Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment. James 5:3
There is a reason spring cleaning is popular among so many. Every year, many of us accumulate more and more. We have garages that we cannot park in because they are filled with our things. We purchase storage units to store the things that will not fit in our homes and garages. If we are honest, many of us have a hoarding problem. We end up with garages, closets, and storage units full of things and empty hearts. The truth is hoarding and accumulating things will never satisfy. Only God can do that. When we let go of our tendency to hoard, we find freedom in Christ as we look to Him to satisfy.
Scripture warns us against hoarding our money and possessions. James wrote in James 3, "Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away at your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment." James did not mince words as he warned against hoarding. According to Him, when we hoard our money and possessions, those things will testify against us when we give an account to God for how we lived our lives. Hoarding signifies selfishness and lack of trust that He will provide. Furthermore, hoarding focuses on this Earth rather than eternal things.
Jesus warned against hoarding as He told a parable in Luke 12. His story was about a rich man who had many crops. He could not store all of His crops, so He built big barns to store them in. Although this seemed like a good plan, God said to this man, "You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for" (verse 20). This man did not realize that there were more important things to focus on than storing his crops, such as growing in His relationship with God. That is why Jesus ended His story by summarizing the main point: "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God" (verse 21). In other words, Jesus taught that it is unwise to focus on earthly wealth without pursuing a growing relationship with God.
While our tendency may be to hoard our money and possessions, Scripture makes it clear that we must focus on eternal wealth over earthly wealth. Focusing on God and His kingdom is far more important than building our earthly kingdom here on Earth. After all, everything on Earth will fade away, but God and His kingdom will last forever.
One of the ways we can fight against our tendency to hoard is to be generous. Is there someone who you know in need right now? Be generous toward that person today. You can buy them a gas card or a gift card to their local grocery store. Whatever you decide to do, show generosity today. As you do this, ask God to help you live generously rather than hoard your money and possessions.
Going Deeper – Luke 12:13-20
"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?"
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