Daily Devotional
Word of the Day
Stuff Instead of God
Pastor Scott
Friday, August 27, 2004
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"And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me."
(Luke 12:13)
"Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesses" (Luke 12:15). One came to Jesus, saying. "Master, go talk to my brother because I want more of the stuff." Can I ask you a question? When it comes right down to it, would you rather have the stuff or your brother? Take a little time to do a study on the inheritance of God. What is the inheritance of Christ Himself? It is the Body of Christ. We are called His inheritance, and He is called ours. It appears to me that some of us are forsaking this inheritance to go get more stuff. How much of our time and energy is spent on the pursuit of things--this spirit of avarice, this covetous spirit--to the point of denying even our natural family, our responsibilities in the home, or the fellowship that we have with the body of Christ? If we are not careful, it's something that we can hide behind and call it our responsibility. Fathers, what is your job?
You say, "My job is to provide food for the family."
No, that is God's job. God said that He would provide the food. Yes, you will live by the sweat of your brow, but you are not the source. Take no thought, for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things. You have one job, one thing to leave your kids: an inheritance--the ability to know God, to walk by faith. Your primary job in life is to teach your children and to instruct them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Do we call it "our responsibility" when it is really covetousness? Do we seek to give our children stuff instead of God, things instead of character? We live in this affluence where the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of things are entering in and choking the Word of God out of our lives. Can I ask you a question? When was the last time your kids had to believe God for something? When was the last time some of your kids worked for something, not even believed God, just did something for it and didn't just have it handed to them. The Word of God is more than Bible memorization. Where is the knowledge of contributing to the society, starting with your home? Where is the knowledge of being a giver, that it is more blessed to give than to receive? There is no greater inheritance to believe and practice giving instead of receiving. How proficient are you at that? How proficient are your children? I wonder if maybe we've been vexed by this spirit of covetousness more than we think. Are you rich toward God?
Jesus rebuked this man, saying, 'Thou fool, this night [your] soul shall be required of [you]: then whose shall these things be, which [you have] provided?" (Luke 12:20) You brought nothing into this world; and it is certain that you will take nothing out. What is waiting for you when you leave? What are the riches that have gone up before you and that have been laid up in the heavens?