August 28

Proposals And Disposals

And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” — Luke 12:15 BSB

People often seek God’s help more eagerly in their temporal concerns than in their spiritual needs. The man in the crowd who appealed to Jesus was more concerned with a family dispute over inheritance than with receiving the eternal life Jesus offered. But Christ refused to be their judge or arbitrator. He aimed to address the root cause of such disputes—covetousness, which had led one brother to wrong the other. Jesus targeted the sin lying beneath the surface of their quarrel over property.

Jesus taught that life’s value doesn’t lie in the abundance of possessions. We often measure a person’s worth by their wealth, saying, "So-and-so is worth a million pounds!" But in heaven’s eyes, a person’s worth is determined by the courage, faith, purity, self-control, and love for God and others that have developed in the soul through life’s trials and discipline. Rank and acceptance in God’s Kingdom depend on character, not possessions.

How often do we make plans, only for God to change them? We say, “I’ll live many more years and enjoy what I’ve worked for,” but God might say, “Tonight.” James warns against making boastful plans for the future without acknowledging God’s will: “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that’” (James 4:13-17).

Many people speak of "seeing life" but only encounter its darkest side. If someone truly wants to see life and know happy days, the secret is found in 1 Peter 3:10-19. The Gospel message is clear: "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." Whoever has the Son has life (John 3:36; 1 John 5:12).

Prayer

Lord, I do not know what lies ahead, but You do. Choose my path for me. Lead me by Your hand, and keep me close to You day and night. Amen.