Luke 12:15 “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Christ the man had few possessions. His words here are a sound warning based on observation, experience, and Godly wisdom.

Principle: Riches do not provide the meaning of life or the key to happiness, and the appetite for more will increase if you feed it.

Businessmen, including Christian businessmen, tend to look up the ladder of success to see what other, more successful people are enjoying in power, possessions and toys. When we get those things ourselves, there is a strange dissatisfaction. The bumper sticker that says, “He who ends up with the most toys wins” is not true.

A reporter asked John D. Rockefeller how much money it would take to be satisfied. He replied,

“Just a little bit more!” How much is enough? G.K. Chesterton answered the question by saying, “There are two ways to be satisfied with possessions: One is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less and less.”

Isn’t it true that even the new car pleasure diminishes quickly? Lamborghinis or Porsches only provide moments of joy, even if you drive them every day.

Look down the ladder instead of up. Take a trip to India or Mexico or stroll through downtown. It will diminish the greed and increase the appreciation and satisfaction for what you have.

Discussion:

1. What earthly riches grab your attention?

2. Tell us of something you “got” and how you felt after you got it? How long did your enjoyment last?

3. Look down the ladder … what step can you take in that direction?