Luke 12:15 “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.”
Speaking to a crowd of religious leaders and other people, Jesus pointed out that there was a problem with being covetous. If you are not sure what that means, it is wanting what others have – and most often you cannot. It includes a neighbor’s house, a rich man’s money, a sexy woman or man, jewelry, a fancy boat, etc.
This crowd – the ones that should have known better – had forgotten that the 10th commandment, which is “Thou shalt not covet.” Jesus saw their hearts and knew that there was a problem.
The same problem exists today – and on a much larger scale. The entire advertising industry aims to put a desire in your mind for things you do not have and often do not need. Their ads are seen everywhere. Satan was the first to do this. He tempted Eve by offering her something that she did not have and gave her a reason to want it. Of course, to do so, he lied.
Satan continues to get believer’s minds off of God and on to “things.” Covetous is wrong because it means that you are not satisfied with what God provides. It must be remembered that things can never satisfy – only God can. It was Blaise Pascal who said: “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every [person] which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.”
If things could satisfy, the richest people would be the happiest – but they often are the most miserable. Most of them ended up discovering that nothing could satisfy them because they had everything – there was no more to want – and this only made them even more depressed. This is why Jesus taught that “a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Sometimes, the happiest people are the poorest believers.
It is also important to remember that you cannot take it with you. Believer, you can lay up treasure up there that conditions down here cannot take away.
True joy and blessedness comes from a close walk with God. He satisfies the heart like nothing else on earth can do. He also gives His children that love and serve Him the desires of their heart – and they do not need to pay for it, either! His joy remains even when you have nothing left.
Christian – are you really satisfied with what you have? Have you fallen for the world – again – after Christ delivered you from it? He has warned us, in I John 2:15: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Only Jesus can give the “abundant life” – not the world.
If you find that you have become more enamored with the world than with Christ, why not talk to Him about it right now and ask Him to help refocus your eyes on Him alone?