The antidote against covetousness

<p>Luke 12:16-21 - Then 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'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. "Then I'll 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 will they be? ' "That's how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."</p><p>I think most of us instinctively know this to be true, but it doesn't always stop us from desiring more, whether it is more things to possess or more power and authority or advantage over others.</p><p>Now I believe a significant caution is necessary here in saying that many commentators and preachers will use this parable and teaching to admonish those who are rich, or those who are being prudent in regard to their income and assets, but is that the true meaning of what Yeshua is teaching us here? Is he trying to say it is better to be poor than to be rich?</p><p>On the surface, this parable appears to teach that saving up for an uncertain future is to no avail, as we cannot have any certainty of the length of our lives. While this is certainly true, I believe the real essence of the parable, based on the teaching of Yeshua that it is meant to illustrate (that of the vigilance needed in avoiding greed) is summed up in the last sentence: "That's how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself <i>and is not rich toward God</i>."</p><p>Notice, it is not the storing up of the treasure that is the issue, but storing up treasure <i>for oneself,</i> that is, <i>for one's own ease and comfort</i>, without being rich toward God.</p><p>Further, one more final and important point regarding our vigilance against covetousness in our lives, the apostle Paul provides a ste