He Meets Our Need, Not Our Greed

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.  He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:15-21 (New International Version, NIV)

This tells us to watch out for greed. We are to live for God and not for ourselves. If we live for ourselves, our time eventually runs out, but when we live for God, we live forever. Be rich towards God, and not in physical riches for yourself. If we’re rich towards God, putting God first and seeking to advance His kingdom, He will provide riches to us. Seek to advance His kingdom. Serve God and not your self-interests. And glorify God in worship and all you do.

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:22-34 (New International Version, NIV)

God promises to meet our need, not our greed. Don’t worry about needs because God has promised to meet every need (Philippians 4:19). Don’t worry about what you need, life is more than this. Being rich towards God means having a right relationship with God, and thus we receive true riches that last (Luke 12:30-33). When we put God first, God puts us first and freely gives us all we need. Relationship is the exchange for needs met. We seek God; God meets our needs. Things, or needs, are not to distract us from God. We are to have a right relationship with God, and God then takes care of us. The point is that God will meet our needs and not our greed. Greed seeks things, but a right heart seeks God.

Am I opposed to Christians being wealthy? No, of course not. But we must keep it in the right perspective. True riches, true treasure, is having God. When we touch God’s heart, He opens His hand to release all we need.

But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:31-34 (New International Version, NIV)

Seek God first and God will provide all that is needed. As we give to help others, we maintain a right heart about money. Thus, we can handle true treasures, both now and forever. Our treasure will last forever, because God is our treasure. As we see God as our treasure, God can trust us with earthly riches. Then, we can take the earthly treasures He gives us to meet the needs of others. In so doing, we lay up treasure for eternity. As we give, we gain. When we put what is in our hands into God’s hands, we can watch Him use it for His kingdom.

So, seek God and not greed. When you do, God will give you all you need.