I recently read a statistic that said that 93% of homeowners' garages are also used for storage and that 37% of homeowners can't even park their cars in their garages at all because they are so filled with things that are being stored. Whether we are storing items in our garages, storage units, or overly-stuffed closets, we are all storing things in our lives, for better or worse. Scripture teaches that there is a better way than storing up earthly things. Instead of living for this world and building up earthly wealth and accumulations, Scripture teaches us to focus on having a rich relationship with God.
During His ministry on earth, Jesus warned readers against building up their earthly treasures and possessions instead of focusing on God and His kingdom. He told a story in Luke 12 in order to warn against such things. The main (and only) character in this story is a rich farmer. This man had so many crops that he did not have enough room to store them (verse 17). To solve his storage problem, the man decided to build bigger barns (verse 18). His goal was to have enough stored away so that he could "take it easy" (verse 19). As he was thinking about what to do with his wealth, "God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for'" (verse 20). This man's wealth would not serve him well because his life on earth was coming to an end. As a result, his efforts to store up wealth for himself were futile. After telling this story, Jesus summarized the main teaching point in this story: "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God" (verse 21). Instead of storing up our earthly wealth, it is far better to invest in our own relationships with God.
Let's commit to investing in God's kingdom over the things of the earth. We can have a prosperous relationship with God by spending time talking to Him in prayer, worshiping Him at church during weekend services, serving the people around us, sharing our faith, and so much more. When we choose to spend our lives investing in God and His kingdom, we will never regret the investments we have made.
Take time to think about how you can invest in God's kingdom. Can you start serving at Sagebrush? Can you join a small group? Can you start getting serious about sharing your faith? Take a few moments to think about how you can invest in your God's kingdom, and start taking a step in that direction today.
13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
