“Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).

An excessive desire, especially for wealth or possessions, is called “greed.”  

You may not realize this.

But greed is as old as time.  

Jesus told the parable of a rich man who had had such a good year that he had run out of places to store his crops and other treasures.

He decided to solve this “problem” by building bigger and bigger barns so he could have a place for all his new stuff.

With all these new riches, he reassured himself that he could take it easy and spend the next few years eating, drinking, and living the good life.  

Sounds pretty enticing, doesn’t it?  

One day he sat back and thought he had everything he needed and much, much more.

Or did he? 

Don’t think so.

I doubt he realized God was getting ready to say to him:

“You fool – didn’t you realize that this very night your soul would will be required of you?” (Luke 12:20).  

This man was too busy hoarding his wealth to realize that it was God who had entrusted him with all that wealth.

In fact, the man was quite sure he had done it all by himself.  

How wrong he was! 

He was rich in the world’s eyes-

– but poor in God’s eyes and it led to a pitiful entry into eternal poverty! 

Life is so short.

It will be over before you know what happened.  

What treasures have you laid up in Heaven as a Christian?  

Remember:

The need to have more than you “need” equals greed.  

There is nothing wrong with having wealth-

– as long as you realize it all really belongs to God and you use it to further His kingdom.  

Being rich in your relationship with God through Jesus Christ – now, that is a richer way to live – forever.