In Greed We Trust: Money cannot buy you happiness and satisfaction!

I most recently met a man who had everything. He had the best in his mode of living, was dressed in designer clothing, and drove a very nice car. He was married to a beautiful wife and they have beautiful children who have the very best of everything. Yet, they are all so miserable in their life. Because they have the best of everything, their children are rebellious. His wife who lacks for nothing is not satisfied with her circumstance and is constantly looking for more. And the man is very depressed because he feels that he has worked so hard and yet he cannot seem to find what he is looking for? Unfortunately, his marriage is starting to fail. His children are angry and he does not know what to do and where to turn? He is like the fool that Jesus spoke about in Luke 12:13-21.

Let us look at that Scripture: “¹³ Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

¹⁴ Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”¹⁵ 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.”

¹⁶ And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

¹⁸ “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. ¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

²⁰ “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?’

²¹ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Greed can destroy a marriage as well as destroy the behavior of your children and loved ones. Knowing how to manage wealth does not necessarily give one the permission to spoil your children and your spouse. Giving them everything they ask for gives them a false sense of how the real world will treat them in life. For instance, look at verse fourteen. “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Real life does not consist in an abundance of possessions. I have not always been comfortable in my life concerning my financial well-being. I have had to struggle financially for a very long time. When children are being brought up today by Baby Boomers, their children have seen an abundance, which gives them a false sense of abundance. I see many of these children with an “entitlement mentality” which is sad because they seem to think that they should not have to struggle through life. Another thought is that one may store up wealth and find no satisfaction in this false idol. Satisfaction is only found through the loving grace of Jesus Christ and His salvation and redemption.

As the rich man in the parable stored up great wealth so that he did not have to work hard later in life, he ended up losing his life that very night. What a pity to work so hard sacrificing everything for money and yet people have neglected their families by spoiling them with everything, only to lose their family by the very idol that they are worshipping, the greed of money.

Don’t be the man in the parable who loses everything through the loss of his life. Take time with you family and teach them the ways of the Lord. Instead of hording great wealth, consider giving to your local body of Christ, help others in need, and show your own family the love of Christ. Be generous with your excess and help the poor. You could be just one step away from losing everything.

Just one more piece of advice. If you are searching for “truth” and satisfaction through money, greed, and several other idols, you will never find it. You will only find peace, love, joy, and happiness through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is only through Christ that you can be fully forgiven. All you must do is ask.

If you want to follow Jesus and accept him as your personal Savior, pray this prayer: “Dear Jesus, I am a sinner. I confess my sins to you. Please forgive me and come into my heart. I promise to live for you and serve you all the days of my life. I believe that you died for me and that you also rose again on the third day. Please come into my life and transform my heart. In Jesus Name, Amen.”

Joseph T. Lee, Copyright © May 22, 2018. The Lantern & Shield Times LLC. All Rights Reserved.