How can we avoid storing up treasures for ourselves like in Luke 12:21? Setting the Scene “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21) Jesus finishes His parable of the rich fool with this solemn verdict. The problem was not wealth itself but the self-focused hoarding that left God out of the equation. Recognizing What “Storing Up” Looks Like Today • Budgeting for luxuries while neglecting eternal priorities • Allowing career advancement to eclipse kingdom service • Measuring security by account balances rather than by God’s promises • Giving only what we “won’t miss,” instead of sacrificially Why This Matters to God • Greed is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). • Money competes for the heart’s throne (Matthew 6:24). • Life is brief; eternity is forever (James 4:14). • Everything belongs to the Lord already (Psalm 24:1). Practical Ways to Break the Grip of Self-Treasure • Start each paycheck with intentional giving – “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits…” (Proverbs 3:9). • Set a generosity goal that stretches faith – “Whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” (2 Corinthians 9:6) • Invest time as well as money – Serve in the local church, mentor younger believers, visit the needy. • Keep lifestyle growth below income growth – Contentment is commanded: “Be content with what you have.” (Hebrews 13:5) • Regularly declutter possessions and give them away – “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) • Plan for eternity in the budget – Include missions, church planting, Bible translation—anything that multiplies gospel impact. Guarding the Heart • Daily gratitude resets priorities. • Meditating on passages like Matthew 6:19-21 keeps vision eternal. • Accountability with like-minded believers curbs drift toward materialism. Living Rich Toward God • Use resources to advance the gospel. • View money as a tool, not a trophy. • Trust God’s provision so fully that generosity becomes a reflex. • Remember the promised reward: “Instruct them…to be rich in good deeds…so that they may lay hold of that which is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19) Choosing to be rich toward God frees us from the vanity of self-stored treasure and aligns our lives with heaven’s economy. |
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