Beware of Things

“And he said unto them, take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).

The story is sometimes told of a country boy who was invited by a very wealthy uncle to visit New York City. It was the first time the young man had ever been away from his home in the hills and he was filled with wonder. He spent his first day window shopping on Fifth Avenue.

That evening his uncle asked him what he thought of the “Big Apple.” The boy hesitated a moment and then said, “Well, uncle, I never saw so many things in all my life that I could so easily do without!”

Has it ever occurred to us that much of what we want we could just as easily do without? This week’s necessity is destined for next week’s garage sale. Things just don’t satisfy. (How many video games are lying around unused in homes all over this coun­try today?)

The Bible offers some sobering thoughts regarding the things that are really important. Jesus asked, “…and what is a man profited if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or, what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Paul wrote, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:6-7).

The impor­tant question is not

“How much do you have?”

but

“How do you use what you have?”

We do not mean to suggest that there is anything inherently wrong with having things. We do, howev­er, want to remind ourselves that things can never provide true happiness.

Our most urgent need is to know and obey Jesus Christ. No know and obey Jesus Christ. No one is truly rich who has left Jesus out of his life, and no one is truly who has made a place in his heart for the Lord.

— Roger