Treasures

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”  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.” Luke 12:13-15

There was a time when Jesus was providing a teaching to those following him when he was interrupted by one man in the crowd. This fellow piped up and asked Jesus to intervene for him to his brother to ask that the brother share his inheritance with him. This man evidently was not really catching the message that Jesus had been teaching. The man was hoping for Jesus to use his authority to set his brother straight. You know, he seemed to be saying “Jesus make my brother do right by me!”

The response Jesus gave made it clear that he was not going to get involved in the petty dealings of this man and his brother. Jesus told him essentially, “I’m not the judge of this dispute!” Then, Jesus went on, in my opinion, to tell this man “Have you actually been listening to what I have been saying?”

We hear things the way we want to hear them. Some people in the “prosperity gospel” world hear that Jesus is the giver of wealth to those who do certain financial dealings. Jesus could not be more clear as he goes on in this passage in Luke to say that we store up treasures by giving wealth away to those in need. God knows our financial needs and provides for us, but he is more interested in our heart attitude.

God is looking for hearts that are turned toward caring for their fellow human beings.  

Prayer: Lord, help us to see the deeper truths you have for us, Amen