to heaven.”
Every day of your life, you will choose between godly things and worldly things, between sharing and greed, between God and mammon. Your choices each day will not only define your life, but they will also define your afterlife. Is something missing in your life? Do you have a dangerous temptation toward greediness? Do you only share when you have more than plenty or do you always share? When your life is ending, will you have regrets and that empty feeling or an excitement to be reunited with your Lord and God?
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
As the days pass, dear Lord, may my love for You grow ever stronger. May my joy become complete because I know Jesus the Christ personally.
I fear for many in our world who have succumbed to sinful greed. Their whole existence seems rooted in a desire for money or power or various things of this world. Social media promotes the next best thing. Business leaders tout their products as essential. When will the majority of this world ever see You as essential!!!
I cannot imagine life without You in it. Love would be a passing fad. Peace would be fleeting. Joy would be only for a moment. I am so thankful that You are in my life. I know what it is to be content with You by my side, my Lord!
Today, I pray for the lost souls of this world. They are so wrapped up in worldly ideas that they do not realize the emptiness of their pursuit. I see the eyes of people who have no joy in them. I see people struggling to find a job, find love, find hope. Do they not realize that all these things are wrapped up in YOU, Almighty God?
With a thankful heart, I am so glad the gospel changed me! I find great joy in Your love, Your forgiveness, Your devotion to me. May I bless others in response. May Your Word increase in this world because of me! I can’t wait to see You, my Lord and God! On that day, I will feel in person the power of Your love. Amen.