Luke 12:15 “And Jesus said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life DOES NOT consist in the abundance of the things one possesses.’”
We begin with a DOUBLE warning as JESUS says, “Take heed and beware.” While we should be listening to everything Jesus says and everything the Bible teaches, a DOUBLE warning should have our full UNDIVIDED attention.
What is Jesus is so concerned about that He gives a DOUBLE warning? He tells us to WATCH OUT for COVETING or being GREEDY. “Take heed and beware of COVETOUSNESS.” Jesus takes his crowd that day AND US back to the Tenth Commandment of the Ten Commandments as it states “You shall not COVET your neighbor’s house; you shall not COVET your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor ANYTHING that is your neighbor’s.” Exodus 20:17
Reflecting on the tenth commandment for a moment let us remember that of all the Commandments the tenth is the most PERSONAL and SECRETIVE as it is broken with an ATTITUDE. It is the attitude of coveting then will lead to actions. Now, if I am coveting, you do not see it. If you are coveting, I do not see it. It is an inside sin.
QUESTION: What is the sinful attitude that gets us in trouble?
ANSWER: One is never satisfied with what one presently has, and they have a driving desire to get more and more so that they can be at least equal to if not better than their neighbor. There is a never ENOUGH mindset for them.
There is no CONTENTMENT with a COVETING person.
With the double WARNING of guarding against COVETING, Jesus now teaches a lesson that flies in the face of what we have been taught and conditioned to think about money, things, and possessions. The WHY of why we should not covet (ARE YOU LISTENING) IS “your life DOES NOT consist in the abundance of things you possess.” Read it again: YOUR LIFE DOES NOT CONSIST IN THE ABUNDANCE OF THE THINGS YOU POSSESS!
With one sentence Jesus CONFRONTS and DEBUNKS the thinking that fuels COVETING. Your self-worth is not tied to your worth! Your worth does not determine your self-worth!
How will you now apply JESUS’ TEACHING from Luke 12:15 to your THINKING? For me, it was hearing the quote “THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE NOT THINGS” that helped me go against the world’s thinking. How does the quote help you apply the teaching that Jesus has given?
Are you GUARDING your heart against being GREEDY? Are you CONTENT or does your heart COVET more and MORE and MORE?
Continue Strong content and satisfied with Jesus!
And remember to DATE THE WORD