And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”
Luke 12:15
Greed is a form of selfishness and selfishness separates us from God and our neighbors. It is the exact opposite of the behavior and relationship Jesus teaches us. This “me first” concern can place everyone in conflict as we try to grab things before others get them.
Jesus warns in this scripture that “life does not consist in the abundance of possessions”, that the things we have do not define us. Our scramble to own things is an example of our desire to be in control, which caused our fall in the first place. If we would trust God and allow Him to direct our lives, the urge to have anything else but an honest relationship with Him will disappear.
It is difficult to let go of our need for things, but things don’t love us and can’t give us the satisfaction that connecting with God and our brothers and sisters will give. Let’s look carefully at our needs and not allow the temptation of wanting useless possessions to distract us from God’s path. Our lives can be richer than we imagine!
Gracious God, help us to see the blessing of relationship with You and others over the lure of greed for things. May we be more concerned about the needs of the world than our own selfish desires. Amen.