Cash and the Christians Chains of Materialism

Luke 12:13-21: Someone from the crowd said to Him, 'Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.' 'Friend,' He said to him, 'who appoint Me a judge or arbitrator over you? He then told them, 'Watch out and be on guard against all greed because one's life is not on the abundance of his possessions.' …

The He told them a parable: 'A rich man's land was very productive. He thought to himself, 'What should I do, since I don't have anywhere to store my crops? I will do this,' he said. 'I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. Then I will say to myself, 'You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink and enjoy yourself.‘ …

But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared- whose ill they be?' 'This is how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.'

“ He came to bring men to God. And not property to men.” Leon Morris Do not covet your neighbor's house. Do not covet your neighbor's wife, his male or female slave, his ox or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. (Exo. 20:17)

Watch out and be on guard against all greed because one's life is not in the abundance of his possessions. (Luke 12:15) Greed is all right, I want you to know I think greed is healthy. You can be greedy and still feel good about yourself. (Ivan Boesky)

‘…one's life is not in the abundance of his possessions.’ ‘The one who dies with the most toys wins.‘ The fact is that power, influence, prestige, recognition are more tightly tie to possession than most of us prepare to admit.

When you are rich it doesn't matter if your answer is right or wrong cause when you are rich they think you really know. (Tevya of the Fiddler on the roof)

Rich people are more successful than poor people. Wealthy people are more important than poor people. There will be no poor among you, however, because the Lord is certain to bless you in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance. (Deut. 15:4)

The view of this rich farmer: If I am not good to myself, who will be? Success with possessions shows I am success as a person. The bigger the barn, the better the life. If money can't buy happiness, it can at least buy pleasure.

Be careful that you don't forget the Lord your God by failing to keep His command- the ordinances and statues- I am giving you today. (Deut. 8:11) You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared- whose will they be?

The fool says in his heart, 'God does not exists. They are corrupt; their actions are revolting. (Psalm 14:1) I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. (Ecc. 2: 18-20)

That is how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. (Luke 12:21) Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the age to come, so that they may take hold of life that is real. (1Tim. 6: 17-19)

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot.